“Big City/Small Town” Persuasive Essay Debrief

English II2015

“Give Me Death!”

Have your Patrick Henry packet ready on your desk when the

tardy bell rings.

Don’t: Weak Hooks• If you cannot think of a clever, interesting, or

thought-provoking way to open your argument, skip the hook and begin with your thesis statement.

• Do not do this:• “Have you ever wondered if it’s better to live in a

big city or small town?” • “The benefits of living in a large city outweigh the

benefits of living a small town.”• “Big cities versus small towns has always been a

controversial topic.”• “Some people think that it would be better to live in

a large city while others would prefer to live in a small town.”

Do: Strong Hooks• “Who wants to wake to the sound of car horns,

jackhammers, and all the sounds of a bustling city that never truly sleeps?”

• “Have you ever gone on a road trip and you're driving through a noisy, busy city and then, BAM! You reach a quiet landscape surrounded by quaint houses, and it seems so peaceful?”

• “Let’s face it. What’s life without a little excitement? Boring. That’s why living in a big city is great.”

• “Do you hear that? That’s the sound of magnificent opportunities awaiting your arrival in the big city.”

• “The concrete jungle where dreams are made of; there’s nothing you can’t do. Living in a big city is more desirable than living in a small town due to the endless opportunities and the exciting vibe.”

Don’t: Neutral Thesis• “City life is great, but then again, the charm

of a small town is also appealing.

• “Some people prefer a large city while others are drawn to a small town.

• “Big cities and small towns both have their pros and cons.”

• “People like to live in small towns and big cities; it just depends on the person’s life style; living in either one has its own perks.”

Do: Opinionated Thesis

• “Living in a small town is better than living in a big city because it is much more calm and quiet, and it is an ideal place to raise a family.”

• “It is far better to live in small town where people can take a break to smell the roses and make connections with the people around them.”

• “It’s better to live in a big city because there is more diversity and a person can enjoy endless experiences without having to go far from home.”

• “Large cities thrive with opportunities that vary from jobs to fun events to enjoy on the weekend, making the city a wiser place to live.”

Don’t: Make BIG Sweeping Claims

• Note to all – “Small town” does not necessarily mean rural, “in the middle of nowhereville,” living.

• “People who live in small towns aren’t locked in their houses . . . they are always outside enjoying nature.”

• “Due to living in the city, there are less homeless people.”

• “In big cities people only care about where they're going and give no thought to others they deem beneath them.”

Do: Make Reasonable Claims

• “Diversity. It’s good. A big city comes with a big population, but that’s not always a bad thing. Different cultures and people bring great exposure to kids. . .”

• “More job opportunities is the reason why hundreds of families pick up and move from small, secluded suburbs and head to large urban cities.”

Do: Make a Brief ConcessionIf you choose to make a concession, it must be

brief, and then get right into your counter-argument.

• “Of course, living in a big city can offer a chance to meet new people, but when those people turn into thousands, and even millions, life can get pretty overwhelming. Living in a small town eliminates the claustrophobic feeling of not being able to breathe among a mass of people.”

Don’t: Neutral Tone

Some essays read too neutral, too

informational, too expository.

Do: Persuasive Tone

Do have voice and personality, and, most importantly,

TONE!

Don’t: Word Choice

• Things• Stuff• A lot• Kinda, kind of,

sort of• Gonna• Always• Never

• Many• Anything• Very• Everything• Everyone• You, Your, You’re

Every word matters. When you don’t consider your word choice, you end up

using words like these:

Miscellaneous Dos • Plan and prewrite your essay!• Indent 1” every time you begin a new

paragraph. • Have a concession if you can counter-argue it. • Develop an appropriate TONE using carefully

chosen words and phrases. • Transition from idea to idea by using transition

words and phrases. • Explain your reasons and evidence with

convincing commentary. YOU already agree with YOU. Now it’s your job to make others agree with you.

• Carefully plan your final statement, just as you did your hook. Close with something compelling, convincing, clever, captivating . . .

Miscellaneous Don’ts

• Don’t begin writing on the 26 line page until you PLAN and OUTLINE your essay.

• Don’t be expository.

• Don’t neglect structure – paragraphs.

• Don’t make lists. Pick your strongest reasons and develop them with specific examples.

• Don’t have fewer than 200 words. Your target is 225 to 250.

Miscellaneous Don’ts

You only have 26 lines. To create a truly convincing argument, you need to use

them – all of them.

Do not leave more than 2 lines blank.

Miscellaneous Don’ts

Write all the way to the edges, except for the four times you indent.

Don’t leave all of this space blank.