1. Discursive/Persuasive essayN5
600-1,000 words
Each paragraph uses some evidence
Structured well, with linking phrases between every paragraph
For and against arguments are detailed and well-developed
Spelling and punctuation are accurate throughout

2. Explain what your topic is.
Tell us that it’s an important or controversial topic.
The subject of genetic engineering has been much in the news recently. There has been debate in Parliament and the press as to the wisdom of allowing genetically modified foodstuffs to be sold in the country. Many supermarkets are refusing to allow GM food on their shelves. GM crop trials in Britain have been destroyed by protesters. If so many people are concerned, we must try to discover whether GM foods are a good thing or not.
Tell us that there are people for and against it.
Sum up what your essay will be looking at and the question you’ll be answering.
You could make that last part a rhetorical question.
(If so many people are concerned, we need to find out for certain. Are GM foods a good thing or not?)

3. Try to write your introduction, making sure you include these four sections.
Make sure you express your opinion about each argument whether you agree with it or not.

4. What makes a successful N5 Discursive/Persuasive Essay
We will look at a number of techniques with exemplars on the board.
Emotive language
Directive language
Rhetorical questions
Important facts
Important statistics
Expert testimony
Anecdotal evidence
Complex and varied vocabulary and sentence structure.
Powerful beginning and ending – Rhetorical question/fascinating statistic/fact, controversial statement
A powerful argument
A well considered bibliography
Refuting an argument powerfully

5. Every paragraph should contain the following information…
P - Point E – Evidence/Explain O - Opinion
Point = sum up the argument people make.
Evidence = facts/statistics to back up the point. Explain what the evidence is showing and what people on that side of the argument would say about it.
Opinion = Express your point of view about this point.

6. Your essay needs to be well structured and follow a logical argument
Your essay needs to be well structured and follow a logical argument. You need to use linking words to link each argument on to the next.
The following is a list of words that show different methods of linking.
Comparisons - similarly, likewise, in the same way.
Contrast - although, however, otherwise, yet, but, nevertheless.
Examples - for example, for instance, in other words.
Conclusions - as has been noted, finally, on the whole, overall.