Writing a Persuasive Essay

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Writing a Persuasive Essay
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I. Introduction

• A. Start off with a general statement (Hook
  Sentence), NOT the thesis statement.
• Example hook sentence Getting revenge can become
  an obsession for many people. Some really crave
  that kind of closure when theyve been wronged.

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I. Introduction (cont.)

• B. Transition Sentence a sentence that connects
  the hook sentence to the text.
• Example transition sentence In the epic poem,
  Beowulf, vengeance is a common theme. Many of the
  characters desire to get even.

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I. Introduction (cont.)

• C. Background/Summary Sentences Give some
  background information on the topic and explain
  instances of what youre talking about.
• Example background sentences Beowulf wants to
  get even with Grendel for killing the Danes.
  Hrothgar wants revenge on Grendels mother for
  attacking his people. Grendels mother cannot
  believe her son was murdered and goes after who
  did it.

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I. Introduction (cont.)

• D. Thesis Statement This is where you put it all
  together and state your side and your THREE
  REASONS to back up your side.
• Example thesis statement In Beowulf, the theme
  of vengeance is exemplified through the actions
  of Beowulf, Hrothgar, and Grendels mother.

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Introduction Paragraph (all together)

• Getting revenge can become an obsession for
  many
• people. Some really crave that kind of closure
  when
• they have been wronged. In the epic poem,
  Beowulf,
• vengeance is a common theme. Many of the
• characters desire to get even. Beowulf wants to
  get
• even with Grendel for killing the Danes. Hrothgar
• wants revenge on Grendels mother for attacking
  the
• Danes. Grendels mother cannot believe her son
  was
• murdered and goes after who did it. In Beowulf,
  the
• theme of vengeance is exemplified through the
• actions of Beowulf, Hrothgar, and Grendels
  mother.

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II. Body Paragraphs

• A. Topic Sentence the topic of the paragraph.
  This is the first reason you mentioned in your
  thesis statement.
• You must stay in the order you presented in that
  thesis statement.
• Use a transition word or phrase to start it off
  (First/The first reason why/One reason why)
• Example topic sentence First, Beowulf is a
  character who regularly seeks vengeance in the
  poem.

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II. Body Paragraphs (cont.)

• B. Explanation of topic sentence Explain what
  you meant with the topic sentence (take it a step
  further)
• Example explanation sentence He wants revenge
  against Grendel for attacking the Danish people.

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II. Body Paragraphs (cont.)

• C. Introduction of the quote from the text All
  body paragraphs must include a quote from the
  text.
• You must introduce the quote, however. You cant
  just puke it into the paragraph.
• Example introduction-of-quote sentence When he
  is preparing to fight Grendel, he makes a formal
  boast, promising the Danes he will get even for
  them.

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II. Body Paragraphs (cont.)

• D. Quotation From Text You include a quote from
  the text, but you must LEAD IT IN with a short
  phrase.
• The quote must have quotation marks around it.
• Make sure you have the parenthetical citation at
  the end of each quote, otherwise its PLAGERISM.
• If you use more than one line, use the slash
  symbol ( / ) to separate the lines.
• Example quotation sentence Beowulf promised, I
  meant to perform to the uttermost/what your
  people wanted or perish in the attempt,/in the
  fiends clutches (lines 634-636).

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II. Body Paragraphs (cont.)

• E. Explanation of Quote You must explain the
  quote. You CANNOT just put the quote in the
  paragraph and leave it unexplained. Otherwise, it
  does not prove your point and your side at all.
• Example explanation sentence This text shows, he
  is getting revenge against Grendel for the Danes.
  The fiend he is talking about is Grendel. This is
  the part in the poem when he is about to go into
  the battle.

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II. Body Paragraphs (cont.)

• F. Closing Sentence This sums up the paragraph
  and wraps up this topic/reason.
• Example of closing sentence Beowulf needs to get
  even for the people of Denmark.

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Body Paragraph (all together)

• First, Beowulf is a character who
  regularly seeks vengeance in the poem. He wants
  revenge against Grendel for attacking the Danes.
  When he is preparing to fight Grendel, he makes a
  formal boast, promising the Danes he will get
  even for them. Beowulf promised, I meant to
  perform to the uttermost/what you people wanted
  or perish in the attempt,/in the fiends
  clutches (lines 634-636). This text shows he is
  getting even revenge against Grendel for he
  Danish people no matter what. The fiend is
  Grendel, and this is when Beowulf is about to
  battle him. Beowulf needs to get even for the
  people of Denmark.

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III. Conclusion Paragraph

• A. Reworded Thesis Statement In this paragraph,
  the thesis statement comes first, but reword it
  so it doesnt sound boring.
• Example reworded thesis Beowulf, Hrothgar, and
  Grendels mother all want revenge.

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III. Conclusion Paragraph

• B. Summary sentence of First Body Paragraph
  Write one sentence which summarizes what was in
  Body Paragraph 1.
• Example summary sentence(s) 1 Beowulf stands up
  to Grendel to help out Danes and get vengeance
  for them. He completely succeeds.

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III. Conclusion Paragraph

• C. Summary sentence of Second Body Paragraph
  Write one sentence which summarizes what was in
  Body Paragraph 2.
• Example summary sentence(s) 2 Hrothgar is out
  to get Grendels mother for what she did. His
  people need protection.

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III. Conclusion Paragraph

• D. Summary sentence of Third Body Paragraph
  Write one sentence which summarizes what was in
  Body Paragraph 3.
• Example summary sentence(s) 3 Grendels mother
  tries to kill Beowulf in anger over the death of
  her son.

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III. Conclusion Paragraph

• E. Closing Sentence/Final Statement Wrap up the
  entire essay with a statement to send your reader
  off.
• Example final statement Many people want to get
  even with someone at some point in their life.
  The characters in Beowulf are no different.

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Conclusion Paragraph (all together)

• Beowulf, Hrothgar, and Grendels
  mother all want revenge. Beowulf stands up to
  Grendel to help out the Danes. He completely
  succeeds. Hrothgar is out to get Grendels mother
  for what she did. His people need protection.
  Grendels mother tries to kill Beowulf in anger
  over the death of her son. Many people want to
  get even with someone at some point in their
  life. The characters in Beowulf are no different.