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How to write a Persuasive Essay

Session Outline
 Identify the requirements of Persuasive Essay Writing
 Learn how to write the introduction
 Learn how to write the body section of the essay
 Learn how to end with a strong conclusion
 Learn how to apply the PEEL framework
 How to refute a claim
 Write better and higher-scoring essays

Session I
Identify the requirements of Persuasive Essay Writing

What is a Persuasive Essay?

 A persuasive essay is an essay that convinces a reader about a particular idea or focus, usually
one that you believe in. Your persuasive essay could be based on anything about which you have
an opinion.
 The big difference between a persuasive essay and an argumentative essay is that an
argumentative essay relies more heavily on evidence, while a persuasive essay can argue from
opinion or emotion.
Examples of Persuasive essay questions
 Modern technology has caused more harm than good.
 Violent video games should be banned.
 Parents should talk to kids about drugs at a young age.
 School uniforms are unnecessary.
 Teenagers should be given freedom in their decision-making.
Examine the question – Example 1
Question
Teenagers should be given freedom in their decision-making
Possible stands:
1. 100% Agree (Yes they should be given freedom!)
2. 100% Disagree (No! Are you crazy)

Examine the question – Example 2

Question
 Modern technology has caused more harm than good.
Possible stands:
- 100% Agree (Yes they should be destroyed!) +++
- 100% Disagree (No! it is the best Invention ever.) +++

Note: Never ever sit on the fence!

 The worst thing you can do in a persuasive say is to neither agree or disagree or contradict
yourself.
 There is no 50% agree and 50% disagree.
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Essay Outline
Five Paragraph Essay Outline

Examine the question

Question

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 Modern technology has caused more harm than good.
Possible stands:
(Taking absolute stand)
100% Agree (Yes they should be destroyed!) +++
100% Disagree (No! Best. Invention, Ever.) +++

Persuasive essay outline

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Introduction
A.Get the readers attention by using a “hook.”
B. Give some background information.
C. Thesis or focus statement.

II. First body paragraph

A. Topic sentence explaining your viewpoint.
1. Evidence/example and elaboration to back your point.
B. Transition into next paragraph.

III. Second body paragraph

A. Topic sentence explaining your viewpoint.
1. Evidence/example and elaboration to back your point.
B. Transition into next paragraph.

IV. Third body paragraph

A. Topic sentence explaining your viewpoint.
1. Evidence/example and elaboration to back your point.
B. Transition into concluding paragraph.

VI. Conclusion
A. Summary of main points or reasons.
B. Restate thesis statement.
C. Personal comment or a call to action.

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Planning Tips
- Choosing a Question
How Do I Plan?
Before you start writing, list down all the main points and examples.
- Point 1 + example
- Point 2 + example
- Point 3 + example
Rearrange your Points
- Strongest point first
How do I know it’s the strongest point
- Easy. It’s the one that has the most examples that you can think of.
Which Questions should I choose?
- Identify questions that you feel STRONGLY about.
- List out all the points + examples while you are planning.
- Choose the questions which you can list the most points + examples.

Session II

How to write an introduction

The Importance of and Introduction
 GRABS THE ATTENTION OF THE READER
 State your stand
 Definition of terms
 State your boundaries
 Lead-in to your connecting body
Example essay question for practice: Social Media has made us more isolated than ever.

1. Provide Some Background Information

Offer some background information about the topic
 What’s this topic/issue about?
 Can you provide a brief history?
 Who are the parties affected?
 What is the scope/parameter of the discussion/argument?

Example: Social Media has made us more isolated than ever.

hook Definition

Social media has definitely changed our lives in one way or another.It allows us to post, upload or share
content with the rest of the world. Social media channels include Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and
WeChat.There are estimated to be 1.96 billion social media users world wide.

Extra information Scope of discussion

2. State you points briefly (Thesis)

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Just state your points briefly… touch and go.

You do not need to tell the readers all your examples or elaborate too much here. Save it for body
paragraphs.

Example: Point 1(body

paragraph 1)

Social media has increased the pace of globalization, virtually connecting millions of people around the
world.It has improved the ease of communications, and It has also allowed us to express ourselves and
let our views be heard publicly.
Point 3 (body
Point 2 (body paragraph 3)
paragraph 2)

The Introduction
Social media has definitely changed our lives in one way or another. It allows us to post, upload or share
content with the rest of the world. Social media channels include Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and
WeChat. There are estimated to be 1.96 billion social media users world wide. Social media has
increased the pace of globalization, virtually connecting millions of people around the world. It has
improved the ease of communications and It has also allowed us to express ourselves and let our views
be heard publicly.

