Persuasive Essay Writing

Summary

The script outlines the structure of a persuasive essay, emphasizing the importance of selecting a topic, choosing a stance, and understanding opposing views through research. It highlights the necessity of a clear thesis statement and the use of body paragraphs to present researched arguments. The script concludes by stressing the role of a strong conclusion that restates the thesis and summarizes the argument, aiming to sway the audience to agree with the writer's viewpoint.

Takeaways

• 📝 A persuasive essay aims to convince readers to agree with a specific viewpoint.
• 🎯 The essay can be about any subject where the author has a stance, like cell phone use in schools or wearing seat belts.
• 🤔 The author must present a logical argument and understand both their own and opposing viewpoints.
• 🔍 Research is crucial to gain knowledge about the subject and to counter opponents' arguments.
• 📈 The introduction should contain a thesis statement that outlines the essay's purpose and position.
• 📋 The thesis statement should be precise, focused, and clear, including the subject, conflict, and the author's stance.
• 📑 Body paragraphs should each discuss a key point from the thesis, supported by research findings.
• 📊 Use statistics and facts from research to strengthen the argument in the body paragraphs.
• ➡️ Each point made in the thesis and introduction should have its own paragraph detailing the argument.
• 🔚 The conclusion should restate the thesis and summarize the main points, reinforcing the argument with facts and evidence.

Q & A

What is a persuasive essay?

A persuasive essay is a writing piece where the author aims to convince readers to agree with a particular stance or point of view on a given subject.

What are some examples of subjects for a persuasive essay?

Subjects for persuasive essays can range from using cell phones in schools, wearing school uniforms, to wearing seat belts in cars.

What is the first step in writing a persuasive essay?

The first step is to select a subject and then choose a side of the argument that you are going to defend.

Why is it important to understand both your own and opposing points of view when writing a persuasive essay?

Understanding both sides is crucial to construct a persuasive essay effectively, as it allows you to counter your opponent's points within your paper.

What is the role of research in writing a persuasive essay?

Research is key to gaining knowledge about the subject, looking at arguments made by others, and forming a well-informed argument.

What should a thesis statement in a persuasive essay include?

A thesis statement should include the subject, the conflict, and the writer's position on the issue, presented in one well-written sentence.

How should the introduction paragraph of a persuasive essay be structured?

The introduction should contain the thesis statement and at least three key talking points that will be elaborated in the body paragraphs.

What is the significance of body paragraphs in a persuasive essay?

Body paragraphs reflect the research done and each point made in the thesis statement should have its own paragraph supported by evidence.

How should the concluding paragraph of a persuasive essay be written?

The conclusion should restate the thesis and main points, summarizing the argument and convincing the audience to agree with the writer's stance.

What is the economic effect of wearing seat belts mentioned in the script?

The economic effect includes the impact on insurance and medical costs for other drivers, emphasizing that safety is a shared responsibility on the road.

Why is it suggested to have a separate paragraph for each point made in the thesis statement?

Having separate paragraphs for each point ensures clarity and allows for a thorough discussion of each argument, supported by research.

Outlines

00:00

📝 Introduction to Writing a Persuasive Essay

This paragraph introduces the concept of a persuasive essay, emphasizing its purpose to convince readers to adopt a specific viewpoint. It outlines the process of writing one, starting with selecting a subject and choosing a stance to defend. The paragraph highlights the importance of understanding both one's own and opposing viewpoints through research. It stresses the significance of the thesis statement, which should concisely present the essay's main points: the subject, the conflict, and the writer's position. The paragraph also discusses the structure of the essay, suggesting that the introduction should contain the thesis statement and be followed by body paragraphs that present research and arguments.

05:02

🚗 The Importance of Seat Belts: A Persuasive Argument

Paragraph 2 delves into the specifics of writing a persuasive essay on the topic of seat belt laws, using Pennsylvania as an example. It advises that each point made in the thesis and introduction should be elaborated in a separate paragraph, supported by research. The paragraph discusses the importance of seat belts in preventing injuries during collisions, even at low speeds like 12 mph. It also touches on the economic impact of seat belt laws on other drivers through insurance and medical costs. The paragraph concludes with advice on crafting a conclusion that restates the thesis and summarizes the argument, emphasizing the broader implications of seat belt laws beyond personal freedom.

