Notes on Writing a Notes on Writing a Persuasive EssayPersuasive Essay

Rhetorical ConceptsRhetorical Concepts

Kairos-timeliness Kairos-timeliness Ethos-credibilityEthos-credibility

Logos-logic Logos-logic Pathos-emotionPathos-emotion

What is a What is a Persuasive Persuasive EssayEssay??

A persuasive essay has an A persuasive essay has an introduction, a body introduction, a body and a conclusion.and a conclusion.

The writer takes a The writer takes a positionposition for or against an for or against an issue and writes to issue and writes to convinceconvince his/her audience his/her audience to agree with his/her position.to agree with his/her position.

The writer tries to The writer tries to convinceconvince the reader to believe the reader to believe or do something as well.or do something as well.

IntroductionIntroduction

Should have a Should have a “hook” or “hook” or

‘grabber” to ‘grabber” to catchcatch the the reader’s reader’s attentionattention

Some “grabbers” Some “grabbers” include:include:

opening with an unusual fact or detailopening with an unusual fact or detail opening with a strong statementopening with a strong statement opening with a quotationopening with a quotation opening with a statisticopening with a statistic opening with a questionopening with a question opening with an anecdoteopening with an anecdote

The introduction should also The introduction should also include a include a THESIS THESIS

STATEMENTSTATEMENT

A A thesis statementthesis statement is a sentence is a sentence that that states states what you will what you will proveprove in in your essayyour essay

It is a fact that teenagers require more It is a fact that teenagers require more sleep than adults. The average teenager sleep than adults. The average teenager requires 12-14 hours of sleep a day. requires 12-14 hours of sleep a day. Unfortunately, teenagers rarely get this Unfortunately, teenagers rarely get this amount of sleep. Why? Because the amount of sleep. Why? Because the average American high school begins average American high school begins between 7 and 8 a.m. in the morning. between 7 and 8 a.m. in the morning. This is ridiculous. High school students This is ridiculous. High school students should have a start time of 10 a.m. to should have a start time of 10 a.m. to allow their growing students to get the allow their growing students to get the amount of sleep they need to amount of sleep they need to strengthen and develop their brains, strengthen and develop their brains, which will allow them to meet greater which will allow them to meet greater success in school.success in school.

What is the thesis What is the thesis statement?statement?

High school students should have a start High school students should have a start time of 10 a.m. to allow their growing time of 10 a.m. to allow their growing students to get the amount of sleep they students to get the amount of sleep they need to strengthen and develop their need to strengthen and develop their brains, which will allow them to meet brains, which will allow them to meet greater success in school.greater success in school.

The BodyThe Body

Should consist of Should consist of paragraphs that follow paragraphs that follow the thesis and transition smoothly.the thesis and transition smoothly.

Each paragraph should give a solid reason Each paragraph should give a solid reason to back your thesis statementto back your thesis statement

Each reason should be followed with Each reason should be followed with examples/details (elaborate on each point)examples/details (elaborate on each point)

Elaboration and DetailsElaboration and Details

Use real-life Use real-life experiencesexperiences

Give statistics/factsGive statistics/facts Give Give

examples/scenarios examples/scenarios to support your each to support your each reasonreason

CounterclaimCounterclaim

Acknowledge the Acknowledge the other point of view other point of view that goes against that goes against your position.your position.

Discredit the Discredit the counterclaim by counterclaim by finding fault with finding fault with the counterclaim.the counterclaim.

ConclusionConclusion

Begin with a transition (see list in tool kit)Begin with a transition (see list in tool kit)

Summarize main points/reasonsSummarize main points/reasons

Restate thesis statementRestate thesis statement