HSPA Persuasive Essays:
 5 paragraphs
 60 minutes on the HSPA
 Read the task carefully to assure you know what is being ask of
you in your response.
 Use some time to prewrite and/or outline your ideas so you
have 3 supportive reasons to support the side for which you will
write your essay.
 Intro:
o Include general information about the topic and you may
use the info that was given to you in the task
o Put your position statement (thesis) at the end of the intro
that clearly expresses which side of the argument you are
supporting
 Body
o Use a transition to begin each body paragraph
o Begin the body paragraphs with a topic sentence. This
means the first sentence must show the reader which
topic will be addressed in that paragraph and how it will
support your thesis. Use specific language that shows that
each body paragraph will offer one topic of support for
your argument.
 Animal testing is wrong. NO!!!
 Animal testing should be discontinued because it is
cruel to treat animals this way.
 This specifically shows the reader that this
paragraph will not only support the argument
that animal testing is wrong, but also shows
that this paragraph is about the topic of
cruelty to animals.
 Animal testing helps humans. NO!!!!
 Animal testing should be continued because it
benefits humans by offering cures to diseases.
 This specifically shows the reader that this
paragraph will not only support the argument
that animal testing should be continued, but
also shows that this paragraph is about the
o
o
o
o
topic of how testing animals leads to cures of
diseases for people.
Do not use circular reasoning. This is content that says
nothing.
 Here are examples:
 Animal testing is wrong because it’s wrong
to do that to animals.
 Animal testing is good because it’s good to
learn about tests this way.
Don’t question the reader. Instead, write your question as a
statement.
 Here are examples:
 How would you feel if your pet was used for
testing? NO!!!!!
 Anyone with a pet would agree that he
would not like his pet treated cruelly
through animal testing.
 How else can doctors find out information
if animals are not used for tests? NO!!!!
 Doctors are able to find out valuable
information that benefits humans through
the use of animal testing.
Don’t waffle in your essay or position statement.
 This means that you must choose a side and
provide support for one side. Do not explain why
both sides have merit. This is not clever and
creative…IT IS WRONG!
 Also, in your thesis do not write a sentence that
explains why both sides are right. Choose the
side for which you can write the best essay.
Use examples and facts in your body paragraph, not just
ideas.
 This means that for every sentence you write that
contains an idea, give an example of what you
mean.
 Here are examples:
 Animals are treated cruelly when tested.
They are treated inhumanely. They are not
treated like someone would treat a pet.
o
o
o
o
(these are all ideas, not concrete examples
of what you are supporting)
 Animals are treated cruelly when tested.
For example, they are kept in cages all day
and not allowed any freedom. (support for
the idea that is written) Tested animals are
also treated inhumanely. Some of the
products that are tested are left on the
animals to see if they are harmful while
the animal experiences pain. (an example
of what you have written to prove that you
are correct and to support your position).
Acknowledge that there is another side to the argument
without going into details, and then refute it.
 Here is an example:
 Many feel that animal testing is wrong and
cruel. However, the benefits of animal
testing to advance cures and treatments for
humans far outweigh any negatives on the
side of animal testing.
Include statistics, opinion, facts, examples, and evidence
 When you can’t think of anything to write in a
body paragraph, look at the sentence you have
just written and give an example of that sentence.
This will help you fill your body paragraphs with
supportive details.
Do not overuse pronouns or unnecessary pronouns.
 NEVER EVER WRITE “I THINK” OR “I FEEL”
 The reader knows the entire essay is how you
think and/or feel. This does not need to be
written.
Don’t use all, none, never. These words are absolutes.
Instead use words like most, usually, often, few, some, etc.
 Conclusion
o Transition your writing to show the reader that you are
concluding your argument
o Do not introduce any new information in this paragraph
o Restate your thesis using different wording than you used
in your introduction
o Include a call to action which is a sentence that
encourages the reader to do something to support the
topic about which you have written.
NOTES:
Be creative when organizing your papers to use the knowledge
you have and work it into three body paragraphs.
For example, you are thinking about support such as drugs,
vaccines, products, painless procedures, overwhelming benefit
to humans for support for your side of the argument for
continuing testing on animals. Use those ideas to organize the
information into 3 supportive paragraphs. This will prevent
using one idea twice or forgetting something important. It will
help keep you organized. While pre-writing, if one area doesn’t
look like there is enough support, get rid of it and put
something else there.