Writing Essays in Social Studies Persuasive Essays - Proving an Argument

Sentence Paragraph ? Where next?

THE Persuasive essay

Structure Your essay, like a well-built tower, must have structure. There is a correct way to put essays together. It is important to learn how to build an essay properly.

ESSAY

Hamburger Structure Introduction Body Conclusion

Introduction Body Paragraph 1 Paragraph 2 Paragraph 3 Conclusion

The Introduction

Introduction INTRO A general statement introduces the topic. Additional sentences lead into the thesis. Thesis statement.

Introduction General Statement Additional Sentences Thesis Statement Draw the reader into your essay. Puzzling statement or question. Interesting quote, statistic, or idea. Provide background. Share an anecdote or brief story. Lead into the thesis statement. Additional Sentences Thesis Statement

Topic Sentence

The Thesis Statement A thesis statement is a complete sentence that contains one main idea that the writer is claiming to be true. This idea is what the entire essay is about. A good thesis statement also helps a reader know how the essay will be organized. It includes references to the premises. Introduction ESSAY Thesis Statement Body Paragraph #1 Body Paragraph #2 Body Paragraph #3

Don’t State the Obvious Do not use phrases like “I am going to…” or “In this essay, I will…”. Just write your opinion as a thesis statement. Include the premises. Example: The Roman Empire ultimately failed because of government corruption, economic crises, and barbarian invasions. In this essay, I am going to discuss the fall of the Roman Empire.

The Middle: Body Paragraphs

Body Paragraphs Each body paragraph: Has a premise (based on one of the key points in the thesis). Has proofs (specific evidence to defend the premise). Usually there are two - three proofs.   Has a conclusion that shows the premise has been proven and connected to the thesis.

Paragraph Example If the thesis is: Napoleon was a great leader for France. And the Premises are: Napoleon’s military, legal, and political successes. One paragraph would be about: Napoleon’s political successes.

Paragraph Example Cont’d The Topic Sentence would be: In addition, Napoleon should be credited for his strong skills in the political field of battle. The Premises would be Napoleon’s political successes: His coup d’état against the Directory; his use of family to rule; his successful return from Elba. The Conclusion would be a restatement of the Topic Sentence in different words. These examples illustrate how Napoleon’s intelligent political decisions contributed to his greatness.

Body Paragraphs An essay must have at least one body paragraph, but most teachers expect to see three body paragraphs. All body paragraphs should have the same structure: Premise Proofs Conclusion

The Conclusion

Conclusion Conclusion Reword the thesis. Recap the main points. Final thought.

Conclusion Reword the thesis Reword your thesis in the first sentence of your paragraph. Recap the main points Remind your reader of your premises and proofs. Rephrase your points in a brief and interesting way. Final thought Leave the reader with a thoughtful or insightful comment about why your thesis matters.

Example: Describe the social, political, and economic characteristics of one Native Canadian group. The sophisticated society, strong economy, and democratic political system of the Iroquois people made them a dominant force in their region of North America. The Iroquois lived in large communities joined together by strong social ties. The Iroquois had a strong agricultural-based economy with extended trade ties. The democratic political system of the Iroquois made it stronger than its neighbours. If the Europeans had not arrived in North America when they did, it is likely that the Iroquois civilization would have continued to grow in both territory and power.

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