Writing a Persuasive Speech You have to try to convince us that we’re not all right all of the time.

Where to begin? When you are given a prompt, what do you do before you begin to write the essay?

Where to begin? Understand the prompt Create pro/con chart to decide on position Write your thesis Decide on evidence Create an outline Introduction: A, B, C Write a thesis (a position that you will argue using evidence) Decide on reasons and the evidence you will use to support each reason Counterargument: What and where? Conclusion Strategy Write the speech! Rehearse it until you are 100% certain that you’ve got this

Writing a Persuasive Thesis A persuasive thesis statement should have two parts: A suggestion/ evidence recommendation + (What people (Why people should “should” do) do this)

Persuasive Thesis Suggestions & RECs The suggestion or recommendation is more than praise or whining which is often the point of an opinion. “I hate eight o’clock classes!” Instead, suggest what should be changed (The recommendation is what you are convincing people to do, so do not use “I think”): “Schools should begin their first period classes later in the morning …”

Persuasive Thesis: Evidence After writing your suggestion, include evidence to prove your point. “Schools should begin their first period classes later in the morning…” Because of what reason(s)? “…in order to increase student attendance and academic performance.”

Persuasive Thesis: Finished Can you identify the two parts of the thesis below? Even though some people believe it's a right to carry firearms, handguns should be outlawed because it's too easy for criminals to get handguns and too many innocent people are dying from accidental shootings. http://www.ozline.com/electraguide/example.php

Persuasive Thesis: Finished Can you identify the two parts of the thesis below? Even though some people believe it's a right to carry firearms, handguns should be outlawed because it's too easy for criminals to get handguns and too many innocent people are dying from accidental shootings. http://www.ozline.com/electraguide/example.php

Persuasive Essay Outline Introduction Reason #1 + specific evidence to support reason #1 Reason #2 + specific evidence to support reason #2 Reason #3 + specific evidence to support reason #3 Conclusion

Counterargument Your essay should focus on your main point – the thesis– and your evidence. To counter-argue is to consider a possible argument against your thesis. A good persuasive essay will openly consider alternatives and then, through logic and evidence, prove why those alternatives are faulty or incorrect.

Counterargument The Counterargument How and why might someone disagree with you? Words/phrases that signal the counterargument It might seem that . . . It’s true that . . . Admittedly . . . The Response to the Counterargument How would argue against someone who disagrees with you? Refute it with a but, yet, however, nevertheless, or still . . . followed by your carefully-thought rebuttal.

Where does the counterargument belong? The counterargument can be placed: Near the beginning, when you’re addressing skepticism Within a paragraph that relates to the counterargument In its own paragraph just before the conclusion

Writing a Counterargument Counterarguments generally have two components: Counterargument Response to Counterargument

Writing a Counterargument The sentence introducing the counterargument will be structured like this: “Although critics might argue that school uniforms are pointless, plenty of academic studies show that school uniforms create a sense of community and lower rates of objectification of others.”

Example(ish) Although some might argue that vending machines in schools are filled with snacks that are unhealthy and should be removed, the schools could stock the machines with snacks that are healthy. Instead of removing snack options, the schools could instead provide nutrient-packed food that would help students maintain energy and develop healthy eating habits.

Example(ish) Although some might argue that vending machines in schools are filled with snacks that are unhealthy and should be removed, the schools could stock the machines with snacks that are healthy. Instead of removing snack options, the schools could instead provide nutrient-packed food that would help students maintain energy and develop healthy eating habits.

Review: What we’ve learned The introduction Attention-getter Background information about the issue Clear claim/thesis Strategies: description, open-ended question, figurative language, anecdote, quotation The conclusion Strategies: anecdote, echo/full-circle, instruction, pointed question, prediction

Checklist for Persuasive Writing Understand the issue: What is the issue? Create a pro/con chart for both sides Choose your side and write your claim Come up with evidence for each reason on your chart (do this for the side you chose in your claim, either the pro or con side) Write an outline for your introduction: A, B, and C Decide where you will discuss and respond to a counter argument- in the introduction, in a body paragraph, or in a separate body paragraph? Decide your conclusion strategy Write your speech using your outline!

Let’s Practice! Some of the teachers at your school have decided to change from a ten point grade scale (100 to 90 is an A, 89 to 80 is a B, etc.) to a seven-point grade scale (100 to 93 is an A, 92 to 85 is a B, etc.). The teachers are trying to encourage students to put more effort into their classes by raising the requirements. However, others feel that this change would be greatly discouraging to students who are already having trouble in school and lower achievement rates. In your opinion, should the grading scale be changed to a seven-point grade scale?