persuasive essay sample

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Bringing Life to Bringing Life to Persuasive Writing Persuasive Writing That’s SO TRUE! Who CARES?

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Page 1: Persuasive essay sample

Bringing Life to Bringing Life to Persuasive WritingPersuasive Writing

That’s SO

TRUE!

Who CARES

?

Page 2: Persuasive essay sample

Voice in WritingVoice in Writing

• You feel a strong connection to the writer’s…– Emotion– Energy– Conviction– Integrity– …you feelfeel SOMETHING!

Page 3: Persuasive essay sample

Voice is…Voice is…

• Person behind the words

• Reader Writer

• Involvement

• Awareness of audience

• Individualistic

• Expressive

Page 4: Persuasive essay sample

Who’s Voice is This?Who’s Voice is This?

8:00 am – Dog food! My favorite thing!

9:30 am – A car ride! My favorite thing!

9:40 am – A walk in the park! My favorite thing!

10:30 am – Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!

12:00 pm – Lunch! My favorite thing!

1:00 pm – Played in the yard! My favorite thing!

3:00 pm – Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!

5:00 pm – Milk bones! My favorite thing!

7:00 pm – Got to play ball! My favorite thing!

8:00 pm – Wow! Watched TV with the people! My

favorite thing!

11:00 pm – Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

Page 5: Persuasive essay sample

Who’s Voice is This?Who’s Voice is This?Day 983 of my captivity. My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre

little dangling objects.

They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are

fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for

the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to

keep up my strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream

of escape. In an attempt to disgust them I once again vomit on the

carpet.

Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their

feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly

demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made

condescending comments about what a ‘good little hunter’ I am. There

was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in

Page 6: Persuasive essay sample

Who’s Voice is This?Who’s Voice is This?

solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of ‘allergies.’ I must learn what this means and how to use it to my advantage…

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one ofmy tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must trythis again tomorrow – but at the top of the stairs. I am convinced thatthe other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receivesspecial privileges. He is regularly released – and seems to be morethan willing to return. He is obviously an idiot. The bird has got to be

an informant. I observe him communicating with the guards regularly. I

am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged

protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe. For now…

Page 7: Persuasive essay sample

Summer: 15 Days or 2 1/2 Months?Student Example

The final bell rings. It’s the last day of school, and summer has finally come! Students don’t have to think about school for at least another 2 1/2 months. That is the way it should always be. Schools should continue Schools should continue using the traditional calendar and not a year-round using the traditional calendar and not a year-round schedule (position). schedule (position). There are numerous downsides to year-round schooling. It has no positive effects on It has no positive effects on education (1)education (1), it adds to costs (2), it adds to costs (2), and it disrupts the it disrupts the long-awaited summer vacation (3)long-awaited summer vacation (3).

Page 8: Persuasive essay sample

Paragraph 2 – Reason 1Student Example

Contrary to the well-accepted belief, year-Contrary to the well-accepted belief, year-round schooling has no constructive impact on round schooling has no constructive impact on education. education. (1) (1) Most year-round schedules use the 45-15 method: 45 days of school followed by 15 days off. Because of this, there are many first and last days of school. All those transitions disrupt the learning process. Also, (2) (2) there is no evidence of higher test scores. Due to that, many schools that change to year-round schedules end up switching back. For example, (3) (3) since 1980, 95 percent of schools that tried the year-round schedule changed back to a traditional calendar. It is obvious that changing to year-round schooling does not help students; therefore, why is the change necessary?why is the change necessary?

Page 9: Persuasive essay sample

Paragraph 3 – Reason 2Student Example

Like any other facility, keeping a school open Like any other facility, keeping a school open requires a great deal of money. requires a great deal of money. When a school changes to a year-round schedule, the costs skyrocket. (1) (1) Keeping school open in the middle of summer requires air conditioning, and that adds significantly to the school’s expenses. The usual utility bills grow because of the additional open-school time. Finally, (2) (2) teachers must be paid for all the weeks they are working. With all these factors, the cost of keeping schools open becomes immensely high. For example, (3) (3) a high school in Arizona had a cost increase of $157,000 when they switched to year-round schooling. Some schools may not be able to handle such increases, and other schools that can handle these expenses could be doing better things with the money. Is Is year-round school really where the money should go?year-round school really where the money should go?

Page 10: Persuasive essay sample

Paragraph 4 – Reason 3Student Example

An important part of a child’s life is summertime. An important part of a child’s life is summertime. With year-round schedules, students would hardly have With year-round schedules, students would hardly have any time to relax. any time to relax. (1) (1) During the 15-day breaks, they would be thinking about their quick return to school. (2) (2) It would also be difficult to coordinate family vacations with parents’ work schedules. (3) (3) Similarly, children would not be able to go to most summer camps. (4) (4) One expert, Dr. Peter Scales, says, “The biggest plus of camp is that camps help young people discover and explore their talents, interests, and values. Most schools don’t satisfy all these needs. Kids who have these kinds of [camp] experiences end up being healthier and have fewer problems.” Obviously, the summer is crucial to a child’s learning and development. Why should this invaluable part Why should this invaluable part of a young person’s life be taken away?of a young person’s life be taken away?

Page 11: Persuasive essay sample

Paragraph 5 – CounterargumentStudent Example

But does this really make sense to everyone? (1) Teachers (1) Teachers and other education professionals spend a lot of time at the and other education professionals spend a lot of time at the beginning of the school year reviewing material from the beginning of the school year reviewing material from the previous year. previous year. These days and weeks of “review” could be used more effectively if the lessons continued to move forward , not backward. Also, By having their children in school with short breaks in between sessions, parents would not have to pay for additional, expensive childcare. Even if (2) there are no classes taking place (2) there are no classes taking place during summer hours, the building is still being used, therefore during summer hours, the building is still being used, therefore utility costs remain consistent throughout the year. (3) utility costs remain consistent throughout the year. (3) And finally, there has been a significant increase in families staying , there has been a significant increase in families staying home during the summer months due to the downturn in the home during the summer months due to the downturn in the economy. economy. Because of this, travel and vacations have become travel and vacations have become practically nonexistant for families with school age children. practically nonexistant for families with school age children. According to AAA, last year alone, there was a 53% decrease in air travel.

Page 12: Persuasive essay sample

Paragraph 6 – ConclusionStudent Example

It is evident that year-round schooling is not It is evident that year-round schooling is not the best option for the school calendar. There is the best option for the school calendar. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the traditional school absolutely nothing wrong with the traditional school yearyear. Why change something that works so well? The final bell rings. Let’s make sure this bell means that Let’s make sure this bell means that the “real” summer vacation has come.the “real” summer vacation has come.

Page 13: Persuasive essay sample

Planning Your Persuasive Essay

1. Clearly state your position. What do you believe about the issue? What are your reasons for believing that way?

2. Consider your audience. What do your readers know about the issue? What are their opinions on it?

3. Gather support for your arguments. Where will you find the information you need? What facts, statistics, examples, anecdotes, and quotations support your position? Which evidence is strongest? What support might people who object to your position present? How can you answer those objections?