How to choose a good topic for the persuasive essay? The writer should pick a topic that is near and dear to their heart. The topic should be something that the writer will enjoy writing about. The topic that is selected should be of interest to the audience and keep them engaged.

Sample Topics Should music with curse words be allowed at school dances? Should public schools begin the day with a silent prayer time? Should students be able to listen to music on headphones during study hall? Should schools offer fast food options like McDonald’s or Taco Bell?

#1 Introductory Paragraph The first sentence of your introduction is the first chance a writer has to capture the attention of the reader. Some people call this a “hook” because it captures a reader’s attention with interesting statements and ideas just like a fisherman will use to get a fish on his or her hook.

Types of Hooks and Attention Grabbers

1. A definition: Modern slavery,” “trafficking in persons,” and “human trafficking” have been used as umbrella terms for the act of recruiting, harboring, transporting, providing, or obtaining a person for compelled labor or commercial sex acts through the use of force, fraud, or coercion.

2. A quotation or paraphrase: Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth. -Buddha It took me until my teenage years to realize that I was medicating with music. I was pushing back against my stupid school uniform, and my classmates, who, while friendly enough, were not at all inspiring. -Henry Rollins https://www.brainyquote.com/

3. A little known or striking fact: 1. Playing scary and violent video games help children master their fears in real life. -A study done by Cheryl K. Olson that appeared in the Review of General Psychology suggests that there are a lot of psychological benefits to video games. 2. Practical work in science provides children little or no learning at all. -An in-depth review by Justin Dillon from King’s College in London

4. An interesting incident or anecdote related to your subject: I am a victim of bullying, I know that when someone would ask me are you alright? I would say I am FINE but really I’m not. If you don’t know what it feels like to be bullied here is one word to describe it: PAIN! I paint because it relaxes me. I paint because suddenly the mood takes me. I paint because someone has asked me. I paint because I love brilliant colors! I paint because I have an idea

5. A question that will be answered by your thesis, or will catch the reader’s Would you rather have $100,000 in real money OR $1,000,000 in Amazon gift cards? Would you rather be famous OR the best friend of someone famous? How many prison inmates are now on death row?

Thesis Statement

#2 Thesis statement: Simply and clearly state your position on the issue 1. Take a stand 2. Propose a solution 3. Evaluate something 4. State its position clearly and exactly 5. Arguable 6. Stated positively, i.e. is it a statement rather than a question

1. Take a stand 2. Propose a solution 3. Evaluate something 4. State its position clearly and exactly 5. Arguable 6. Stated positively, i.e. is it a statement rather than a question. Samples: The government has the right to limit free speech. The government has the right to limit free speech in cases of overtly racist or sexist language because our failure to address such abuses would effectively suggest that our society condones such ignorant and hateful views.