How to Write a Persuasive Essay

Name:
Step 1: Examine the Question
- What is the question asking?
- What key words or concepts connect to the question?
Step 2: Position
- Do you agree with the source? Why?
- Do you disagree with the source? Why?
- What are 3 arguments you could make?
Step 3: Evidence
- What can you use to support your position?
- Any other perspectives?
Step 4: Planning
- Put your thoughts and plans into a organizer or chart.
Step 5: Writing
- Use your planner and begin writing your paper.

What are the 5 parts in a 5

Paragraph Essay?
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

What is needed in your introduction?

1) Hook or introduction sentence
2) Your thesis (position on the question): be clear and short (1-2 sentences)
3) List of arguments you will be making
4) Transition sentence into first argument
Introductory Paragraph Example
Prompt: Should Canada abolish, keep, or reform the Senate?
There is much debate about what Canada should do with the Senate. Although some feel
that it is an important check on the power of the House of Commons, in many ways it has
become a waste of citizens tax dollars. As a result, Canada should reform the Senate. One
of the ways the Senate can be reformed is by altering how the regions of Canada are
represented in the Upper House. The Senate can also be improved by actually exercising
their power as a sober second thought from time to time. Finally, Senators should be
elected instead of appointed to hold them more accountable for their actions while
serving in the Senate. By making these reforms the Senate will better serve the
government and citizens of Canada.
What is needed in your body paragraphs?
1) Topic Sentence that states the argument you will be making
2) Explanation of why your argument is correct
3) Make sure to use evidence to support your argument
4) Connect argument back to thesis statement
5) Transition sentence into next argument (next point)
6) Repeat this at least 2 times
What is needed in your conclusion?
1) Restate thesis in a different way
2) Summarize the arguments you made
3) Do NOT add any new ideas, points, arguments or evidence
Big No-Nos in Essay Writing

How is your essay marked?

Argumentation
X2

Evidence
X2

Communication

4
- Thesis is
explicitly stated
- Arguments
completely
outlined
- Arguments
made are detailed
- Variety of
sources used
- In-depth
analysis of
sources
- Evidence
comprehensively
supports the
argument
- Logical
organization
- No spelling/
grammatical
errors
- Diverse
sentence structure

Persuasive Essay
3
- Thesis is clearly
stated
- Arguments
simply outlined
- Arguments
made are precise

2
- Thesis is
unrecognizable
- Arguments are
unidentified
- Arguments made
are unclear

- Some sources
used
- Complete
analysis of
sources
- Evidence
clearly supports
the argument

- Limited use of
sources
- Partial analysis
of sources
- Evidence
minimally
supports the
argument

- Clear
organization
- Few spelling/
grammatical
errors
- Clear sentence
structure

- Lacks
organization
- Many spelling/
grammatical errors
- Unclear sentence
structure

1
- Thesis is
not present
- No
arguments
outlined
- No
arguments
are made
- No sources
used
- No analysis
of sources
- No
connection to
argument
- No
organization
present
- Unreadable
- Improper
sentence
structure