Persuasive Essay Checklist
Format…
 Typed, 12 pt Times New Roman font
 2-4 pages, double-spaced
 1 inch margins
 Spelling/Grammar counts
 APA format (Work Cited and endnotes)
Prompt… Should we perform genetic engineering on humans?
Introduction…
• Captures attention.
• Provides background info. (what genetic engineering is, how to do it, what it does, and current/future
applications of it)
• Contains a clear opinion statement (thesis)…
• Establishes Ethos (credibility of the writer)
Body Paragraph #1…
• Contains a clear topic sentence
• Clearly states the reason (supporting argument).
• Using Pathos or Logos (emotional or logical appeal)
• Contains at least three pieces of evidence to support the reason.
• Examples cited from the movie, your text book, the articles you have read, or other outside sources
(be sure to use endnotes to cite where you got your information)
• Contains appropriate transitions between pieces of evidence.
• Contains a conclusion or transition statement to the next reason.
Body Paragraph #2…
• Contains a clear topic sentence
• Clearly states the reason (supporting argument).
• Using Pathos or Logos (emotional or logical appeal)
• Contains at least three pieces of evidence to support the reason.
• Examples cited from the movie, your text book, the articles you have read, or other outside sources
(be sure to use endnotes to cite where you got your information)
• Contains appropriate transitions between pieces of evidence.
• Contains a conclusion or transition statement to the next reason.
Body Paragraph #3
• Contains a clear topic sentence
• Clearly states the reason (supporting argument).
• Using Pathos or Logos (emotional or logical appeal)
• Contains at least three pieces of evidence to support the reason.
• Examples cited from the movie, your text book, the articles you have read, or other outside sources
(be sure to use endnotes to cite where you got your information)
• Contains appropriate transitions between pieces of evidence.
• Contains a conclusion or transition statement to the next reason.
Body Paragraph #4
• Contains a topic sentence
• Contains an opposing viewpoint
• Contains 3 reasons to disprove opposing viewpoint
• Using Pathos or Logos
• Contains a conclusion or transition statement to the next paragraph.
Conclusion Paragraph
• Restates the opinion statement in different words.
• Includes a summary of the reasons (supporting arguments).
• Ends with a powerful clincher statement or a call to action.
Modes of Persuasion
Ethos: plays on the credibility of the author (is he an expert watchmaker talking about a famous
watch or a pro basketball player talking about his sport?)
Pathos: plays on the emotions of the audience (using a tearjerker story to sway people to your
side)
Logos: uses logic to convince (facts, statistics, and charts all fall within logos)
Look at the following examples for arguments to use Klean Toothpaste.
http://www.storyboardthat.com/articles/education/writing/ethos-pathos-lagos