Writing a Persuasive Essay

Persuasive = Convincing Argument (Sales Pitch) Complaints Letter for Scholarship Memo to the Boss Asking for funds/grants Working with Customers Dealing with Vendors

Using Persuasive Writing to Sell a Product or Idea

Step 1: Take a stand and choose your audience. Think about the stand that will provide three reasons for argument.

Step 2: Prepare the graphic organizer. Now fold your paper into 4 squares. Unfold the paper and draw a box in the center. In the center box write a sentence to convey your stand.

A wireless laptop should be a basic classroom tool for every 21 st century high school student. Take your stand. Reason 1 Reason 2 Reason 3Wrap-up The center box states your position. Three boxes tell reasons why. The last box is the Wrap-Up. detail Tell me more. One reason, Also, In addition, In summary,

Step 3: State your reasons and Elaborate on 1 detail for each box Explanation Examples Experience

A wireless laptop should be a basic classroom tool for every 21 st century high school student. Cost effective Career trainin g Motivate Wrap-up The center box states your position. Three boxes tell reasons why. The last box is the wrap-up. Online textbooks/ Assessments feedback Conservation Multi- sensory Interactive Cutting edge Techn. Timely Higher skills One reason, Also, In addition, In summary,

Step 4: Write a HOOK. (Mini-lesson ahead) You should start the first paragraph with a “hook” or “grabber” to catch the reader’s attention. You will choose one or two of the following 5 methods to include in your introduction.

HOOK #1: Opening with an unusual detail or a fact. Did you know that a typical child needs 2,000 calories for an entire day and Burger King’s Whopper with triple cheese has 1,230 calories?

HOOK #2: Opening with a question. How many times have you eaten fast food this month?

HOOK #3: Opening with a quotation. University of Delaware professor Jayashree Pakhare states: “Advertising such as TV ads, billboards, and toys in boxed meals, has had an effect upon children as never before. Children these days are growing up with low concern for their health and more concern for what tastes good.”

HOOK #4: Opening with a simile/metaphor (figurative language ) Fast Food is killing America!

HOOK #5: Opening with an anecdote (joke). My hands felt sticky after opening the door to “Big Bob’s Burger Hut”. Everything, including napkins, smelt “deep-fried”. I ordered a Big Bob’s Combo #2. The tray had enough food on it to feed a small country…

Step 4: Choose transition words for each box. words.org/transition-words.html Step 5: Transfer each box on paper and make it a paragraph.

When was the last time that you spent a day without coming into contact with a computer-related device? You wake up in a climate controlled room, regulated by a pre-set computerized thermostat. The tantalizing aroma of freshly brewed coffee fills the air because last night you programmed your Mr. Coffee to perk precisely thirty minutes before your alarm shrilly rang brrrrrring brrrrrrrring at 6:05. You hit a button on your home computer, and instantaneously learn the temperature and weather conditions, traffic patterns, scheduled activities, and correspondences for the day. You may even download and print out your lessons! Later, you plan to enter your students’ attendance and grades into a computer at school. For you, as for your students, the computer has become an integral part of your life. A wireless laptop for every student is as vital as a number 2 pencil. Every high school student must have this valuable resource as part of their school supplies because it is cost effective, provides valuable career training, and is highly motivational by today’s multi-sensory visually-orientated global student. Although there is an upfront cost initially, in the long run a wireless laptop is a cost effective educational tool. Hook Stand Thesis Statement Box 1

Information in textbooks can become outdated while Internet websites can be updated with minimal effort. There are thousands of online textbooks that can be accessed in minutes. Websites housing online textbooks in every subject from mathematics to Shakespeare to economics are readily available. Most online texts can be translated into several languages using Babelfish for ELL students. Assessments, given to students using technology, can offer teacher and students immediate and accurate feedback. Imagine the savings in paper, toner, and copy costs if students and teachers used more technology! In addition, technology provides valuable and authentic career training for students. Students can collaborate on assignments instantly with peers via . Can you think of a job today that does not use ? Teachers can develop technology-supported engaging learning projects that enable students to solve real-world problems, retrieve information from online resources, and connect with experts. High-school students can develop a mock technology company and use the Internet, scanners, and presentation software to plan and deliver speeches to stockholders. Evidence indicates that when used effectively, "technology applications can support higher-order thinking by engaging students in authentic, complex tasks within collaborative learning contexts" (Means, Blando, Olson, Middleton, Morocco, Remz & Zorfass, 1993). E Box 2 E

Most important of all, technology is highly motivating to the 21st century multi-media oriented student. Students can prepare and present homework or project work using multimedia such as power point, charts and graphs, music or video files. Using the students’ preferred learning styles, teachers can use alternate assessments. Special needs and limited English students may be able to more fully participate in mainstream classes using the power of multi-sensory presentation of content. Students can maintain an ongoing electronic portfolio of work that can go with the student from grade to grade or to a different school. High school students may create a multi-media portfolio for work prospects or application to higher education. What could be more engaging to a student? Such innovations are “cutting edge” in education and are appearing throughout the country. Many colleges, such as the University of Tennessee, are requiring education majors to create an online multi-media portfolio. The useful portfolios are looked upon by students with pride and a sense of accomplishment. In conclusion, a laptop computer is a vital tool in education today. Putting a laptop in the hands of our high school students is not only preparing them for a career and life, but it is also motivating. Although the initial investment may be costly, this compact technology will prove to be cost effective in the long run. No student preparing to be a productive member of our technological society should be without one! What would your life be like tomorrow if technology was eliminated along with Mr. Coffee and ? Box 3 E Wrap Up Punch

Step 6: Revise and Proofread Vocabulary Review your paragraphs. Can you add adjectives (describing words) and interesting adverbs (describing action words)? ADJECTIVESADVERBS

BEFORE: You hit a button on your home computer, and learn the temperature AFTER: You hit a button on your home computer, and instantaneously learn the temperatu re

Remember: The more sophisticated vocabulary you use…the higher your score. bad dreadful

Step 7: Reread Your Work Stated the topic Given your reasons in the introductory paragraph Have paragraphs that support each reason Elaborate on a reason in each paragraph Have a summary paragraph that restates your reasons Begin each paragraph with a transition word Include adjectives, adverbs, similes, and metaphors Reread your work to make sure you have: