ELEMENTS OF LANGUAGE <MODEL BANK HOME    
Writer's Model
 Persuasive Essay
 
     
A persuasive essay is meant to change its readers' minds or to convince them to take action. It is usually focused on an issue that is very important to its writer—an issue that the writer has a strong opinion about.
 
Many persuasive essays use the structure illustrated in the framework below. Print this framework and use it as a guide when you write your own persuasive essay.
   
 
    Introduction
• Attention-grabbing opening
• Opinion statement
Get your readers' attention Your first sentence should hook your readers. Try opening with an interesting question, an anecdote, a quotation, or a mysterious statement.
State your opinion clearly Include a clear statement of your position on the issue.
 
 
    Body
• Reason #1
(evidence supporting reason #1)
• Reason #2
(evidence supporting reason #2)
and so on
Support your opinion with reasons Arrange your reasons in order of importance (starting with the most important reason) or in climactic order (ending with the most important reason).
Provide evidence Back up your reasons with evidence, such as anecdotes, expert opinions, and facts. Make sure to explain how the evidence supports your reasons.
 
 
    Conclusion
• Restatement of opinion
• Summary of reasons and/or call to action
Leave your audience convinced Close your essay by stating your opinion in a new way. You may want to provide a summary of your reasons and/or urge your readers to take some kind of action.  
 
   
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