Detroit CCA Paper Trail January 2014 Trailblazer News

The Persuasive Essay ENGLISH 11 MRS. ST. JOHN

The different parts of the persuasive essay 1. Introduc+on 2. Thesis 3. Three main arguments to support our thesis 4. Counterargument (the opposite of what we stated in our thesis) 5. Three individual paragraphs to talk about out three main points of support 6. Conclusion

That’s it!!

Review of Introduction ü It must grab the reader’s aFen+on!

Think of what newscasters do when repor+ng the evening news.

Their first sentence NEEDS to grab the viewer’s aFen+on. If it doesn’t, what will happen?

Three different ways to start your introduction ü Asking a ques+on: Do you think it is fair that students must wear school uniforms and be treated like some criminal? Why should students lose their right to choose what they want to wear to school?

ü Tell a story: I knew of a student who a;ended school in a gang infested area. He was

required to wear a red shirt and blue pants as part of the school uniform policy. One day while he was walking home, he was jumped by a gang who thought he was a member of a rival gang.

He was hospitalized for a week. Who says that requiring school uniforms is to keep students safe? I believe it does the exact opposite.

ü Create a scenario: Imagine a world where people had to wear the same ouFit every

day, five days a week, six hours a day. Imagine never having the opportunity to choose what you would like to wear each day of the week because you have to follow some ridiculous school or work policy.

Thesis ü Make it short and to the point! ü Choose a side and s+ck with it! You must choose a side of the argument and make sure you choose the side that you can support! ü It is a statement, not a ques+on!

Example of a GREAT THESIS STATEMENT: Students should not have to wear school uniforms.

Example of a TERRIBLE THESIS STATEMENT: Students should not have to wear school uniforms because that is how I feel but they also should because it would stop students from fighIng.

Three main points to support thesis statement ü Must help support your thesis statement ü Make sure to choose points that you can back up with an example ü Don’t choose a side that you cannot support!

Great Example of a thesis statement and three main points of support: Students should not have to wear school uniforms because it does not allow them the freedom of expression, it does not create a be;er learning environment, and it is expensive.

Terrible Example of a thesis statement and three main points of support: I don’t think that students should have to wear uniforms because it would suck, students wouldn’t wear them, and I’m going wear what I want to wear.

Counterargument ü The counterargument is the opposite of what you stated in your thesis statement. ü Use transi+on words to start your counterargument: However, On the other hand,

My thesis statement and three main points of support: Students should not have to wear school uniforms because it does not allow them the freedom of expression, it does not create a be;er learning environment, and it is expensive.

Counterargument: However, there are people who believe that students should have to wear school uniforms because they believe that it will cut down the amount of violence that is occurring in schools today. There will conInue to be fights in schools whether school uniforms are worn or not.

Your Turn ü Wri+ng Prompt: Should students be required to wear school uniforms? ü Create your introduc+on ü Create your thesis ü Create your three main points to support your thesis ü Create your counterargument