An
argument
Persuades
the audience
to believe in
your opinion
on the topic.
Uses
reasoning,
facts,
examples,
and quotes
to convince
the reader.
In an episode of “Everybody Loves Raymond,” Marie
writes a persuasive letter to the FBI interviewer whom
is interviewing Robert (her son)…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cThuaPUD_Q&feature=PlayList&p=16B069ABF7F2
4A36&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=15
What is the issue
that Marie is arguing
to the FBI boss?
What
reasons/examples
does she use in her
letter to persuade
the boss?
Persuasive Essay Topic
Write a persuasive essay determining whether
students should or should not belong to a group at
school. Everyone needs friends in order to make it
through life. However, groups in schools can damage a
person’s self-esteem forever. Be specific and use
strong details in your writing.
 You will have at least five body paragraphs.
 You will use at least TWO of the four given articles in your
essay.
 You will also include at least two specific examples from
your sources in each body paragraph.
 You will include a Works Cited page.
 You will type and format your paper in MLA format.
1. Read the Writing Situation over
and over to ensure you
understand what you’re required
to write about.
2. Choose one side.
3. Brainstorm your reasons
using a T-chart and
complete outline!
Pick your position: which side of the problem/issue are you on? Do
you believe cell phones should be permitted for use in schools?
SUPPORT
1. Cell phones could be used as safety
in case of emergency or pickup
changes after school.
2. Cell phones could send and receive
important messages from home
without interrupting the entire class.
(Can not choose reason 2 if you choose reason 1.)
3. Student could use cell phones to
look up information for school.
4. Cell phones could be used as a
reward – once students finish their
work they could listen to music or
play educational games.
AGAINST
1.
If cell phones are permitted
in school students may not
pay attention in class.
2. If cell phones are permitted in
school students may text each
other answers to their work or
tests.
3. If cell phones are permitted in
school they could get stolen or
broken.
Writing Situation:
Choose a side: Which side are you on? Do you believe that teen
Research
provesoverall
that teenagers
haveoranegative
basic need
toon
belong
social groups
have a positive
effect
or fit into a group. Belonging
is important because students
teenagers?
learn the
importance
how to interact
POSITIVE
EFFECT of friendship and NEGATIVE
EFFECTwith
their peers in a positive way. This has become a challenge for
they feel they do not fit into a
1.most teenagers, however, when 1.
particular group. In addition, these groups can sometimes
encourage their peers to make bad decisions.
Writing Task:
the positive or negative
2.Write a persuasive essay that argues
2.
influences of belonging to a group. Read the research articles
about these influences and use information from these
articles to support what you think. You must cite directly or
two of the sources in
3.paraphrase information from at least
3.
your paper.
Introduction
1. Hook
2. State the Situation (Refer back to the
prompt)
 Mention both sides of the situation
 Mention the titles and authors of both sources
you are using in your paper
3. State your thesis statement: Social groups
have a positive or negative effect on teenagers
because (state three reasons)
Introduction
HOOK – grab the reader’s
attention
STARTLING STATISTIC/FACT
 INTERESTING QUOTE
 STRONG/INTERESTING STATEMENT
 EXAMPLE (EXPLAIN IN DETAIL) OR “IMAGINE IF….”
 RELATE TO EVERYDAY LIFE
ANECDOTE (VERY BRIEF, SOMETIMES FUNNY STORY
RELATING TO YOUR TOPIC.)
DIRECTIONS: Now write your own HOOK on
your paper.
Sample Hook
TOPIC: Should students be forced to wear uniforms?
EXAMPLE:
Imagine opening your closet to find
something to wear to school, and all
you can find are khaki pants and
white shirts. Does that sound like a
nightmare? Well, for many public
school students in America, it is a
reality!
Sample Hook
TOPIC: Should cell phones be permitted for use in school?
EXAMPLE:
Recently I was watching the news with my parents
and found myself clutching my mother’s hand as we
nervously listened to a news report about a bomb
scare in a surrounding school district. Parents were
terrified when the school was placed on lock down
and had no way of getting in touch with their
children since the schools were not answering their
phones. Thank God for cell phones. Both my mom
and I were relieved to hear that many parents were
able to calm their children by texting them in the
midst of this sudden emergency.
Some ways NOT to
begin…
•
•
•
•
I am going to tell you about…
Once upon a time…
This is an essay about…
The assignment says I have to write
about…
• FIRE! Now that I have your attention…
(Attention-getter has to relate to thesis.)
• My first main idea is…
Summer: 15 Days or 2 1/2 Months?
