This document provides guidance on writing persuasive essays, including how to structure an introduction paragraph, body paragraphs, and conclusion. The introduction should begin with a hook to engage the reader, then state the topic and your position on it in a thesis statement. Body paragraphs should each focus on one reason to support the thesis, using the PEE structure of making a Point, providing Evidence to support it, and Explaining how the evidence relates to the point. The conclusion should restate the main points without simply repeating verbatim what was already stated. Transition words are recommended to improve flow between paragraphs. Proper indentation of paragraphs is also advised.

1. Persuasive EssaysPersuasive Essays

2. HookHook: Beginning your essay: Beginning your essay
 Think about the purpose of your opening.Think about the purpose of your opening.
An opening needs to serve several purposes:An opening needs to serve several purposes:
*It lets the reader know what your topic is, in a*It lets the reader know what your topic is, in a
general way.general way.
*It*It cancan let the reader know what you have to saylet the reader know what you have to say
about that topic.about that topic.
*It "hooks" the reader into your essay, intriguing*It "hooks" the reader into your essay, intriguing
the reader, drawing the reader onward.the reader, drawing the reader onward.

3. Writing a Thesis Statement
A thesis statement is a sentence that
states your arguable claim on a certain
topic and the reasons you plan to use to
support your claim.

4. It offers your readers a quick and easy to
follow summary of what the paper will be
discussing and what you as a writer are
setting out to tell them.

5. A thesis statement is a very specific
statement -- it should cover only what you
want to discuss in your paper, and must
be supported with specific evidence in the
body of the essay.

6. Trained readers will expect to see your
thesis at the end of the first paragraph of
an essay. This placement makes your
thesis easy to find and will give your
readers a clear idea of what to expect.

7. HookHook
 Begin with an example.Begin with an example. Specific things intrigue us;Specific things intrigue us;
general things bore us. An illustration that you mightgeneral things bore us. An illustration that you might
ordinarily use as evidence elsewhere in a paper mightordinarily use as evidence elsewhere in a paper might
make a good, intriguing lead. Follow this up with themake a good, intriguing lead. Follow this up with the
more general statements, and you've got as "one-twomore general statements, and you've got as "one-two
punch" opening that serves your purposes.punch" opening that serves your purposes.
 Ex: Last year I received the most memorable gift ofEx: Last year I received the most memorable gift of
my life. When I unwrapped the silver bow Christmasmy life. When I unwrapped the silver bow Christmas
morning I was astonished to find a whimpering,morning I was astonished to find a whimpering,
cuddly new puppy. The smile on my face was ascuddly new puppy. The smile on my face was as
wide as the ocean.wide as the ocean.
 Begin with a quote.Begin with a quote. Works the same way.Works the same way.
 Ex: Remember, the greatest gift is not found in aEx: Remember, the greatest gift is not found in a
store nor under a tree, but in the hearts of truestore nor under a tree, but in the hearts of true
friends.friends.
 Ex: A book is a gift you can open again and again.Ex: A book is a gift you can open again and again.

8. Tell ‘em what your gonnaTell ‘em what your gonna
tell ‘emtell ‘em
(INTODUCTORY PARAGRAPH/ Thesis)(INTODUCTORY PARAGRAPH/ Thesis)
 Topic SentenceTopic Sentence
The topic sentence introduces your essayThe topic sentence introduces your essay..
 A. Supporting detail sentence # 1A. Supporting detail sentence # 1
(first reason)(first reason)
 B. Supporting Detail Sentence # 2B. Supporting Detail Sentence # 2
(second reason)(second reason)
 C. Supporting Detail Sentence # 3C. Supporting Detail Sentence # 3
(third reason)(third reason)
Hint: pay attention to the colors.Hint: pay attention to the colors.

9. If I could choose to be any age, I
would choose to be twenty seven
years old. There are several reasons I
would choose to be this age. (1)Once I am
twenty seven, I will have been working a
consistent job for a few years. (2) I will own
my own home and be able to enjoy the
freedom and privacy owning your own home
brings.(3) I also would have a large portion of
my bills paid off.

10. Introductory ParagraphIntroductory Paragraph
 Remember when you list your supporting detailsRemember when you list your supporting details
(reasons), you need three separate sentences)(reasons), you need three separate sentences)
 What not to do:What not to do:
The reasons I would like to visit Hawaii are: to goThe reasons I would like to visit Hawaii are: to go
surfing, to see the volcanoes, and to eat new andsurfing, to see the volcanoes, and to eat new and
different food.different food.
 Though the above sentence is a nice sentence, yourThough the above sentence is a nice sentence, your
reasons need to be separated.reasons need to be separated.
 What to do:What to do:
There are several reasons I would like to visit Hawaii.There are several reasons I would like to visit Hawaii.
The first reason I would like to visit is to go surfing on theThe first reason I would like to visit is to go surfing on the
ocean waves. The second reason I would like to visitocean waves. The second reason I would like to visit
Hawaii is to see the beautiful landscape and monstrousHawaii is to see the beautiful landscape and monstrous
volcanoes. The final reason I would like to experience avolcanoes. The final reason I would like to experience a
vacation in Hawaii would be to devour the deliciousvacation in Hawaii would be to devour the delicious
island cuisine.island cuisine.

