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
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,
Finally,
do not make the mistake of discussing multiple things that need change. Choose only