Name: ________________________

Date:   ________________________

ENGLISH 10            

Essay #5: PERSUASIVE ESSAY

 

 

____    Ideas and Development

  20                  __  minimum of 300 words

                                __  clear succinct thesis statement

                                __  clear focus on one topic

                                __  opinion (thesis) supported in a minimum of three ways

                                __  support is both detailed and specific (show, don’t tell)

                               

 

____    Organization

  20                  __  appropriate title

                                __  introduction: use engaging lead, summarize the story, underline the thesis

                                __  logical paragraphing to help the reader, one topic per paragraph

                                __  smooth flow of ideas (easy to follow)

                                __  elaboration on each point made, use quotes from the book to prove your point.

                                __  a minimum of one statement of commentary in each paragraph of the body

                                __  clear paragraph acknowledging the “other side’s” objection to your thesis. 

 

__  clear, forceful conclusion, restates the thesis, restates points made, makes text-to-world connection, including a call to action, hooks back to the lead.

                               

__  essay is in the proper form (persuasive form)

 

 

____    Sentence Fluency, Voice, and Word Choice

   5                   __  sentences flow or read smoothly

                                __  variety in sentence length and structure

                                __  variety in sentence beginnings

                        __  voice is friendly and cooperative, never losing sight of who the audience is

                                __  appropriate vocabulary

                                __  vividness of word choice (underline two verbs and two adjectives that help

                                                create a visual picture)

 

 

____    Conventions

  5                    __   neat and legible (typed, double-spaced, one inch margins, 12pt standard font)

                                __   standard spelling, punctuation, and usage

                                __   standard use of sentences (no run-ons, fragments, or comma splices)

 

 

____    Total 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PERSUASIVE ESSAY

 

THIS ASSIGNMENT:

 

Think about Port Angeles High School.  Brainstorm a list of things currently unsatisfactory with regard to our school.  Think about each item on the list and consider possible arguments one might make in order to convince others that each particular change needs to be made in order to improve school.  After thinking about the entire list, choose ONE item on the list that needs change.  This will be the focus of the essay.

 

The audience for this particular essay is our school’s principal.  Proper tone and voice must be used to be effective. Standard or conferential usage would be most effective with this audience. Reasons presented must be considered legitimate by this audience.

 

The essay will take the form of a letter to the principal. . .well, sort of.  It will not be a letter such as one might write to a friend, in which informal phrases and questions such as “How are you doing?  I am fine,” might be used.   In fact, the ONLY things that make this a letter are that it will open with a line saying, “Dear _____” and close with a line saying, “Sincerely, (Your name).”  The rest of the essay will be in the form of a regular essay, with an introduction, body, and conclusion.

 

A minimum of 300 words is required.  If one is being thorough, however, and a high grade is expected, one would be wise to have approximately two full typed pages (double-spaced).

 

This is a persuasive essay.  That means that supporting details must be intelligent and forceful, if they are to be considered by someone who might oppose them.  Be as specific and detailed about each point as possible.  Be as visual and descriptive as possible.  In other words, SHOW the reader the need for the change, don’t just tell them.

 

Finally, do not make the mistake of discussing multiple things that need change.  Choose only ONE, and then discuss it with several specific reasons for that one change.  (The list we brainstormed is merely meant to get us thinking about potential topics, NOT meant for all of them to be discussed.)