Effective Argumentation in Persuasive Essays

Unit 12 Got what it takes?

Roberto Lozada

Objectives

• Persuasive essay

  • Write a review

Poll

Do you agree with that quote?

• I agree

• I do not agree

Persuasive essay

​Adam Polak & Jen Collins (2021)

"​Structure and organization are integral components of an effective persuasive essay. No matter how intelligent the ideas, a paper lacking a strong introduction, well-organized body paragraphs and an insightful conclusion is not an effective paper." 

Writing a persuasive essay

​To persuade means to convince.

When others are convinced that your opinion is true, they can help you achieve your goals.

Requires a good research and a solid understanding of both sides must be very helpful.

Main goals

​Writers use these essays to convince readers of their opinion.

More powerful if it is clearly organized.

Uses reason to demonstrate that certain ideas are more valid than others using academic writing.

Must be based on sound logic and must contain factual evidences.

Encourages readers to accept a particular point of view or act in a particular way.

Demonstrates not only why the writer's opinion is correct, but also why the opposing view is incorrect, like a lawyer.

Introduction

​The introductory paragraph introduces the argument of your paper. A well-constructed introductory paragraph immediately captures a reader’s interest and gives appropriate background information about the paper’s topic.

Introduction

In your introduction, your job is to grab the reader’s attention and state the opinion, or thesis (claim), that you are arguing.

Helpful questions

• What is the argument that I am trying to convince the reader to accept?

• ​How exactly do I expect to convince the reader that this argument is sound?

Important

Do you think students should have to wear uniforms?

Do you think students should be forced to wear pants when it is over 100 degrees?

Body

​The body of your paper contains the actual development of your paper’s argument. Each body paragraph presents a single idea or set of related ideas that provides support for your paper’s argument.

Body

​​Each body paragraph addresses one key aspect of your paper’s thesis and brings the reader closer to accepting the validity of your paper’s argument. Because each body paragraph should be a step in your argument, you should be mindful of the overall organization of your body paragraphs.

Body

In each body paragraph, give a reason for your opinion and support that reason with specific evidence.

You’re not limited in how many body paragraphs you use to support your opinion, but aim to include at least two.

Conclusion

​A basic purpose of your paper’s concluding paragraph is both to restate the paper’s argument and to restate how you have supported this argument in the body of the paper. However, your conclusion should not simply be a copy of your introduction.

Conclusion

​The conclusion draws together the threads of the paper’s argument and shows where the argument of your paper has gone. An effective conclusion gives the reader reasons for bothering to read your paper.

Conclusion

In your final paragraph, you’ll summarize the main points of your essay and remind your readers why your opinion is important.

Helpful questions

• Why is what I am writing about important?

• ​What are the implications of this paper’s argument?

Multiple Choice

What is the name of the paragraph that starts your persuasive essay?

• Introduction

• Body Paragraph

• Conclusion

Multiple Choice

What is the last paragraph in your essay called?

• Introduction

• Body Paragraph

• Conclusion

Multiple Choice

We write persuasive essays to _______

• inform our audience with research about one topic.

• persuade the audience to agree with our opinion

• to tell a story

Multiple Choice

To start out a paragraph, we should use a ________

• transitional phrase.

• conclusion.

• comma.

Multiple Choice

You should list your reasons in your introduction.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

You should keep your audience in mind as you write.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Each of your body paragraphs should state your reasons clearly.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of the thesis?

• To remind your reader what your paper is about

• To hook the reader's attention

• To state your opinion and the reasons for your opinion

• To use vocabulary words

Multiple Choice

Where should a thesis statement appear?

• first paragraph

• the first sentence of every paragraph

• last paragraph

• anywhere in the essay

Multiple Choice

What is a counterargument?

• The opposing viewpoint

• Facts and statistics to support ideas

• The writer's position that they are trying to prove

• Connects evidence to the claim

Multiple Choice

Why is it important to include the counterargument in your essay?

• it helps prove your claim by proving the opposite side of the argument is weak

• the reader will convince you

• it helps your essay be longer

• You can show the reader that the other side is also right

Multiple Choice

What kind of example is this? "95% of pupils feel that there is too much homework"

• Exaggeration

• Emotive Language

• Facts and Statistics

• Repetition

Multiple Choice

What do you use to defend your position in a persuasive essay?

• Grapes and popcorn

• Your opinion

• Details

• Reasons and evidence