Persuasive Essay Body and Conclusion

Intro Your Introductory Paragraph is as follows: 1) Hook 2) background information 3) Thesis statement includes three

arguments. These three arguments will become your topic sentences.

Thesis example School officials should allow energy drinks and

soda on school because money from students buying the drinks can help the school, the drinks provide students with an energy boost and school officials should not have control over what students can put in their bodies.

Body Paragraphs A good persuasive paragraph should have

three body paragraphs. These should be your THREE biggest reasons

for your side of the argument.

Body Paragraphs The body should consist of at least three

paragraphs. Each paragraph is based on a solid reason to back

your thesis statement. Since almost all issues have sound arguments on

both sides of the question, a good persuasive writer tries to anticipate opposing viewpoints and provide counter-arguments along with the main points in the essay.

The last body paragraph ( we will focus on this one later on in the week) will be used to address these counteragruments.

Body Paragraphs The first sentences is the TS or TOPIC SENTENCE This should be the first argument listed in the

thesis statement.

Ex: In our example thesis our first argument is that the drinks can raise money for school.

Topic Sentence:When students buy drinks at school, the money

goes directly to the school to help fund programs and pay for school supplies.

What follows the Topic Sentence? Concrete Detail #1 (CD) – this is a fact.

Ex: The school board said the school would get 75 cents for every drink sold.

Every Concrete detail needs a Commentary. A commentary talks specifically about the fact and how it ties to the topic sentence and thesis. This s your opinion on the fact ( but do not use

‘I”)

--Ex: Schools need the extra money to help fund programs that the district cannot pay for.

The following are different ways to support your arguments: We will look at four you can choose from to

use in your writing.

Option One: facts Facts - A powerful means of convincing, facts

can come from your reading, observation, or personal experience.

Note: Do not confuse facts with truths. A "truth" is an idea believed by many people, but it cannot be proven.

Statistics Statistics - These can provide excellent

support. Be sure your statistics come from responsible sources.

Always cite your sources. List them at the end of your essay. Within the

essay, put the author’s name in parenthesis

Quotes Quotes - Direct quotes from leading experts

that support your position are invaluable.

Remember to cite these sources as well.

Examples Examples - Examples enhance your meaning

and make your ideas concrete. They are the proof.

Cite your sources here as well.

What comes next? End your body paragraphs with a transition

sentence.

The transition sentence should summarize what you have said in this paragraph and hint at what is coming up in the next paragraph.

Example: Energy drinks will not only raise money for the

school’s necessary expenses, but also give students extra energy to focus in class.

Review of Body Paragraph Structure: Topic Sentence Concrete Detail ( fact from research) Commentary ( your opinion) Concrete Detail (another fact from research) Commentary ( your opinion) Transition Sentence

You will have a total of three of these: one paragraph per reason listed in your thesis.

Repeat this for your three body paragraphs: Body paragraph one: reason 1 Body Paragraph two: reason 2 Body paragraph three: reason 3

Let’s take some time to start writing…..

Bellwork October 4th: Think of someone you deeply respect. Discuss

the qualities that make you respect them as a person.

10 sentences

Paragraph Five: Counterarguments Begin this paragraph with a Concession:

concession: an acknowledgement of part of your opponent's argument as being valid.

Remember that a concession is not a form of weakness. In fact a concession is a strength as it finds common ground with your opponent and establishes your ethical appeal: you are a reasonable person willing to listen to /acknowledge that there are more sides to an issue than yours.

2. Bring up the opposing arguments: You can’t ignore compelling opposing

evidence. address strong arguments on the other side; if

you don’t, it looks like you are not well prepared and have not looked at the issue you are writing about from all perspectives.

ExampleEx: Some school officials said the drinks should not

be reintroduced onto the campuses because the drinks are linked to obesity. Studies have also shown that overuse of pizza, bread, and other food sold on campus could be bad for students’ health. Why is the school board focusing on the worst possible outcome?

3. Argue your side : Clarify why your side of the argument is still

right even though they do make some good points.