Keywords

💡Persuasive Essay

A persuasive essay is a type of writing where the author aims to convince readers to adopt a specific viewpoint. It is central to the video's theme as it discusses how to craft such an essay. The script uses examples like cell phones in schools or wearing seat belts to illustrate the wide range of topics that can be addressed in a persuasive essay.

💡Stance

Stance refers to the position or viewpoint one takes on an issue. In the context of the video, choosing a stance is the first step in writing a persuasive essay. The script mentions deciding whether to argue for or against wearing seat belts, which is crucial for forming the essay's argument.

💡Argument

An argument in persuasive writing is a set of reasons given to support the author's stance. The video emphasizes that a persuasive essay must present a logical argument to convince the audience. The script uses the argument for wearing seat belts as a recurring example to demonstrate how to structure an argument.

💡Research

Research is the process of gathering information on a subject to support one's argument. The video stresses that understanding both sides of an issue through research is vital for a persuasive essay. The script suggests looking at existing arguments and counterarguments as part of the research process.

💡Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is a concise summary of the main argument or point of a persuasive essay. The video explains that it should be included in the introduction and must be clear and focused. The script provides an example of a thesis statement for the seat belt argument, emphasizing its importance.

💡Introduction Paragraph

The introduction paragraph sets the stage for the essay by presenting the thesis statement and预告 the main points. The video describes how to craft this paragraph, including the thesis statement and key talking points that will be elaborated in the body paragraphs.

💡Body Paragraphs

Body paragraphs are the main sections of a persuasive essay where each paragraph discusses a single point supporting the thesis. The video explains that these paragraphs should reflect the research done and be used to counter opposing arguments, as illustrated by discussing seat belt laws and safety statistics.

💡Conclusion

The conclusion of a persuasive essay summarizes the argument and reinforces the author's stance. The video describes how to write a conclusion that restates the thesis and main points, using the seat belt example to show how to tie all points together convincingly.

💡Counterarguments

Counterarguments are the opposing viewpoints that a persuasive essay must address to strengthen its own argument. The video mentions the importance of understanding and countering these points within the essay, as it shows the depth of the author's research and understanding.

💡Personal Freedom

Personal freedom is a concept discussed in the context of seat belt laws, where some might argue against mandatory seat belt use on the grounds of personal choice. The video uses this concept to illustrate the need to address counterarguments and show the broader implications of the stance taken.

💡Economic Effect

Economic effect refers to the financial implications of an issue, such as the costs associated with accidents where seat belts are not used. The video mentions this to argue that the benefits of wearing seat belts extend beyond personal safety to include economic considerations for other drivers.

Highlights

A persuasive essay aims to convince readers to agree with a specific stance or viewpoint.

Persuasive essays can be written about any subject, such as cell phones in schools or wearing seat belts.

The first step in writing a persuasive essay is to select a subject and choose a side to defend.

Understanding both your point of view and the opposite points of view is crucial.

Research plays a vital role in constructing a persuasive essay.

The thesis statement is the most important part of a persuasive essay.

The thesis statement should be precise, focused, and clearcut.

The introduction paragraph should contain the thesis statement and key talking points.

Body paragraphs should reflect the research done and support the points made in the thesis.

Each point in the thesis statement should have its own paragraph supported by research.

The concluding paragraph should restate the thesis and summarize the argument.

The conclusion should illustrate that the argument is based on facts and evidence.

Wearing seat belts is an example used to demonstrate how to write a persuasive essay.

The need for safety while traveling in a vehicle is a key point in the persuasive essay about seat belts.

Crash statistics can be used to illustrate how seat belts save lives.

The economic effect of wearing seat belts on other drivers is an important consideration.

The personal freedom of choice argument is countered by the safety and economic benefits of wearing seat belts.

Follow these steps to convince others to agree with your stance on the issue.

