Santa Ana Unified School District / Overview



Writing a Persuasive Essay

A persuasive essay is used to convince your reader to agree with your opinion on a controversial topic. (controversial means that people often disagree)

The typical persuasive essay follows the 5 paragraph format

• Introduction

• 3 Body paragraphs

• Conclusion

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Step 1: Attack the prompt! Create a “do/what” chart where you list all the verbs of the prompt under “do”, and the objects of the verbs under “what”

Example: Write a persuasive essay in which you state your opinion on school uniforms. Use factual details to support your points with evidence.

|Do |What |

|Write |Persuasive essay |

|State |Your opinion on school uniforms |

|Use |Factual details |

|Support |Your points with evidence |

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Step 2: Pick a side and create a circle map! Write your opinion statement in the center circle and write your reasons/evidence in the outer circle.

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Step 3: From your circle map, pick the 3 best points to support your claim.

1. Does not stop bullying or gang affiliations

2. Students may feel unhappy at school, and will therefore not learn

3. Requires that parents buy more clothes than they would normally buy

Now, pick the strongest of the three points and think of a point someone might make to disagree with you. This is called a counter point, and it is very important in shaping a persuasive essay.

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Step 4: Order your reasons/points in order from weakest to strongest. (Remember, your strongest point will also include a counter point). Now plug these into a “flee” map. (A “Flee” map is a combination of a flow map and a tree map)

School Uniforms should not be required

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Step 5: Create your thesis and hook.

Thesis Equation: Your opinion + your 3 reasons = thesis statement

Example: Students should not be required to wear school uniforms because they cost parents too much money, they make students unhappy, and it does not stop bullies or gangs.

Hook: You never get a second chance at a first impression. Entice your readers with an interesting first sentence. (Don’t use a question—it is usually done incorrectly) Make a bold statement related to your topic.

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Step 6: Brace map! Organize your essay in a brace map. Include where you will place all of your information for your readers.

| | | | |Hook: There is absolutely no reason why a student |

| | | | |should ever have to wear a school uniform. |

| | | | |Thesis: Students should not be required to wear |

| | | | |school uniforms because they cost parents too much|

| | |Paragraph One: Introduction | |money, they make students unhappy, and it does not|

| | | | |stop bullies or gangs. |

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|Persuasive Essay: Students | | | | |

|should not be required to | | | | |

|wear school uniforms. | | | | |

| | | | |R: Uniforms require parents to buy more clothes |

| | | | |than they would normally buy. |

| | | | |E: Parents usually only buy one set of clothing |

| | | | |for their children. Uniforms require that they |

| | |Paragraph Two: Reason 1 w/ | |buy two. |

| | |evidence | |E: The country is in an economic recession and the|

| | | | |working class needs all their money. |

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| | | | |R: Students may feel unhappy at school, and will |

| | | | |therefore not learn |

| | | | |E: If a student is self-conscience of how they |

| | | | |look, they may spend more time worrying about that|

| | |Paragraph Three: Reason 2 w/ | |than paying attention in class. |

| | |evidence | |E: An unhappy student usually has a bad attitude, |

| | | | |and may hurt other students. |

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| | | | |CP: Many people believe that uniforms stop bullies|

| | | | |and gangs influences. |

| | | | |R: Does not stop bullying or gang affiliations |

| | | | |E: Bullies want to put people down no matter what,|

| | |Paragraph Four: Counter Point,| |so even if they can’t make fun of what they are |

| | |Reason 3 w/ evidence | |wearing, they will find something else to make fun|

| | | | |of. |

| | | | |E: Gang members will find new ways of identifying |

| | | | |themselves |

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| | | | |(Restate your main points) |

| | | | |There are many reasons why students should not be |

| | | | |required to wear school uniforms. They cost money|

| | |Paragraph Five: Conclusion | |that parents don’t have, and they make students |

| | | | |feel self-conscience. Furthermore, unlike common |

| | | | |belief, they do not stop bullying or gang |

| | | | |affiliations. |

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School uniforms should not be required

They are ugly

They don’t allow the child to express their individuality

Requires that parents buy more clothes than they would normally buy

Students will feel unhappy at school

They may not learn

Does not stop bullying or gang associations.

Most students do not like how the uniforms fit and feel.

Bullies and gang members find alternative ways to express themselves

Students usually wear the same clothes to school that they wear everywhere else

Teenagers usually take pride in picking out their own clothes

Requires parents to buy more clothes than they would normally buy.

Students may feel unhappy at school, and will therefore not learn

Does not stop bullying or gang affiliations

Many people believe that uniforms stop bullies and gangs influences.

Parents usually only buy one set of clothing for their children. Uniforms require that they buy two.

The country is in an economic recession and the working class needs all their money.

An unhappy student usually has a bad attitude, and may hurt other students.

If a student is self-conscience of how they look, they may spend more time worrying about that than paying attention in class.

Gang members will find new ways of identifying themselves

Bullies want to put people down no matter what, so even if they can’t make fun of what they are wearing, they will find something else to make fun of.

Counter Point

Details and evidence

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