Elements of a Persuasive Essay

1. Elements of a Persuasive Essay • Begin with a c_____ statement of your opinion or position. • Support your position with o______and r_______ information (evidence). • Anticipate and address the reader’s c______ and c_____-arguments.

2. Elements of a Persuasive Essay 1.Begin with a c____ statement of your opinion. Pro means you are ______ something. Con means you are _____ something.

3. Elements of a Persuasive Essay Is this statement FOR or AGAINST the use of marijuana? Sometimes I think it would be okay, but not always, if people really wanted to legalize marijuana, but you know, it is very harmful to your brain cells, even more than alcohol. FOR? AGAINST?

4. Elements of a Persuasive Essay How about this? For several logical reasons, I do not think marijuana should be legalized. FOR? AGAINST?

5. 2. Support your position with o________ and r_________evidence. Which of the following most strongly supports the idea that marijuana should not be legalized? A. Marijuana damages brain cells that can never be replaced. B. Marijuana is addictive and often leads to the use of even stronger, more addictive drugs. C. Marijuana helps relieve severe pain that other pain medicines can’t relieve.

6. A is probably a stronger argument against legalizing marijuana than B. This should be reorganized so that A comes after B. A. Marijuana damages brain cells that can never be replaced. B. Marijuana is addictive and often leads to the use of even stronger, more addictive drugs. C. Marijuana helps relieve severe pain that other pain medicines can’t relieve.

7. C. is a ______-argument. A counter-argument is a statement that someone who o______ your position might make. Restate these items so that the weaker argument comes first, then the stronger argument, then the counter-argument. counter pposes A. ___ Marijuana damages brain cells that can never be replaced. ___ Marijuana is addictive and often leads to the use of even stronger, more addictive drugs. ___ Some argue that marijuana helps relieve severe pain that other pain medicines can’t relieve. However, …. B. C.

8. 3. Anticipate and address the reader’s c_______ and counter-arguments. oncerns The essay points are now organized with the strongest argument after the weaker argument, and also includes a counter-argument. In a moment you will recreate a color-coded T-chart with this information. Marijuana is addictive and often leads to the use of even stronger, more addictive drugs. Marijuana damages brain cells that can never be replaced. C. Some argue that marijuana helps relieve severe pain that other pain medicines can’t relieve. However, ….

9. 1. Begin with a c______ statement of your opinion or position. 2. Support your position with o________ and r_____ evidence. 3. Anticipate and address reader’s c________ and c______-arguments. lear rganized elevant ounter oncerns CORC IT!

10. C - Clear opinion; for or against O Organized and R - Relevant facts Anticipate concerns and counterarguments C -

11. - facts and examples to - support each starred - item - this includes evidence, - facts, statisics, - expert opinions C - T - For several logical reasons, I do not think marijuana should be legalized. What goes on this side? O - Marijuana is addictive and often leads to the use of even stronger, more addictive drugs. R Marijuana damages brain cells that can never be replaced. C - Some argue that marijuana helps relieve severe pain that other pain medicines can’t relieve. However, …. Is a persuasive conclusion any different than an expository conclusion? YES!

12. - A persuasive c_________ challenges the reader to make a d________ or take a specific a______. - It also r______ your viewpoint in a m_________ way. onclusion ction ecision estates emorable C- After reviewing these arguments against legalizing marijuana, how would you vote on an initiative to make marijuana legal? ----------------------------------------------------------- Practice writing your own conclusion on a T-Chart, then email it to sbroadway@wusd.k12.ca.us.