Steps for Writing
a Persuasive
Essay
Persuasive Writing
Create three columns in your journal
KNOW
WANT to know
LEARNED
• Bullet information
you know about
persuasive writing
• Bullet information
you WANT to know
about persuasive
writing
Save this for what you
have learned
The first two steps of
the assignment
provide information,
but they are not the
prompt. In fact, if you
ignore these items, it
will not affect your
ability to write the
essay.
It is the third step of
the assignment that
is your PROMPT.
This is what you
must respond to in
your essay.
The final step reminds
you of the essentials
to include when
writing the essay.
Read the information in the box below.
Some argue that our so-called information age is really an
“interruption age.” With smart phones in hand, we spend much of the
day texting, tweeting, and surfing the Web. Rather than concentrating
on big issues, we fill our heads with the trivia and gossip that
interrupts our attention. So much information passes our way that we
have trouble remembering any of it.
Think carefully about this question: Do you believe that instant
communication is helping or hurting us?
an essay stating whether we live in an information age or an
interruption age.
—
*state your position clearly
*use appropriate organization
*provide specific support for your argument
*choose your words carefully
*edit your writing for grammar, mechanics, and sentences
Let’s Practice
 We’ll
be practicing how to answer the
prompt without using the read and think
part in order to improve our scores.
STEP #1A
READ the prompt. Circle the most important
word in the prompt (the subject).
State your position on whether school
librarians should ban inappropriate
books from the school library.
Now you do it: Circle the
most important words in the
prompt. Wavy underline
words you don’t know and
write the definition on the
side.
Write an essay stating your position
on whether one should divulge
information given in confidence.
STEP #1B
Underline the other ideas you must address in
your thesis (the subject).
Should school librarians ban inappropriate
books from the school library?
Now you do it:
Write an essay stating your position
on whether one should divulge
information given in confidence.
STEP #2
Brainstorm a list of reasons for and
against the issue or position.
Against banning books:
For banning books:
--students are too young to
make decisions about what
they read
--librarians don’t want parents
mad at them
--students should only read
about pleasant and noncontroversial topics
--the Constitution allows us the freedom
of speech, freedom of press
--students need to learn to make
responsible choices about what they
read
--students should not be sheltered from
controversial world news
--students can find inappropriate
material on the Internet
--the question of appropriate reading is
debatable, it cannot be determined
by one individual
Now you do it:
 One
should divulge
information:
 One
should not
divulge
information:
STEP #3
Choose the position you will argue.
Either “YES, school librarians should
censor books”
OR
“NO, school librarians should not
censor books.”
This becomes the center of your
thesis.
Now choose a side based on
your previous list:
 Write
an essay stating your position on
whether one should divulge information
given in confidence.
STEP #4
Choose the two “reasons” for
which you can write the best
argument.
--Each reason has to be developed and
explained
--Limit yourself (space management)
STEP #5
Write your THESIS:
•Rearrange words from prompt into statement
• Add “because”
•Add two reasons
This is the road map for the rest of your essay
Example: School librarians should not ban books
from the school library because students need to
learn to choose for themselves and not to
mention the fact that banning goes against the
American Constitution.
Write your own!
Now write your own THESIS:
 Don’t forget to rearrange words from the prompt
into a statement
• Add “because”
•Add two reasons
Remember the prompt:
Write an essay stating your position on whether one
should divulge information given in confidence.
This is the road map for the rest of your essay
Persuasive Phrases
Include phrases like these to ensure the persuasive nature of
your essay:
It is certain that…
The logical conclusion is…
The fact is…
The truth is…
The correct perspective is…
Common sense reveals that…
The bottom line is…
In reality,…
The essential idea is…
With certainty, a person can say that…
In the majority of cases…
Divide your paper into four
even boxes:
1st box=45 Seconds
 Prompt:
Write an essay stating your
position on whether one should divulge
information given in confidence.
 State your claim about the prompt with
two reasons.
 NEVER STOP WRITING!!!!!!!
Now count the number of
words and write the
number on the bottom
right corner of the box.
35 words
2nd box=55 Seconds
 List
the first reason why you are right.
 What reason or evidence exists to prove
you are right?
 NEVER STOP WRITING
Now count the number of
words and write the
number on the bottom
right corner of the box.
55 words
3rd box=55 Seconds
 List
the second reason why you are right.
 Write the reasons or evidence that exists
that proves why you are right.
 NEVER STOP WRITING
Now count the number of
words and write the
number on the bottom
right corner of the box.
65 words
4th box=55 Seconds
 Why
is the other argument wrong and
what should the reader do?
 Never stop writing!!!!!
Now count the number of
words and write the
number on the bottom left
corner of the box.
35 words
DONE!
Now you have a working first
draft.
Want to add words to support
your reason?

accordingly  as a consequence  as a result  as
a result of  because  because of this  by reason
of  caused by  consequently  due to  following
that  for  for this purpose  for this reason 
furthermore  hence  henceforth  in conclusion 
in effect  in view of  it follows that  on account
of  otherwise  owing to  so  subsequently  the
end result  the outcome  the ramifications of 
then  thereafter  therefore  thus  to this end 
accordingly  as a result  consequently  hence 
it follows, then  since  so  then  therefore  thus
Do you want words to intensify
your point?

above all  actually  after all  as a matter of fact
 certainly  decidedly  definitely  equally
important  especially  furthermore  in fact 
increasingly important  indeed  more
emphatically  more important  moreover  most
important of all  most of all  of great concern  of
major concern  primarily  significantly  surely 
the crux of the matter  the main issue  the main
problem  the major reason  there is no question
that  to be sure  to emphasize  to recapitulate 
very likely  without a doubt  without doubt 
without que
Words to use when
introducing and example

a case in point  after all  an analogy  analogous
to  another way  as an example  as an illustration 
consider  consider as an illustration  for example 
for instance  for instance  for one thing  in another
case  in fact  in one example  in order to clarify 
in other words  in particular  in the following
manner  in the same manner  in this case  in this
situation  in this specific instance  more exactly 
namely  on this occasion  specifically  such as 
suppose that  take the case of  that is  to be exact
 to bring to light  to clarify  to demonstrate  to
exemplify  to explain  to illuminate  to illustrate  to
put another way  to show  to take a case in point 
to take a case in point
Hooks/Leads
 The
first sentence to make your essay
interesting.
 We will look at different ways to start an
essay.