Persuasive Essay

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 6

Persuasive essay 

Objectives:

• You can recognise all different parts of a persuasive essay
• You've started writing an persuasive essay

What is a persuasive essay?

Why would you write one?

Persuasive essay

The purpose of writing a persuasive essay is to present a compelling argument and convince the reader to adopt a specific viewpoint or take a particular course of action.

To persuade = to convince

What are the 3 main parts of an persuasive essay?

Thesis - with concession showing your awareness of existing counterarguments.

Just two body para-graphs

Outline of a Persuasive Essay 

Introductory paragraph

• A hook: an attention-grabbing sentence containing an interesting or shocking fact/statistic/quote/anecdote/(...)
• Outlines the topic: you provide background information necessary to understand the subject
• State your thesis with a concession and end with your claim, clearly stating your position  

Body paragraph

• Two paragraphs that explain the reasons why you support your thesis
• Each body paragraph covers a different idea
• Each body paragraph contains a topic sentence which states the idea that you are going to discuss in the rest of the paragraph
• Each topic sentence needs to be supported with explanation, argumentation, examples, research, statistics, studies, and/or text citations
• Each body paragraph ends with closing remarks referring to topic sentence and thesis

Conclusion 

• Restates your thesis
• Summarizes all of the arguments made in your body paragraphs in a unique way 
• No new facts or arguments
• Points out solution or calls for action, giving the reader a sense of ending

Sample introduction

Some people say that the Internet does more harm than good. What is your view?

To the majority of teenagers and working adults, the Internet has been regarded as one the most innovative achievements of humankind. Since the invention of the internet, its pervasive and life-altering influences can be felt in many aspects of people’s daily lives. While mostly beneficial in areas such as communication, trade and research, the internet has also caused a proliferation of vices such as pornography and hacking. Despite the negativity associated with the internet, I strongly believe that Internet does more good than harm.

Look for these 3 features

1. Hook
2. Background information
3. Thesis with concession

writers-house.com

Sample of a first body paragraph

First of all, communication all over the world has been considerably improved thanks to the Internet. With the widespread availability of messengers and social networks like Yahoo and Facebook, people can easily communicate irrespective of their geographic locations. Gone are the days when international communication meant a delay of several days to months. Today, interaction through the Internet is not only much cheaper and more convenient than traditional modes of communication, it also has options to allow face to face interaction such as through the use of Skype. Now, family members and businesses can not only have instantaneous communication, they can also have the added personal touch even if they are in different continents or in any remote part of the world.

Do you recognise this structure? Explain.

• Topic sentence
• Explanation, argumentation
• Examples, evidence
• Closing remark linking back to topic sentence and thesis

Sample of a second body paragraph

Furthermore, the Internet is one of the key contributors to the global free trade. When the transnational corporations want to open business in the other countries, they first have to contact partners in those countries before officially making a deal. In such case, the Internet certainly does a great job. In addition, the Internet is instrumental in reducing operation costs for businesses where employees can be easily hired from developing countries and work remotely from their native land. For example, many transnational companies set up call centres in countries like Philippines or India where workers are cheaper to employ. The same benefits are applied to people’s daily lives. With the omnipresence of online shops, many people are able to save their precious time shopping. Instead, they have more time to do other important things such as helping their children do homework or having a short visit to their parents’ house.

Identify the different elements in this paragraph.

• Topic sentence
  
• Explanation, argumentation
  
• Examples, evidence
  
• Closing remark linking back to topic sentence and thesis

Sample of a conclusion

In conclusion, similar to any other technological inventions, the Internet has both pros and cons; nonetheless, its benefits far outweigh its harms. With recent upgrading Internet security software and substantial improvements on its use, I am firmly convinced the Internet is more a blessing than a curse.

Is this an appropriate conlusion? Explain.

This sample essay is retrieved from https://gceguide.com/resources/notes/english-language-1123/argumentative-essays/

How to start writing?

• Start with an outline: an overview of what you want to say in each paragraph.
•   It prevents you from losing focus and helps you developing a clear structure and stick to it.
•  How?  Jot down the paragraph name/number  and add key words and ideas ( do not worry about writing full sentences yet). 

You find an example of a paragraph plan on the next slide

academichelp.net

How to write persuasively?

www.grammarly.com

www.masterclass.com

Test essay assignment

• You research and prepare three chosen topics prior to the test.
• While researching the three topics you prepare both for and against arguments.
• At the test you get your test assignment: the specific topic, your stance and extra information.
• At the test you get a source that you need to incorporate in your esssay.
• You write a persuasive essay of at least 300 words in a formal style. 
• Your essay exists of four paragraphs: the introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion.
• Your introduction needs to contain a concession.
• In your first body paragraph you incorporate a quote from the source (according to APA rules) and you include ethos and logos.
• In your second body paragraph, based on your own idea, you incorporate pathos, while using one of the following stylistic devices: alliteration, anaphora, hypophora or a metaphor.
• You end your essay with a correct conclusion.
• Your body paragraphs and conclusion should start with linking words/phrases.
• At the end of the test you upload your essay onto Magister Opdrachten.

1.  Prioritising nuclear power

2. Banning single-use plastics

3. Restricting GM-food

1. Restricting Social Media

2. Legalising hard drugs

3. Restricting freedom of speech

Environmental debates

Social debates

Homework for next class:

Choose one these topics: 

Should corporations have a higher or lower tax rate?

Should college be free?

Should the wolf be banned from Dutch soil?

Write a paragraph plan and an introductionary paragraph. Send your work to [e-mail]