Creating a Persuasive Paragraph

1. Creating a Persuasive Paragraph • In a persuasive paragraph, you state your position in the topic sentence. The bodysentences of the paragraph supports the position, and the closing sentencereaffirms the position or opinion.

2. First, I’ll need to choose a bio-medical issue. • Let’s consider the bio-medical decision to refuse medical treatment based on religious beliefs. Certain religions do not believe in any medical intervention whatsoever--even when it could save a child’s life.

3. While researching this topic, I found an article about a couple who went to jail for refusing medical treatment for their son. Here is a direct quote, so I’ll put it in quotation marks and cite the source. “The church members shun doctors, believing that seeking medical help shows a lack of faith. Instead they rely on prayer, fasting, anointing with oil and the laying on of hands.” (“Parents Sentenced”.)

4. Works Cited "PARENTS SENTENCED:." Christian Century 127.7 (2010): 18. MAS Ultra - School Edition. EBSCO. Web. 28 Sept. 2010.

5. Now, I think I am ready to begin my persuasive paragraph. • I’ll start with my topic sentence, which will state my position or opinion. • Every child deserves to have available medical treatment regardless of his parents’ religious beliefs.

6. Now I need body sentences to support my position. • Certain people disagree with this idea based on their faith practices. It is difficult for most of us to imagine allowing a child to suffer with a common illness when medical treatment is a phone call away. Surprisingly, that is exactly what happened in the case of one 16-year-old boy. He suffered from a common infection, which would have been easily treated with antibiotics, but his parents did not take him to a doctor because of religious beliefs. “The church members shun doctors, believing that seeking medical help shows a lack of faith. Instead they rely on prayer, fasting, anointing with oil and the laying on of hands.” (“Parents Sentenced”.) Sadly, the boy died from his infection, and the parents were sentenced to jail. His death seems senseless in this day and age. There was a time when antibiotics were not available, so it is hard to fathom parents turning down this modern-day miracle cure.

7. I will also need a concluding sentence to reaffirm my position. • This tragic story is a reminder that common medical treatments should be an option for all people regardless of age.

8. Let’s look at the entire paragraph with topic sentence, supporting body sentences, and a concluding sentence.

9. Everyone deserves to have available medical treatment-- Certain people disagree with this idea based on their religious beliefs. It is difficult for most people to imagine allowing a child to suffer with a common illness when medical treatment is a phone call away. Surprisingly, that is exactly what happened in the case of one 16-year-old boy. He suffered from a common infection, which would have been easily treated with antibiotics, but his parents did not take him to a doctor because of church practices. “The church members shun doctors, believing that seeking medical help shows a lack of faith. Instead they rely on prayer, fasting, anointing with oil and the laying on of hands.” (“Parents Sentenced”.) Sadly, the boy died from his infection, and the parents were sentenced to jail. His death seems senseless in this day and age. There was a time when antibiotics were not available, so it is hard to fathom parents turning down this modern-day miracle cure.This tragic story is a reminder that common medical treatments should be an option for people of all ages.