Persuasive essay Higher Up to 1300 words Each paragraph uses some evidence Complex language is used Structured well, with linking phrases between every paragraph For and against arguments are detailed and well-developed Spelling and punctuation are accurate throughout

The subject of genetic engineering has been much in the news recently. There has been debate in Parliament and the press as to the wisdom of allowing genetically modified foodstuffs to be sold in the country. Many supermarkets are refusing to allow GM food on their shelves. GM crop trials in Britain have been destroyed by protesters. If so many people are concerned, we must try to discover whether GM foods are a good thing or not. Explain what your topic is. Tell us that it’s an important or controversial topic. Tell us that there are people for and against it. Sum up what your essay will be looking at and the question you’ll be answering. You could make that last part a rhetorical question. (If so many people are concerned, we need to find out for certain. Are GM foods a good thing or not?)

Try to write your introduction, making sure you include these four sections. Make sure you express your opinion about each argument whether you agree with it or not.

What makes a successful Higher Persuasive Essay We will look at a successful exemplar and discuss what features and techniques it has that help to make it a success. The exemplar is called ‘Plastic Lives’ and it is a persuasive essay about the charge on plastic bags that was introduced recently.

What makes a successful Higher Persuasive Essay We will look to identify fifteen examples of the following features: 1.Emotive language 2.Directive language 3.Important facts 4.Important statistics 5.Expert testimony 6.Anecdotal evidence 7.Complex vocabulary 8.Complex sentence structure 9.Powerful beginning 10.Powerful ending 11.A powerful argument 12.A well considered bibliography 13.Refuting an argument powerfully 14.Rhetorical questions 15.One area of weakness in the essay

P - Point E – Evidence/Explain O - Opinion Every paragraph should contain the following information… Point = sum up the argument people make. Evidence = facts/statistics to back up the point. Explain what the evidence is showing and what people on that side of the argument would say about it. Opinion = Express your point of view about this point.

Your essay needs to be well structured and follow a logical argument. You need to use linking words to link each argument on to the next. The following is a list of words that show different methods of linking. Comparisons - similarly, likewise, in the same way. Contrast - although, however, otherwise, yet, but, nevertheless. Examples - for example, for instance, in other words. Conclusions - as has been noted, finally, on the whole, overall.