Grade 4: Persuasive Essay

Try these tips for clear, strong paragraphs.

Be sure each reason is right for your audience. Remember that different reasons will persuade different people.

Good reason for a parent: The water slides at Waterland Park are safe and clean.

Good reason for someone your age: The water slides at Waterland Park are really long and winding! Example

Don't use opinions to support your reasons. Stick with facts and examples.

Opinion: I think it's mean not to let dogs run around in the park.

Fact: Exercise is as important for dogs as it is for people.

Example: For instance, when my cousin's dachshund Penny got sick, the vet said Penny should be allowed to run outside twice a day.

Explain your reasons honestly. Don't exaggerate!

Unconvincing: Ice-skating lessons will teach you how to skate like an Olympic champion.

Much better: Ice-skating lessons will teach you how to glide, turn, skate backwards, and stop.

Explain each reason in a separate paragraph. Make the reason itself your topic sentence, and support it with facts and examples. Take out any sentence that does not support your reason.

Being in the play wouldn't stop me from getting my homework done. [That's the topic sentence.] I'll be home from rehearsals before dinner, and I always do my homework after dinner. Also, I'm not taking trombone this year, so I have extra time. Anyway, Daniel Cross is in my class, and his mother is letting him be in the play. [That sentence didn't support the reason.]

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