3. You may choose to begin with a Quote

 Make sure that your quote is relevant.
 Make sure that it is actual quote said by an actual person!
 Quotes provide a witty spin to your essay.
Example quote:
Paul Carvel, a Belgian writer, once commented, “Internet: Absolute Communication, absolute isolation.”
I personally feel that statement to be absolutely inaccurate…
4. Imagery
- Describe a scene for the reader (must be related to the topic of course!)
- Helps to hook the reader into the setting and theme of your essay.
- Sets the tone of your essay.
- Example imagery:
The moment we wake up, most of us will turn on our smartphones and start scrolling through
the newsfeed of Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, checking to see what’s going on in the world or
in the lives of others, it has become almost a daily ritual to check for new posts, statuses or
updates. We learn how our friends celebrated their birthdays, we follow celebrity gossips in real
time and we get updated on breaking news events from around the world with just a click of the
mouse or a swipe of the finger.
**Tip: If you portray an extremely realistic or accurate imagery, the more you will resonate with
your reader.
5. Anecdote
- Relate a personal experience related to the topic/theme
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-This lends a personal touch between you and your reader!

-Or .. You can give an anecdote of s a famous person.
Example anecdote:
We were at the dining table and somehow, I noticed all my younger relatives staring down at
their smartphones. They were busy checking out their friend’s photos and videos on Instagram
and WeChat, oblivious to all the conversations going on around them. One of uncles finally
snapped, “You kinds are hooked! We are supposed to be talking face-to-face yet you are all
isolating yourselves in the social media world!” in that moment, that may seem to have been
the delve into this issue further, we will find out that statement is inaccurate.
Reminder: You MUST state your stand in the introduction.
Agree/Disagree or Agree to a large extent?

How to write the body

PEEL framework
 What is PEEL and why is it so important?
P – Point
E – Example/Evidence
E – Elaboration
L –Link

P– Point
 Stick to one point per paragraph
 Students sometimes try to squeeze in 2-3 points in a paragraph. Do that and you will realize that
your essay has NO POINTS!
 This point is called the Topic Sentence
 As a guideline, the topic sentence usually appears as either the first or second sentence in your
paragraph.
 The topic sentence clearly dictates or states what this whole paragraph is about.

Topic sentence: Social Media has made us more isolated than ever.

Point 1 Example: Topic sentence (Point 1)

Social media has increased the pace of globalization. There was never a point in human history when we
were more connected to one another than now. If you wanted to find out how your friend was getting
on, all you need to do is …
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E – Example or Evidence
 Give specific examples or evidence to support your topic sentence
 Statistics, numbers, facts, studies data
Do not be vague! Be as specific as possible.

Topic sentence (Point 1)

Social media has increased the pace of globalization. There was never a point in human history when we
were more connected to one another than now. If you wanted to find out how your friend was getting
on, all you need to do is log onto Facebook, Instagram or WeChat and check on his or her profile
updates or newsfeed. With about 1.96 billion social media users worldwide, we can connect with or
‘follow’ people from any part of the world to keep up-to-date with events in their lives. We can also join
in casual conversations worldwide through Twitter or Instagram ‘hashtags’. In more serious cases, if I
needed help on how to use Adobe Photoshop software, all I need to do is find a tutorial video on
YouTube uploaded by a kind soul or post a question on a Facebook group to get replies from a
community.
Statistic/data
Specific examples

E – Elaboration
 Many students fail to elaborate properly
Elaboration helps to:
 Further explain your topic sentence or thesis
 Further explain your examples or evidence
 Cement your thesis, evidence or examples together into one comprehensive paragraph.
After all, you cannot just write 1 topic sentence and 1 example then expect the reader to understand
your thesis, right?

Elaboration to support topic sentence

Social media has increased the pace of globalization. There was never a point in human history when we
were more connected to one another than now.If you wanted to find out how your friend was getting
on, all you need to do is in onto Facebook, Instagram or WeChat and check on his or her profile updates
or newsfeed. With about 1.96 billion social media users worldwide, we can connect with or ‘follow’
people from any part of the world to keep up-to-date with events in their lives. We can also join in
casual conversations worldwide through Twitter or Instagram ‘hashtags’. In more serious cases, if I
needed help on how to use Adobe Photoshop software, all I need to do is find a tutorial video on
YouTube uploaded by a kind soul or post a question on a Facebook group to get replies from a
community. Without social media, I would be struggling alone, flipping through thick manuals or
scrolling through a series of frequently asked questions with complicated instructions on how to solve a
problem.
Elaboration to support
the earlier example
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L – Link
 A link is the last sentence of the paragraph
It is called a link because you can choose to:
1. Link it back to the original question
2. Link it back to the topic sentence
3. Link it to the next paragraph
Social media has increased the pace of globalization. There was never a point in human history when we
were more connected to one another than now. If you wanted to find out how your friend was getting
on, all you need to do is in onto Facebook, Instagram or WeChat and check on his or her profile updates
or newsfeed. With about 1.96 billion social media users worldwide, we can connect with or ‘follow’
people from any part of the world to keep up-to-date with events in their lives. We can also join in
casual conversations worldwide through Twitter or Instagram ‘hashtags’. In more serious cases, if I
needed help on how to use Adobe Photoshop software, all I need to do is find a tutorial video on
YouTube uploaded by a kind soul or post a question on a Facebook group to get replies from a
community. Without social media, I would be struggling alone, flipping through thick manuals or
scrolling through a series of frequently asked questions with complicated instructions on how to solve a
problem. Instead of feeling isolated or at a lost whenever I am faced with a problem, I can now turn to
social media and seek help from a community of people all over the world with just a few clicks of the
mouse. Link back to topic Link to next paragraph: Social media
sentence improves speed of communications

