Essay Narrative Example

The goal of writing a persuasive essay is to persuade or convince the reader to believe something. Writers do this through the use of logical arguments and emotional appeals. While there is no one correct way to write these essays, this page will show you some good practices to consider when learning how to write a persuasive essay. Here is a brief overview of the contents on this page. I suggest that you start at the beginning, but if you’re looking for something specific, click the links below to hop around this page: Introductory Paragraphs.

Essay Narrative Examples

The introductory paragraph is the first- paragraph in the persuasive essay. I teach my students that their introductory paragraphs should have three parts: an attention- catcher, a thesis, and a preview.

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College Essay Narrative Examples

The introductory paragraph is perhaps the most important paragraph in the essay because it is the first and possibly last chance to make an impact on the reader. It should clearly express the subject of the essay as well as the writer’s position. While it is generally not required, previewing the main points shows readers that the paper has been thoughtfully composed rather than free formed. When I teach persuasive writing, we often devote the entire first week to the introductory paragraph because I believe that if a student can write a good introductory paragraph, then he or she can write a strong persuasive essay. Every introductory paragraph should begin with an attention catcher. Attention Catchers. The attention catcher or lead should be the first sentence in the persuasive essay.

An essay has been defined in a variety of ways. One definition is a "prose composition with a focused subject of discussion" or a "long, systematic discourse".

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It is the writer’s first chance to make an impression on the reader, so it should not be spent thoughtlessly. A good attention catcher is angled in a way that immediately pushes the reader toward the writer’s position. Here is an example of what I mean: Example of a Weak Attention Catcher. Do you think students should have to wear uniforms? Notice that this question is open- ended and does not provide an opinion.

If my students wrote this, I would not know which side they were arguing. This should not be the case. The writer’s position should be clear before they even mention it based on the strength of their attention catcher. Example of a Strong Attention Catcher. Do you think students should be forced to wear pants when it is over 1. This example is much stronger because the writer’s position is clear from the first line. They ask a question to which they already know the answer.

Persuasion is about forcing others to think along your lines. Practice this in your writing by using attention catchers that are angled toward your position. It may take more time to write your attention catcher than any other sentence in your essay, but this is time well spent in my opinion. Attention Catching Techniques. Here is a short list of attention catching techniques for persuasive essays. This list is not to be thought of as exhaustive, but rather as a few guiding examples to help you get started. I encourage you to combine and experiment with these techniques as your writing develops.

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Asking a Question: This is my favorite technique because it can be used on any topic at any time. Additionally, it has a strong rhetorical effect on readers: people are conditioned to think about questions because answers are often expected of them. Among The Hidden Essays here.

When you ask a question in your paper, readers are more likely to consider your ideas. As with any attention catcher, you’ll want to take your time making a good one that begins persuading your audience immediately. Quotation: A wise person once said, “No matter what you’re trying to say, someone else has probably said it better.” I find that in most cases this statement is true. While you are unlikely to have access to the necessary resources to dig up quotes for a timed essay or standardized test, if you do have time (example: a high school application letter), using an appropriate quote is a classy way to start off your essay.

Just be sure that the quote is connected to your topic in some easily identifiable way. Anecdote: An anecdote is a short story. Beginning your essay with an anecdote that is clearly related to your topic is another great way to get the reader’s attention and briefly demonstrate your descriptive writing ability. There are a couple things to keep in mind, however, when using an anecdote to catch the reader’s attention.

Stay on Point: as with everything in your paper, your attention catcher, especially if it is an anecdote, should be related to your topic and position. Stay on Mode: Remember that you are writing a persuasive essay, not a narrative. Your anecdote should be limited to a few sentences, lest your writing may be perceived as off mode.

Startling Fact or Statistic: Did you know that two out of three persuasive essays do not begin with a proper attention catcher? Using a startling fact or statistic is another great way to pique the reader’s interest, assuming that you can locate just such a fact. I’ve heard other people suggest that students should fabricate facts or statistics when other sources are unavailable, but I personally don’t support that approach as it seems academically dishonest. Imaginative Scenario: Picture this! You have forty- five minutes to write an essay and you need an attention catcher fast.

One way to do this is to create an imaginative scenario such as the one that I just described. Apa Style Essay Citation on this page. Immerse your reader in an example of the problem and show them why they should care. Use descriptive writing and sensory details to either positively or negatively charge your writing; however, as with telling anecdotes, be careful not to stray off mode. Remember that your main purpose is to write arguments not to tell stories.

Combinations: You might find yourself using some hybrid of two or more of these techniques, which is completely acceptable. You can begin with an imaginative scenario and end with a question. When it comes to writing, the most restrictive limitations are the bounds of your own imagination. I encourage you to stretch those bindings whenever you have the opportunity. Thesis. A thesis is a clearly worded statement telling readers exactly what the writer intends to do in the essay. Good persuasive writing does not make the reader guess as to what the author’s intentions were.

The writer’s intent should be made very clear. The best place to do this is immediately after the attention catcher.

After gaining the reader’s interest, clearly state the position of your essay, as in the following example: Do you think students should be forced to wear pants when it is over 1. Amelia Earhart Essays there. Students should not have to wear uniforms. The emboldened text represents the thesis or central argument in my essay.

Every sentence in my paper should in some way connect to that central argument. Any sentence that is not furthering my thesis is distracting from it and should be removed. Clearly state your thesis in your introductory paragraph and spend the rest of the essay trying to support it. If your position changes during the course of your writing, don’t be afraid to go back and revise your thesis, but your thesis must align with the arguments in your essay. Preview of Main Points. The preview briefly states the main points that will be argued in the essay. The preview is not where the arguments are developed.

The preview merely summarizes each point in as few words as possible. Each body paragraph should have one main point. All of the main points should be concisely stated in the preview. An appropriately structured five- paragraph essay will preview three main points. It is important for writers to preview their main points in the exact order that they will be developed. For example, if I claim that my essay will argue square, circle, and triangle .

My first body paragraph should be about squares, my second should be about circles, and my third should be about triangles. I instruct my students to put their previews right after the thesis statements in their introductory paragraphs. Educators and professionals argue back and forth on the value of previewing points. Consequently, previews are not required on many standardized tests; however, I require them for my students because it is an easy way to tell if they are considering format in their compositions. Previewing and structuring main points in this manner is a good way to scaffold into a more personalized and sophisticated writing style. Body Paragraphs. The term body refers to all paragraphs after the introduction and before the conclusion. The metaphor that comes to mind most often in describing this structure is the sandwich: the introductory and concluding paragraphs represent slices of bread while the body paragraphs are the meat and cheese of the essay, so to speak.

There are three body paragraphs in a five paragraph persuasive essay. Each body paragraph should focus on one argument, called the main point. Though I encourage my students to have three body paragraphs, it is certainly possible to write a successful essay with more or fewer body paragraphs. Main Points. A main point is the purpose of the body paragraph. Each body paragraph should have one clearly stated main point that is expressed in the topic sentence of the paragraph. The main point should then be developed and supported with emotional or logical arguments.

A five- paragraph persuasive essay should have three main points and each main points should support the thesis of the essay. Topic Sentences. Topic sentences clearly state the purpose of the paragraph. Each body paragraph should begin with a topic sentence. A topic sentence may or may not restate your thesis or position but always should state the paragraph’s central argument. The goals of a persuasive essay are somewhat opposite to that of a mystery novel: when writing a persuasive essay do not attempt to build suspense by keeping secrets from the reader. Write topic sentences that are clear, direct, and upfront about your purpose.

Example. Students should not have to wear school uniforms because they limit students’ ability to express their individuality. Political Essay Topics.