Persuasive Essay Notes

Take notes on these terms.

You will need to understand
them in order to write your
essay.
 Opinion Statement
• your opinion statement will be:
– the most important sentence in your
essay
– the heart of your essay
– at the end of your intro paragraph

• topic + position = opinion statement

 Purpose
• since this is a persuasive essay, your
purpose will be
– to convince readers to share your opinion,
or
– to take the action you suggest

• Keep your purpose in mind, but do not

directly write it in your paper!
 3 Reasons
• support your opinion statement:
– logical appeals: make sense
– emotional appeals: aim at hearts
– ethical appeals: address right and wrong

• Each reason will become one body

paragraph.
• Your essay will include all three
reasons.
 Evidence
• You will support each reason with
at least two pieces of evidence.
• You will need to research factual
evidence.
• Use a variety of evidence to be
completely effective.
 6 Types of Evidence

• facts: statements that

• anecdotes: personal can be proven
examples or stories
• examples: specific
instances of
• analogies: compare illustrations
between two otherwise
unlike things • case studies:
scientific research
• expert opinions:
statements made by
proven authorities
 Audience
• ask yourself three questions:
– What will make my audience care about this issue?
• connect directly to their lives
– What concerns might my audience have?
• use biases and other concerns to create counterarguments
– What will my audience expect from my essay?
• well-rounded argument with evidence

• Keep your audience in mind, but do not

mention them in your paper!
 Counterclaims
• Address your audience’s concerns.
• Think about what your reader could
argue against each thing that you say.
• Then, give an example to prove that
you are right.

• Counterclaims will be addressed in

each paragraph.
Organize Your
Paragraphs
Introduction
Body – second best reason
Body – worst reason
Body – best reason
Conclusion
Introduction Paragraph
1. Engaging opening
2. Background
3. Opinion statement

word count: at least 75 words

 Body Paragraphs
1. Topic sentence
2. Evidence
3. Explanation
4. Counterclaim
5. Evidence
6. Explanation
7. Closing sentence

word count: at least 100 words

 Conclusion Paragraph
1. Restatement of opinion statement
2. Summary of reasons
3. Tell the reader what to do

word count: at least 75 words

 We’re finished!
• Adapted from Holt Literature and
Language Arts: Third and Fourth Course

• See your textbook for more information:

– English 9, pages 320-327
– -English 10, pages 294-301