Additional notes about PEEL

 You do not have to strictly follow this sequence (Example >>> Elaboration)
 You can elaborate your topic sentence first before giving examples or give examples then
further elaborate.
Common Mistake made by beginners:
 When following the PEEL format, they only give one sentence for P, one sentence for E, one
sentence for E, one sentence for L.
 Four sentences is hardly enough.
 It’s more like: PEEEEL or PEEEEEL

Conclusion: Ending Strong

For conclusion
 Re-emphasize your stance on the whole topic/issue
 Summarize and restate your points
 End with a strong closing sentence to leave an impression on your readers
 Do not repeat phrases or sentences used earlier.
 Rephrase your sentence

Main points summarized and restated

Thanks to the social media, we can now connect to anyone, anywhere around the world and
communicate with them instantly. We can also broadcast and share our own content to the rest of the
world. No more struggling to reach out to another person. Social media technology has broken down all
these barriers of traditional communication and united us in the online world. With more people getting
social media, our network can only grow bigger and stronger.

Strong closing sentence painting the

portrait of the future
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Sample essay 2

Topic: School uniforms are unnecessary.

Introduction
Every day, millions of teenagers spend between six and eight hours in America’s high schools. They sit at
their desks, listen to their teachers, and do their school work. In some of these schools, however, they are
also forced to dress in school uniforms. This restriction is really too much. In America’s high schools,
students should not be forced to wear uniforms because they take away a student’s sense of individuality,
they do not allow for self-expression, and they absolutely do not save families any money.

Body Paragraph 1
First of all, students should not wear uniforms because they take away a student’s sense of individuality.
Imagine this: 30 students sit in desks in a small classroom. Each student wears tan pants and a white shirt.
They sit with their school books and papers in front of them. They all look exactly alike. Does this seem
right? Of course not! We are all individuals! We are unique in many different ways. Why try to make all
students look alike? This idea is supported by testimony from a 17-year-old student forced to wear
uniforms. Her story was reported in National Catholic Reporter of March, 2002, and she said, "Everyone
hated it. It completely killed any sense of individuality any one of us had. Everyone looked the same. It
was sad to watch" (3). Clearly, students with experience in wearing uniforms feel that they take away a
sense of individuality.

Body Paragraph 2
Next, school uniforms do not allow students to express themselves. Teenagers are at an age where they
are trying to establish their identity. Is it fair to prevent them from exploring self-expression by making
them wear uniforms? By taking away a student’s right to choose what to wear, we also take away the
opportunity to express oneself. For example, if a young woman is very interested in becoming a fashion
designer, she may begin to take home economics classes and train herself to make clothes and create
patterns. If that were true, she would definitely want to wear her own creations to school; this would
allow her to show off her achievements and gauge her peers’ responses to her newly created clothes.
However, if she were a student who was forced to wear uniforms, she would not be able to express herself
in this manner. To take that right away from America’s youth is an injustice.

Body Paragraph 3
Finally, some schools tell parents that uniforms are a good idea because they save families money. This is
not necessarily true. It is logical to say that when teenagers come home from school, they want to change
out of the clothes that they were forced to wear to school. Well, what are they going to change into? They
will want clothes of their own choice, of course. This means that parents would still have to provide their
children with clothes that fit current trends, plus they would have to buy a separate set of clothes for their
children to wear to school each day. While it is possible that some teenagers may not want designer
clothes in addition to their school uniforms, it is very unlikely.

Conclusion
In conclusion, in our public schools, students should not be forced to wear uniforms. This is because they
take away a student’s sense of individuality, they do not allow for self-expression, and they do not save
families any money. There are already plenty of restrictions upon high school students, and these rules
and regulations are acceptable because they help maintain order on a daily basis. However, mandating
school uniforms would not be a helpful regulation. Uniforms may seem like a good idea at first, but in the
end they would do more harm than good.