Persuasive Essay Planning Sheet

							Name _______________________________________ Date _______________________________ Pd. ______
                                   Persuasive Essay Planning Sheet

      A persuasive essay is one in which you take a side on a controversial issue. Your job is to convince the
       reader that your views are correct.

      The key to a persuasive essay:
           o Pick an issue that people will have different opinions on.
                  EXAMPLE issues: gay marriage, the war in Iraq, Are alternative schools or
                     comprehensive schools better, abortion, etc.
           o Know you stuff! If you want to convince someone that your argument is correct, than you better
             get your facts straight.
           o Use the counterargument strategy.
           o Offer a solution.

Your Task:
   1. Go to Mrs. Brennan’s website and click on “Links” on the left hand side.
   2. Go down to the “LA 10 Persuasive Writing” section.
   3. Click on the various news links.
   4. Find an article that spikes your interest and you could possibly use as the subject of your persuasive
      essay.
   5. Print out the article and staple it to this sheet.
   6. Answer the following questions.

Article Questions:
   1. Read the article. Write a 3-4 sentence summary of what the article is discussing.




   2. What are the 2 sides of the issue in this article?




   3. What side do you want to take?




   4. What is a counter argument against your opinion on this issue?