1. Remember: In persuasive writing, a writer takes a FIRM POSITION FOR or AGAINST an issue and writes to convince the reader to believe or do something.

2. √  It is a complete sentence that expresses your position on a given topic.  It takes a stand and presents an arguable point with which people can reasonably disagree  It narrows down your topic to a specific focus of investigation  It establishes a direction for the entire paper  It points forward to the conclusion  It is always stated in your introduction

3.  1. Take a Stand  2. Justify a Decision  3. Express a main, arguable idea  4. Be very specific

4.  Consider:  There are some negative and positive aspects to the Banana Herb Tea Supplement.  VS:  Because Banana Herb Tea Supplement promotes rapid weight loss that results in the loss of muscle and lean body mass, it poses a potential danger to customers.

5.  Consider:  My family is an extended family.  VS:  While most American families would view second marriages as a threat to the nuclear family structure, many Iranian families believe that these marriages help reinforce kinship ties in an extended family.

6.  Consider:  School uniforms have been around for many years.  VS:  Though the enforcement of a school uniform policy has been a long established practice, the popularity of enforced uniformity amongst high school students continues to dwindle.

7.  Consider:  World hunger has many causes and effects.  VS:  Hunger persists in Appalachia because jobs are scarce and farming in the infertile soil is rarely profitable.

8.  - NEVER a question… rather it is the answer to a question  Should we have school uniforms?  -NOT a statement of purpose  I’m going to tell you why we should not have school uniforms.  -NOT simply a topic  School Uniforms.

9.  Hi. I would like to discuss how teachers and students can develop better relationships. I will begin by telling you that I think it is a good idea to have healthy relationships in school. BLAH BLAH BLAH. Thank you for reading my thesis. I will explain my argument in my paper. Have a good day.  IT IS A HUGE WASTE OF YOUR BRAIN POWER… AS WELL AS THAT OF YOUR READER!! DON’T DO IT!

10.  Grades should be eliminated because they cause anxiety and put unnecessary pressure on students.  Though many people dismiss hip hop as offensive, hip hop music offers urban youth an important opportunity for artistic expression, and allows them to articulate the poetry of the street.

11. SStep 1: How do we feel about Sponge Bob? SStep 2: What do we want to convince others of? SStep 3: Formulate a thesis. 11. Take a Stand 22. Justify a Decision 33. Express a main, arguable idea 44. Be very specific