Student Example – INTRODUCTION paragraph
Student’s
Opinion
Student’s
3 reasons
The final bell rings. It’s the last day of
school, and summer has finally come!
Students don’t have to think about school for
at least another 2 1/2 months. That is the way
it should always be. Schools should continue
using the traditional calendar and not a yearround schedule (position). There are
numerous downsides to year-round
schooling. It has no positive effects on
education (1), it adds to costs (2), and it
disrupts the long-awaited summer vacation
(3).
OPINION + 3 REASONS = THESIS STATEMENT
How to Build Strong Body
Paragraphs
First Body Paragraph
ALWAYS NEED A TRANSITION WORD/PHRASE:
 STATE ONE REASON WHY YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE
CAN APPEAL TO THE AUDIENCE’S LOGIC, EMOTIONS, OR
MORALS
EXPLAIN 3 SUPPORTING DETAILS TO
SUPPORT/PROVE YOUR REASON:
 SUPPORTING DETAIL
 SUPPORTING DETAIL
 SUPPORTING DETAIL
Include two
specific examples
from your
sources! 
Real-Life Examples & Allusions
in Body Paragraphs
• It is also important that we try to include “real-life”
examples in our body paragraphs. Including real-life
examples will enhance your writing.
• SAMPLE:
– Topic: Athlete's are overpaid.
– Real life example in body paragraph:
• I remember my thirteenth birthday party like it was yesterday. It
was a wonderful day until my father informed me that he could not
afford to purchase the tickets to the Giant’s game I wanted so
badly to attend. At first I became angry, but then I realized that the
tickets were over $200 each for average seats. I then realized I
could enjoy the game more with my family at home and big bowl
of popcorn.
Paragraph 2 – Reason 1 = Student Example
Contrary to the well-accepted belief, yearReason 1 round schooling has no constructive impact on
education. (1) Most year-round schedules use the
Supporting 45-15 method: 45 days of school followed by 15
days off (Jones). Because of this, there are many
Detail 1
first and last days of school. All those transitions
disrupt the learning process. Also, (2) “there is no
Supporting evidence of higher test scores” (Franklin). Due to
Detail 2
that, many schools that change to year-round
schedules end up switching back. For example, (3)
Supporting since 1980, 95 percent of schools that tried the
Detail 3
year-round schedule changed back to a traditional
calendar (Jones). It is obvious that changing to
year-round schooling does not help students.
TRANSITION WORDS
WORDS THAT CAN BE USED TO SHOW LOCATION:
Above
Across
Against
Along
Among
Around
Behind
Below
Beneath
Beside
Between
Beyond
By
Down
In back of
In front of
Inside
Into
Near
Off
Onto
Outside
Over
Throughout
To the
right
Under
underneath
WORDS USED THAT CAN BE USED TO SHOW TIME:
While
After
At
Before
During
First
Second
Third
Now
Until
Meanwhile
Today
Tomorrow
Next week
Yesterday
Soon
Later
Afterward
About
Finally
Then
Next
As soon as
When
suddenly
WORDS THAT CAN BE USED TO COMPARE TWO THINGS:
Likewise
Also
While
Like
As
Similarly
In the same way
TRANSITION WORDS
WORDS THAT CAN BE USED TO CONTRAST TWO THINGS:
WORDS THAT CAN BE USED TO CLARIFY:
But
Still
However
Although
Yet
On the other
hand
Otherwise
That is
For instance
Even though
WORDS THAT CAN BE USED TO EMPHASIZE A POINT
Again
Truly
Especially
To repeat
In fact
To emphasize
For this reason
WORDS THAT CAN BE USED TO ADD INFORMATION
Again
Another
For instance
For example
Also
As well
Next
And
Besides
Finally
Moreover
Along with
In addition
For example
Additionally
Other
In other words
Try not to use 2nd person
pronouns!
• “YOU” “YOUR “YOURS” SHOULD NOT BE USED IN
FORMAL WRITING!
• “You” is sometimes acceptable in the introduction
paragraph for your HOOK only, but nowhere else.
It is considered informal. We should NOT
write how we speak, put your tuxedo
and best dress on when you write!
• Use “we, us, our, ours” or “one” or “students”
How to Build Strong Body
Paragraphs
Second Body Paragraph
ALWAYS NEED A TRANSITION WORD/PHRASE:
 STATE ONE REASON WHY YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE
CAN APPEAL TO THE AUDIENCE’S LOGIC, EMOTIONS, OR
MORALS
EXPLAIN 3 SUPPORTING DETAILS TO
SUPPORT/PROVE YOUR REASON:
 SUPPORTING DETAIL
 SUPPORTING DETAIL
 SUPPORTING DETAIL
Include two
specific examples
from your
sources! 
Paragraph 3 – Reason 2 - Student Example
Like any other facility, keeping a school open
requires a great deal of money. When a school changes
Reason 2 to a year-round schedule, the costs skyrocket. (1)
Keeping school open in the middle of summer requires
air conditioning, and that adds significantly to the
Supporting
school’s expenses (Franklin). The usual utility bills grow
Detail 1
because of the additional open-school time. Finally, (2)
Supporting teachers must be paid for all the weeks they are
Detail 2
working (Jones). With all these factors, the cost of
keeping schools open becomes immensely high. For
Supporting example, (3) a high school in Arizona had a cost
increase of $157,000 when they switched to yearDetail 3
round schooling (Jones). Some schools may not be able
to handle such increases, and other schools that can
handle these expenses could be doing better things
with the money.
Third Body Paragraph
ALWAYS NEED A TRANSITION WORD/PHRASE:
 STATE ONE REASON WHY YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE
CAN APPEAL TO THE AUDIENCE’S LOGIC, EMOTIONS, OR
MORALS
EXPLAIN 3 SUPPORTING DETAILS TO
SUPPORT/PROVE YOUR REASON: This is where you can
 SUPPORTING DETAIL
 SUPPORTING DETAIL
 SUPPORTING DETAIL
Include at least two
examples from your
sources! 
acknowledge the
opposition. Prove the
other side is wrong.
Choose one argument
from the other side and
prove it is wrong.
Explain and refute the opposite view within your essay…
These newscasters argue that cell
phones SHOULDN’T be allowed in
schools. One newscaster tries to refute
or negate their argument, but she
doesn’t do a great job. What other
argument could you use to “negate the
opposition” (prove the other side
wrong).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTKZ6jovfso
How would you
refute or negate
the two
newscasters’
opinion that cell
phones shouldn’t
be permitted in
schools?
Paragraph 4 – Reason 3 - Student Example
Reason 3
Supporting
Detail 1 & 2
Supporting
Detail 3 & 4
An important part of a child’s life is summertime.
With year-round schedules, students would hardly have
any time to relax. (1) During the 15-day breaks, they
would be thinking about their quick return to school
(Jones). (2) It would also be difficult to coordinate family
vacations with parents’ work schedules (Franklin). (3)
Similarly, children would not be able to go to most
summer camps (Franklin). (4) One expert, Dr. Peter
Scales, says, “The biggest plus of camp is that camps
help young people discover and explore their talents,
interests, and values. Most schools don’t satisfy all these
needs. Kids who have these kinds of [camp] experiences
end up being healthier and have fewer problems ”
(Jones). Obviously, the summer is crucial to a child’s
learning and development. We shouldn’t take the
valuable part of a person’s life away.
Paragraph 4 Reason 3 (also includes
negating the opposition)
• Despite my personal opinion, I understand that some may
not fully agree with the idea of continuing the traditional ten
month school year. Nevertheless, for those who believe
adjusting the school calendar is beneficial for all students and
can contribute to a consistent learning process, I have two
words for you: overwhelming anxiety. Students are in need of
an elongated summer break to ensure they can set the
anxiety and stress associated with school and enjoy time with
their families. Even my mother and father take the time to
vacation in the summer in order to get away. By stepping
away from the traditional school calendar we will create more
havoc in the lives of our families and in all students’ lives
creating overwhelming anxiety for all involved.
CONCLUSION PARAGRAPH
TRANSITION PHRASE: “AS ONE CAN SEE…..”
1. RESTATE YOUR OPINION AND THREE REASONS.
 STATE A POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE {ANOTHER
OPTION}. (NOT IN EVERY ESSAY)
2. INCLUDE A SENTENCE TO BRING CLOSURE.
 THOUGHT-PROVOKING STATEMENT
Concluding Transitions
•
•
CHEETTA
•
•
•
•
•
Clearly
Hence
Evidently
Ergo (a continuing thought)
Thus
Therefore
As one can see
Paragraph 5 – Conclusion - Student Example
Concluding
transition
phrase
As one can see, it is evident that
year-round schooling is not the best
option for the school calendar. There
is absolutely nothing wrong with the
traditional school year. Let’s not
change something that works so
well! The final bell rings. Let’s make
sure this bell means that the “real”
summer vacation has come.
Bringing Life to
Persuasive Writing
That’s
SO
TRUE!
Who
CARES?
Persuasive Techniques are Everywhere!
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaGJNxCxB
-s&feature=related
Reasons to Know How to
Write a Persuasive Essay…
• Every good speech, discussion or essay needs strong
closure to force the reader or listener to think carefully
about what you have just said or written.
