Grade 3: Persuasive Essay

If your essay seems weak or disorganized, try these tips.

Take out any reasons that will not help to persuade your audience.

This reason won't persuade the writer's brother: You should share your games with me because I've wrecked most of mine.

Much better: You should share your games with me so that I can learn them. Then you'll always have someone to play with.

After your opening, begin each paragraph with a topic sentence that states a reason. Take out any sentences in the paragraph that are not about that reason.

Another reason why I should take tap dancing is that it would be good for my health. [That's your topic sentence. Make the rest of the paragraph about that reason.] Dancing is excellent exercise. It makes your legs strong, and it makes your heart beat hard. Also, you don't get hurt the way you can with some sports. You get to be in shows and wear costumes. [That sentence wasn't about the reason in the topic sentence.]

Use connecting words. They help your audience to move from one reason to the next.

The main reason why our class should visit the Cardullo Bakery is that we would learn about an important kind of work…

In the second place, my uncle owns the bakery, and he loves showing children around…

My last reason is that we would bring home free samples for ourselves and our parents…

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