11. Tell ‘emTell ‘em
(Body Paragraphs)(Body Paragraphs)
 A. Supporting Detail Sentence # 1A. Supporting Detail Sentence # 1
(The reason from paragraph 1)(The reason from paragraph 1)
1. Supporting Sentence1. Supporting Sentence
(a reason for the reason)(a reason for the reason)
2. Supporting Sentence2. Supporting Sentence
(another reason for your reason)(another reason for your reason)
3. Supporting Sentence3. Supporting Sentence
(another reason for your reason)(another reason for your reason)
 3 Supporting Paragraphs3 Supporting Paragraphs

12. The first reason I would
choose to be twenty seven would
be that I will have been teaching
for a few years, so I would feel
comfortable in my position. (1)After
teaching for a few years, I will have
accumulated many of the materials I
would need for teaching. (2) I will have
also worked out many of the kinks in my
teaching style. (3)Once I have a few
years of experience under my belt, I will
be able to be a far better teacher.

13. Next, I would like to be twenty
seven because I will hopefully own
my own home. (1)When I was growing
up, every house my family lived in was
under construction. I never lived in a
finished home. (2) It was stressful and
hard to live in the mess and the noise of
construction. (3) I would like to buy a town
home, so I have a place of my own but I
don’t have to do much of the matinence
myself.

14. Finally, I will be able to have my
finances in order. My college career
has been quite an expense. (1) I have
accumulated student loans, and money can
be a very stressful thing. (2) Hopefully, once
I am twenty seven, I will have a good start on
paying off my debt and have my own efficient
way of managing my money. (3) I would like
to be able to have enough in savings to plan
for the future and travel often.

15. Tell ‘em What you told ‘emTell ‘em What you told ‘em
(Conclusion)(Conclusion)
 A. Restate (re-word) your first paragraphA. Restate (re-word) your first paragraph
 Find a way to re-tell exactly what you toldFind a way to re-tell exactly what you told
them in the first paragraph.them in the first paragraph.

16. In conclusion, though being twenty two is
fun, and my life is certainly taking a turn
for the better, I still would like to be more
financially stable. First of all, at twenty seven I
will have been in my profession for four solid
years and will have acquired more wisdom.
Second, I will have a home to call my own and be
able to host dinner parties and other occasions
with friends and family. Finally, I will not have to
worry about money nearly as much, which will
lead me to be a far more serene person.

17. PPEEEE StrategyStrategy
Yes, we are goingPEE today!
P- State your POINT (what you are
going to argue; the point you’re trying
to make)
E- EVIDENCE (your evidence is what
you are “quoting” from the text)
E- EXPLAIN (explain how the quote
helps prove your point. How do the P
and the first E connect?)

18. Your Body ParagraphsYour Body Paragraphs
Your 3 body paragraphs will
need to be in the form of PEE
paragraphs. You will use
evidence from the graphic
organizer to support your
reasoning.

20. Concluding wordsConcluding words
 after allafter all
 all in allall in all
 all things consideredall things considered
 brieflybriefly
 by and largeby and large
 in any casein any case
 in any eventin any event
 in briefin brief
 in conclusion,in conclusion,
 on the wholeon the whole
 in shortin short
 in summaryin summary
 in the final analysisin the final analysis
 in the long runin the long run
 on balanceon balance
 to sum upto sum up
 to summarizeto summarize
 finallyfinally

21. Transition WordsTransition Words
 Using transitionalUsing transitional
words and phraseswords and phrases
helps papers readhelps papers read
more smoothly.more smoothly.
 They provideThey provide
organization andorganization and
understandability andunderstandability and
improve theimprove the
connections andconnections and
transitions betweentransitions between
thoughts.thoughts.
 at firstat first
 first of allfirst of all
 to begin withto begin with
 in the first placein the first place
 at the same timeat the same time
 for nowfor now
 for the time beingfor the time being
 the next stepthe next step
 in timein time
 in turnin turn
 later onlater on
 meanwhilemeanwhile
 nextnext

22. Transition WordsTransition Words
 for examplefor example
 for instancefor instance
 for one thingfor one thing
 as an illustrationas an illustration
 illustrated withillustrated with
 as an exampleas an example
 in this casein this case
 thenthen
 soonsoon
 the meantimethe meantime
 laterlater
 whilewhile
 earlierearlier
 simultaneouslysimultaneously
 afterwardafterward
 in conclusionin conclusion
 with this in mindwith this in mind

23. INDENTINGINDENTING
 Remember to indent yourRemember to indent your
paragraphsparagraphs
The place I would most like to visit isThe place I would most like to visit is
Hawaii. There are several reasons I would likeHawaii. There are several reasons I would like
to visit this place. I have heard it is some ofto visit this place. I have heard it is some of
the most beautiful land you will ever see.the most beautiful land you will ever see.
Also, I would love to learn to surf. Finally, IAlso, I would love to learn to surf. Finally, I
think it would be such a great experience tothink it would be such a great experience to
try the traditional island cuisine.try the traditional island cuisine.