This document provides instructions for writing a persuasive essay, including choosing a topic, developing a thesis statement, finding and organizing sources, taking notes, citing sources, and formatting a works cited page. Key steps include using databases like Gale and websites to research multiple perspectives on an issue; taking color-coded notes on notecards in EasyBib; adding in-text citations for quotes and facts not considered common knowledge; and using EasyBib's formatting tools to generate a correctly-styled works cited page. The goal is to make a clear, evidence-based argument on one side of a debatable issue.

1. Writing a Persuasive Essay
GOODFELLAS (1990) - LIOTTA, RAY. Photography. Encyclopædia Britannica
ImageQuest. Web. 16 Jan 2015.

2. Choose a Topic
•200 Essay Prompts from The New
York Times
•Use Instagrok to help with keywords

3. Issues to Address for Arguments
•Financial impact
•Fairness to all parties involved
•Feasibility
•Impact on school, society or the
world
•Personal experience

4. Thesis Statement
•Focused—avoid being too broad
•Debatable—avoid a statement where
you
cannot argue for or against the topic
•Pick a Side—the point of this essay is to
pick
a side and stick with it
•Make Claims—give supporting evidence

5. Find Information
•Gale Databases for Books, Academic Journals,
Magazines, and Newspapers
•NBC Learn for Videos
•Procon.org a website that presents information
without bias
•Library OPAC for books

6. Cite your Sources
•Use Easybib
•Cite from Gale in two clicks
•Copy/Paste Citation from NBC Learn
or Procon.org
•Use ISBN Number to cite a book

7. Using
Easybib to create a
works cited page
-Select “+New Project” and
name it
-Scroll down to project and
select “Bibliography”
-Add sources
-If you use Gale, then click
“citation tools,” then
“Easybib”
It’s a two click citation
-If you use a website, paste
the URL into box and click
“Cite It”
If you see ads in Easybib, then ask Ms. Kahn
for the coupon code
Website
Copy and paste
URL in box
Gale
source
Cite in two
clicks

8. Taking Notes
•Use Easybib
•If you copy/paste a quote, insert in
“Evidence from text” box
•Rewrite the information with bullets
in “Paraphrasing”
•Use fragments, not complete sentences
to take notes

9. Using
Easybib
Notecards
-Select “Notebook.”
-Click on “New Note”
-Select Source from the drop
down menu to add the
bibliographic information to
the note card
-If you use an online source,
copy and paste no more
than 4 sentences in the
Evidence from text box
-Add list of bullet fragments
in Paraphrasing with the
information found in source
-Save Note at the bottom of
the window
You must have an Easybib account with the
current coupon code to get the Notebook
option!
Ask Ms. Kahn for the coupon code.

10. Organize Notes in Easybib
Use different colors to group your notes and to
designate which body paragraph the information
will be used. You should use 5 or more colors, and
have at least 5 notes for each color.
Consider gathering information for an introduction
strategy such as a related quotation to put on a
note card.
Go to “organize” to get color
choices
Select Group from the drop down menu
Pick your color

11. In-Text/Parenthetical Citations
•For every source cited in your paper, you must
list that source in the works cited
•For every source listed in the works cited, you must
have a parenthetical citation.
•Cite information found in secondary sources or is not
common knowledge.

12. Using Easybib
Parenthetical or
In-text Citations
-Cite a source within your text
that is a secondary source or
quote, and not common
knowledge
-Select “Parenthetical”
below the citation (See
arrow to the right)
-Copy and paste the citation
from the box into your paper
-Use author’s name if there
is one or use title if no
author
-Always use page number if
there is one
You must have an Easybib account with the current coupon
code to get the Parenthetical option! Ask Ms. Kahn for the
coupon code
Copy and paste the text from the box into your
paper

13. Sample Parenthetical Citations
You do not need to cite common knowledge, well
known quotes, or proverbs. Author’s name,
no page number available
Author and page number,
preferred if info is available
Remember to insert citation before the period
Title only, no author or page
available

14. Use Easybib to Format
Works Cited Page
•Do NOT copy citation from Easybib
into your paper
•Let Easybib format the works cited page
correctly

15. Formatting works
cited page
-Open the drop down menu
for “Export” and select “Print
as Word Doc”
-Download for MS Word
-Save and open
-Works Cited page will be
formatted correctly

16. Need More Help?
•Find short videos how to use Gale
•Find short videos how to use Easybib
•Find help from OWL Purdue on how to write
an argumentative essay
•Email Ms. Kahn: ekahn@pftsta.jppss.k12.la.us