Build off of what the other side says to make your argument even stronger

Review of paragraph Five: 1. Concession: tell the other side they have

some valid points 2. List some of their reasons/ arguments 3. Argue your side as making more sense

despite their good reasons.

Proposal for a Student Club to Discuss Current Events It’s true that after-school programs can be difficult to

set up and keep going. Even if a club is popular at the beginning, students can lose interest and drop out. Also, these programs are sometimes expensive and can add too much to our school budget. These are good reasons to question starting up another after-school club. The Discussion of Current Events Club deserves special consideration, however, because it might be very popular. After all, students like to discuss and even argue. They just need a place to go and a little direction to help guide the discussion. Additionally, this program would not be very expensive, since members would not travel, and the program does not need any extra equipment.

Ending the essay: The Conclusion 1. Now restate the thesis ( change words,

but keep the meaning the same)

1) 2. End with a powerful appeal to emotions, logic, or ego. This gets the readers to do something. We will look at three types to end on. You will choose one.

Ethos, Pathos and Logos1. Ethos = an ethical or moral

argument ( appeal to authority)

2. Pathos = an emotional argument ( an appeal to

emotions)

3. Logos = a logical argument ( an appeal to logic)

EthosThe word "ethos" came from the Greek word

ethikos meaning moral or showing moral character.  Aristotle contends that a speaker must establish moral credibility in the minds of the audience at the beginning of his or her speech.   In order to do so, the speaker must show that he or she has expertise in the subject matter of the speech and that he or she is disconnected from topic (i.e., the speaker does not and will not have a direct interest or an ulterior motive for convincing their audience).

For example, when a trusted doctor gives you advice, you may not understand all of the medical reasoning behind the advice, but you nonetheless follow the directions because you believe that the doctor knows what s/he is talking about. 

Ethos = an appeal to ethics Ethos:  Ethos is related to the English word ethics and

refers to the trustworthiness of the speaker/writer.  Ethos is an effective persuasive strategy because

when we believe that the speaker does not intend to do us harm, we are more willing to listen to what s/he has to say.   

Likewise, when a judge comments on legal precedent audiences tend to listen because it is the job of a judge to know the nature of past legal cases.

For example, professional football players have established their credibility in sports by playing in the NFL. If it tells us that VIZIO is the best plasma television for watching the game, we believe that he knows what he is talking about.

If you use this device, find a spokesperson who agrees with you and end with them.

Pathos = an emotional argument An effective use of pathos will alter the mindsets of

the audience through the use of emotional appeal. Both words and pictures can achieve this appeal.  In

this picture, Haitian children are collecting water.  Children and adults spend all day digging for water because most of Haiti does not have access to water.

Pathos Pathos: Pathos is related to the words pathetic,

sympathy and empathy.  Those who wish to persuade you will play with your

emotions. They may persuade you with fear, love, patriotism, guilt, hate or joy.

A majority of arguments in the popular press are heavily dependent on appealing to your emotions. 

Although the use of pathos can be manipulative, it is the cornerstone of moving people to action and it will continue to be used again and again.

Appeals to pathos touch a nerve and compel people to not only listen, but to also take the next step and act in the world.

If you use this technique: then find something emotional relating to your topic and share it, making an emotional connection to your readers and getting them to “feel”.

LogosLogos means logic

Logos refers to any attempt to appeal to the intellect.

Logos appeals to the left side of the audience's brain.  The audience finds certain patterns, conventions and modes of reasoning to be convincing and persuasive.  The audience relies on reasoning and facts to make its decision.  Numbers, polls and statistics are also examples of the persuasive use of logic. 

REVIEWEthos, Pathos and Logos11. Ethos = an ethical or moral argument

2. Pathos = an emotional argument

3.Logos = a logical argument

4.Choose one of these to end your essay on. Use the one you think could be the most powerful. You want the “Wow” factor at the end .

Time to write…. Counteragrument Paragraph

Concession List the opposing arguments Argue your side despite their reasoning

Conclusion Restate the thesis End with a powerful use of ethos, pathos, or logos