WRITING AN ESSAY using teel Persuasive essay Topic Sentence What is the main point for your paragraph? This sentence should represent your main argument.

When read on their own, the topic sentences of each paragraph should be able to give the reader a clear idea on what your essay is about. Evidence What is your evidence? Without evidence you will be relying on your opinion.

Evidence could be statistics, expert opinion or news reports. It could also be anecdotal, which means it does not have to be strongly supported by objective sources. Explanation Why is your point important? You have raised an idea and provided evidence to support it, but now you need to explain in more detail.

Don't simply raise an idea and move on. Spend time on developing the idea so it will not be easily dismissed.

Use persuasive techniques to convince the reader that you are correct. Link How does this relate to your original contention? To help you keep on track, always relate your paragraph back to your original contention or response to the issue.