•Emphasizes critical thinking and analysis skills
• Relativity: Writing to a newspaper on a local/national
issue that concerns you
 Or to sway a institution/company’s decision
• Provides practice for college admissions/cover letter
writing
• Required to demonstrate this skill on the Standardized
Testing
Summer: 15 Days or 2 1/2 Months?
Student Example – INTRODUCTION paragraph
Student’s
Opinion
Student’s
3 reasons
The final bell rings. It’s the last day of
school, and summer has finally come!
Students don’t have to think about school for
at least another 2 1/2 months. That is the way
it should always be. Schools should continue
using the traditional calendar and not a yearround schedule (position). There are
numerous downsides to year-round
schooling. It has no positive effects on
education (1), it adds to costs (2), and it
disrupts the long-awaited summer vacation
(3).
OPINION + 3 REASONS = THESIS STATEMENT
Paragraph 2 – Reason 1 = Student Example
Contrary to the well-accepted belief, yearReason 1 round schooling has no constructive impact on
education. (1) Most year-round schedules use the
Supporting 45-15 method: 45 days of school followed by 15
days off (Jones). Because of this, there are many
Detail 1
first and last days of school. All those transitions
disrupt the learning process. Also, (2) “there is no
Supporting evidence of higher test scores” (Franklin). Due to
Detail 2
that, many schools that change to year-round
schedules end up switching back. For example, (3)
Supporting since 1980, 95 percent of schools that tried the
Detail 3
year-round schedule changed back to a traditional
calendar (Jones). It is obvious that changing to
year-round schooling does not help students.
Paragraph 3 – Reason 2 - Student Example
Like any other facility, keeping a school open
requires a great deal of money. When a school changes
Reason 2 to a year-round schedule, the costs skyrocket. (1)
Keeping school open in the middle of summer requires
air conditioning, and that adds significantly to the
Supporting
school’s expenses (Franklin). The usual utility bills grow
Detail 1
because of the additional open-school time. Finally, (2)
Supporting teachers must be paid for all the weeks they are
Detail 2
working (Jones). With all these factors, the cost of
keeping schools open becomes immensely high. For
Supporting example, (3) a high school in Arizona had a cost
increase of $157,000 when they switched to yearDetail 3
round schooling (Jones). Some schools may not be able
to handle such increases, and other schools that can
handle these expenses could be doing better things
with the money.
Paragraph 4 – Reason 3 - Student Example
Reason 3
Supporting
Detail 1 & 2
Supporting
Detail 3 & 4
An important part of a child’s life is summertime.
With year-round schedules, students would hardly have
any time to relax. (1) During the 15-day breaks, they
would be thinking about their quick return to school
(Jones). (2) It would also be difficult to coordinate family
vacations with parents’ work schedules (Franklin). (3)
Similarly, children would not be able to go to most
summer camps (Franklin). (4) One expert, Dr. Peter
Scales, says, “The biggest plus of camp is that camps
help young people discover and explore their talents,
interests, and values. Most schools don’t satisfy all these
needs. Kids who have these kinds of [camp] experiences
end up being healthier and have fewer problems ”
(Jones). Obviously, the summer is crucial to a child’s
learning and development. We shouldn’t take the
valuable part of a person’s life away.
Paragraph 4 Reason 3 (also includes
negating the opposition)
• Despite my personal opinion, I understand that some may
not fully agree with the idea of continuing the traditional ten
month school year. Nevertheless, for those who believe
adjusting the school calendar is beneficial for all students and
can contribute to a consistent learning process, I have two
words for you: overwhelming anxiety. Students are in need of
an elongated summer break to ensure they can set the
anxiety and stress associated with school and enjoy time with
their families. Even my mother and father take the time to
vacation in the summer in order to get away. By stepping
away from the traditional school calendar we will create more
havoc in the lives of our families and in all students’ lives
creating overwhelming anxiety for all involved.
Paragraph 5 – Conclusion - Student Example
Concluding
transition
phrase
As one can see, it is evident that
year-round schooling is not the best
option for the school calendar. There
is absolutely nothing wrong with the
traditional school year. Let’s not
change something that works so
well! The final bell rings. Let’s make
sure this bell means that the “real”
summer vacation has come.
Works Cited
Franklin, Tim. “Year Round Schooling.” Reader’s
Digest, October 2012. Web. 18 December
2012.
Jones, Sandy. “Negative Effects of Year Round
Schooling.” Times, August 2010. Web. 18
December 2012.
Remember to put
your essay in MLA
format and submit
as an attachment
in Edmodo! 