Name:_____________________________________Date:____________________________Period:__
Persuasive/Analytical Essay Assignment
(9th ELA RST Practice Test “Atomic Bomb”)
Write an essay that compares and contrasts a primary argument in each text that you have
read regarding the decision to drop the atomic bomb. Your essay should explain how
effectively you think each author supported that claim with reasoning and/or evidence. Be
sure to use evidence from the three texts to support your ideas.
How does each of these three texts deal with the question of whether or not President
Truman should have dropped the atomic bomb? Write an essay in which you explain how
well each author supported his argument with reasoning and/or evidence.
I. Introduction Paragraph: Find the primary argument in EACH passage
Attention Grabber (one to two sentences – should be done at the end stage of planning)
Passage 1=”Oppenheimer’s Speech”
Passage 2= “Petition to the President”
Passage 3=”The Decision to Drop the Bomb”
Thesis – take a position
Name:_____________________________________Date:____________________________Period:__
Body Paragraph
II. Topic Sentence – “Oppenheimer’s Speech”
Technique, Effectiveness and Evidence from documents to back up the claim
Body Paragraph
III. Topic Sentence – “Petition to the President”
Technique, Effectiveness and Evidence from documents to back up the claim
Body Paragraph 2
Topic Sentence( state your second reason)
Name:_____________________________________Date:____________________________Period:__
Body Paragraph
IV. Topic Sentence – “The Decision to Drop the Bomb”
Technique, Effectiveness and Evidence from documents to back up the claim
Conclusion
V. Restate thesis.
Relate to your life or to today’s world.