How to Write a Persuasive Essay

Name:
Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

Step 4:

Step 5:

What are the 5 parts in a 5

Paragraph Essay?
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

What is needed in your introduction?

Introductory Paragraph Example

Prompt: Should Canada abolish, keep, or reform the Senate?
There is much debate about what Canada should do with the Senate. Although
some feel that it is an important check on the power of the House of Commons,
in many ways it has become a waste of citizens tax dollars. As a result, Canada
should reform the Senate. One of the ways the Senate can be reformed is by
altering how the regions of Canada are represented in the Upper House. The
Senate can also be improved by actually exercising their power as a sober
second thought from time to time. Finally, Senators should be elected instead of
appointed to hold them more accountable for their actions while serving in the
Senate. By making these reforms the Senate will better serve the government
and citizens of Canada.

What is needed in your body paragraphs?

What is needed in your conclusion?

Big No-Nos in Essay Writing

How is your essay marked?

Argumentati
on
X2

Evidence
X2

Communicat
ion

Persuasive Essay
4
3
- Thesis is
- Thesis is
explicitly
clearly stated
stated
- Arguments
- Arguments
simply
completely
outlined
outlined
- Arguments
- Arguments
made are
made are
precise
detailed

2
- Thesis is
unrecognizab
le
- Arguments
are
unidentified
- Arguments
made are
unclear

1
- Thesis is
not
present
- No
arguments
outlined
- No
arguments
are made

- Variety of
sources used
- In-depth
analysis of
sources
- Evidence
comprehensiv
ely supports the
argument

- Some
sources used
- Complete
analysis of
sources
- Evidence
clearly
supports the
argument

- Limited use
of sources
- Partial
analysis of
sources
- Evidence
minimally
supports the
argument

- Logical
organization
- No spelling/
grammatical
errors
- Diverse
sentence
structure

- Clear
organization
- Few
spelling/
grammatical
errors
- Clear
sentence
structure

- Lacks
organization
- Many
spelling/
grammatical
errors
- Unclear
sentence
structure

- No
sources
used
- No
analysis of
sources
- No
connectio
n to
argument
- No
organizati
on present
Unreadabl
e
- Improper
sentence
structure