| | WRITING GUIDELINES:
PERSUASIVE ESSAY
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In a persuasive essay, your goal is to convince readers to accept your opinion about a subject.
- List all of our ideas about a specific subject. After reviewing your list, collect additional information as needed.
- Before writing your essay, have two or three main points to support your opinion. Here are the Three main points in the sample essay:
Subject: Capitall punishment is wrong.
Main Supporting Points:
- Morally wrong
- Expensive
- Slow process
Organize your information before you write your first draft.
An outline is an organized list of the information you will use in your writing. The deatils are listed from general to specific.
Subject: Capital punishment should be stopped.
I. Morally wrong
a. Makes us act like criminals
b.Wastes another life
c. Offers no second chance
II. Expensive
a. Costs a lot to operate
b. Uses tax money
- $57 million for 18 executions in Florida
- $3.2 million for each one
III. Slow process
a. 97% not executed on time
b.Huge waiting list
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WRITING
| Writing the First Draft
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Beginning: Your opening paragraph should introduce your subject and state your opinion. It may also tell which points you plan to cover in your essay. (see the sample essay)
Middle : Write about each main point in a separate paragraph. Use your outline, your list, or other organizer as a guide. In a persuasive essay, the strongest argument is usually presented forst, or last.
Ending: The last paragraph should restate your opinion and summarize the main points in your argument.
| REVISING | Improving Your Writing
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Review your first draft using the following checklist as a guide. Also have at least one other person review your work.
- Does the opening paragraph give background information and state my opinion?
- Do the main points in the middle paragraphs support my opinion?
- Are the main points organized so that readers will be able to follow my argument?
- Does the title help identify the subject of my essay?
Make the necessary changes or improvments in your essay.
| EDITING | Checking for Errors
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Check your revised writing for spelling, grammar, punctiation, and capitalization errors. Also have one other person check your writing for errors. Then make a neat fonal copy to share. |
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