Grade 5: Persuasive Essay

Could your paragraphs be more persuasive? Check out these tips.

Write about each of your reasons in a separate paragraph. Make the reason itself your topic sentence, and include plenty of facts and examples as your supporting sentences. Take out any sentence that doesn't support your reason.

Not enough facts and examples: First of all, we should get a sewing machine because it would save time. [That was the topic sentence] Sewing by hand takes forever. The work goes much more quickly with a machine.

Much better: First of all, we should get a sewing machine because it would save time. For example, last week it took me two hours to hem my red skirt by hand. Since I grew an inch over the winter, I have five more hems to do. That's ten hours! Katie's sewing machine does hems, and she can sew a big hem in just a few minutes. Once in a while the thread jams, though, and then she has to start over. [That sentence didn't support the main idea.]

Think about why your audience might not agree with your goal. Be sure to answer those objections.

Another reason I should visit Grandpa this summer is that Aunt Jess is going to Chicago on a business trip in July, and I can take the train with her. You may be thinking that the trip will be too expensive, but it won't cost us anything! Grandpa said he would pay for my ticket as a birthday present.

Use transitional words to connect ideas within your paragraphs.

One reason for learning to play badminton is that if you have a yard, you can play right at home. For instance, on summer nights my brother and I often play until nine o'clock instead of sitting around and watching TV. Also, the shuttlecock is very lightweight, and therefore you don't have to worry about breaking a neighbor's window.

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