Supporting Your Argument in a Persuasive Essay

This lesson teaches how to support an argument by turning a topic sentence into a question. It covers the basics of persuasive writing, the role of supporting details, and provides a step-by-step guide to creating strong supporting details. An example using a uniform policy argument illustrates the process. The lesson also explains how to identify and correct wrong questions to ensure the argument is effectively supported.

What is the primary goal of persuasive writing?

• To convince the reader of the author's viewpoint

• To describe a process

• To inform the reader

• To entertain the reader

In persuasive writing, where are supporting details typically found?

• In the conclusion

• In the title

• In the body paragraphs

• In the introduction

What is the first step in creating supporting details?

• Write a conclusion

• Turn the topic sentence into a question

• Summarize the thesis statement

• List all possible evidence

Why is it important to ask the right question when generating supporting details?

• To ensure the answers effectively support the topic sentence

• To make the essay longer

• To ensure the question is interesting

• To confuse the reader

What should you do if your answer does not support the topic sentence?

• Ignore it and move on

• Try a different question

• Add more unrelated details

• Change the thesis statement