Transcripts

[Music]

persuasive

essay a persuasive essay is a writing

piece in which the author tries to

convince readers to agree with a

particular stance or point of

view persuasive essays can be written

about any subject for example you can

write a persuasive essay about your

viewpoint on using cell phones in

schools wearing school uniforms or even

wearing a seat belt in your car a

persuasive essay is one of the best ways

to get others to understand your point

of view when writing a persuasive essay

you are forming an argument you must

present a logical argument to your

audience and convince them to agree with

a specific stance when creating a

persuasive essay the first step is to

select a subject then you must choose a

side of the argument that you are going

to defend for example on the subject of

seat belts you would have to determine

the points in question and The Stance

you would take on those

points what are the positive aspects of

wearing a seat belt what are the

negative aspects of wearing a seat Bel

why is your stance more correct than the

opposing

stance you must understand an issue well

enough to construct a persuasive essay

to do this you must not only understand

your point of view but you must also

understand the opposite points of view

this is where research comes into play

when you are writing a persuasive essay

you are writing from the point of view

of an expert so you will have to gain

knowledge about this subject look at the

arguments that others have made about

your side of the issue then look at the

arguments of your

opponents the key to a successful

persuasive essay is to counter your

opponent's points inside your paper to

do this you will need to know their

arguments as well as you know your own

once you fully understand the issue that

you have chosen you are ready to begin

writing your introduction paragraph

should contain your thesis

statement in one well-written sentence

you want to let your audience know your

point of view the thesis statement is

the most important part of your paper

everything else in the paper is based

upon

it you must include three main points in

your thesis statement what you are

writing about

the subject why you are writing about it

the conflict and what your position on

the issue is the opinion thesis

statements need to be precise focused

and

clearcut your thesis statement for

wearing seat belts would need to include

the subject universal laws for wearing

seat belts while in Motor Vehicles the

conflict whether it should be a law or a

personal choice and the opinion your

belief that where bearing seat belt

should be the law for all drivers and

passengers in Motor

Vehicles let's put these thoughts

together into one thesis statement

wearing seat belts in Motor Vehicles

should be mandated under the law in

order to protect drivers and passengers

as well as the financial liability of

other drivers in the event of an

accident in one sentence the thesis

statement covers everything that you

need to persuade readers in the essay

from this thesis state

readers have a clear idea about what you

are going to

discuss once you have crafted your

thesis statement you should follow up

with at least three sentences in the

introduction paragraph these sentences

should include the key talking points

that you will discuss in the following

body paragraphs going back to the seat

Bel example your research should uncover

your State's laws on wearing a seat belt

the need for safety while traveling in a

vehicle and perhaps some crash

statistics that illustrate how seat

belts save

lives your body paragraphs need to

reflect the research that you have done

each point you have made will have its

own paragraph of about five

sentences content and a persuasive essay

is important when writing a persuasive

essay research is a key factor in

creating an argument for example if you

were researching seat Bel laws in the

state of Pennsylvania you may have come

across the PA driver's manual combine

the research you have done on both sides

of the argument to create your own

argument the first body paragraph in

your persuasive essay May State

something like

this when a vehicle is involved in a

collision the vehicle stops but the

driver and passengers inside the vehicle

continue to move at the same speed seat

belts are designed to keep a person in

place and in inside the vehicle even the

strongest people cannot protect

themselves from the force of an accident

serious injuries can occur at only 12

mph while 12 mph is not very fast a

person wearing a seat belt is safer than

a person not wearing one A good rule to

follow when writing a persuasive essay

is this each point that you make in your

thesis statement and introduction

paragraph should have its own paragraph

which which is supported by your

research the concluding paragraph is the

last paragraph of your essay conclusions

in essays show a carefully constructed

argument and illustrate that your

argument has been based on facts and

evidence the conclusion should restate

your thesis and main points of interest

summarizing the argument for the

audience here is a sample conclusion

paragraph about wearing seat belts

wearing seat bels saves lives seat belts

support drivers and passengers during a

collision keeping them inside the

vehicle and strapped firmly to the

seat Studies have shown that even a

collision at 12 mph can cause serious

injuries these injuries not only affect

the person who is injured but they also

affect other drivers through insurance

and medical costs wearing a seat belt is

currently the law in Pennsylvania and it

should remain this way some May argue

that this law cost them their personal

freedom of choice not to wear a seat

belt but wearing seat belts has an

economic effect on other drivers on the

road and not just your own safety as

such the other drivers on the road as

well as yourself are more important than

your personal freedom of

choice to review select a topic and

write a thesis statement that displays

your reasoning and research as part of

your introduction paragraph right at

least three other sentences in your

introduction explaining the points that

you will discuss in your body paragraphs

use your body paragraphs to elaborate on

the points from your

introduction write a conclusion that

ties all of your points together and

convinces the audience to agree with you

follow these steps and you will be

convincing others to agree with your

stance on the issue in no time