Persuasive Essay Assignment - Download as DOC

							Persuasive Essay Assignment                                         Name:                                       Period:

                                                   Persuasive Essay

Do you feel that CDs should carry warning labels about bad language? Do you think school lunch periods should be longer? Do
you believe professional athletes have a responsibility to be good role models?

You probably have strong opinions about these and many other issues. However, you opinion alone will probably not convince
anyone to agree with you. The question is, how do you make it more likely that people will agree with your opinion? One way is to
use the tools of persuasion to show your readers that your point of view is the right one.

Persuasive Essay Topics
   Topic One -
       o Many schools across the country have changed their school calendar so that they are now year-round schools. They
           still have time off in the summer, but they don’t have the traditional 3-month break. What is your position? Write a
           persuasive essay either in support of the year-round school calendar or in support of continuing the traditional school
           calendar.
   Topic Two -
       o In many areas of the country, students in both private and public schools are required to wear school uniforms.
           Suppose that the school board of your district is considering having all students wear a uniform that is to be selected by
           a group of administrators, teachers, parents, and students. What is your position? Write a persuasive essay either in
           support of the school uniform or against it.
   Topic Three -
       o Some individuals in the community have started a campaign to limit the homework that teachers can assign to students.
           Teachers at your school have argued that the homework is necessary. What is your position? Write a persuasive essay
           in support of eliminating homework or in support of regular homework.
   Topic Four -
       o In schools across the state, government officials are challenging the established extra-curricular eligibility requirements.
           They intend to change the law so that students who are participating in an extra-curricular activity need to maintain a
           G.P.A. of 2.0 in order to remain an active participant in their extra-curricular activity. Thus, if the star quarterback on the
           high school football team is not passing one of his classes, he cannot practice with the team or play in any games, and
           he cannot begin practicing or playing for that team until he makes his way back to eligibility status. What is your
           position? Write a persuasive essay either supporting this eligibility change or argue against this possible change.
   Topic Five –
       o In schools across the state students complain about the quality of school lunches. As a result, many schools have
           decided to let fast food restaurants like Taco Bell, McDonalds, and Pizza Hut into their schools cafeteria. These fast
           food chains are quite popular among the student body, but they also pose a threat to students’ health. What is your
           position? Write a persuasive essay either supporting fast food restaurants in school cafeterias or argue against this
           new trend in America’s schools.

Homework                                                       Due Date                                            Points

Brainstorming Worksheet                    _______________________________________                                    5
Graphic Organizer                          _______________________________________                                    5
Introduction                               _______________________________________                                    5
Body                                       _______________________________________                                    10
Conclusion                                 _______________________________________                                    5
Typed Rough Draft                          _______________________________________                                   10
Typed Final Draft                          _______________________________________                                    80
Pros – Year-Round School     Cons – Year-Round School




 Pros – School Uniform        Cons – School Uniform




    Pros – Homework              Cons – Homework




     Pros – Eligibility          Cons – Eligibility




Pros – Fast Food Cafeteria   Cons – Fast Food Cafeteria
  Introduction           Attention Grabber:                            Opinion Statement:
   Attention
    Grabber
  Opinion
    Statement




             Reason #1                                     Reason #2                        Reason #3




      Evidence:                                Evidence:                           Evidence:




     Evidence:                                 Evidence:                           Evidence:




     Evidence:                                 Evidence:                           Evidence:
      Evidence:




                          Opinion Statement:                             Call to Action:
  Conclusion
 Restatement
   of Opinion
 Summary of
   Reasons
 Call to Action
                           Summary of Reasons: