The Five Paragraph Essay




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Writing Prompt - Persuasive Writing

School Lunch Menu Needs Changing

Many students really do not like the contents of their school lunch. Parents pay for it because they feel their child will get healthy food and it is convenient for them to provide it. Yet, many students throw much of it out because they do not like the choices presented.

You are to write a five-paragraph essay suggesting specific menu changes, explaining the advantages of changes plus the health and financial benefits of those changes.






Writing Prompt - Persuasive Writing

I Need a Raise in My Allowance

Many students get an allowance from their parents to help the child learn to be financially responsible. However, sometimes that allowance does not meet the needs of the student, and the he or she has to go and beg for more money from their parents. They never know if they will get the request or not.

Write a five-paragraph essay about why you need to have a raise in your allowance and how it would be beneficial to you and to them if they granted this request.

Be sure to think about this as a parent. Write it as if the validity of your request would actually convince them to reward this petition.






Writing Prompt - Persuasive Writing

Annoying Friend and Classmate

Assume that you have a friend and classmate who always wants to be in your group or to work with you on a project, but then does little of the work. The person is nice enough and smart enough to do it, but somehow the results are always the same. You end up doing most of the work and that person gets the same grade as do you.

Write a five-paragraph essay persuading him or her to do their fair share of the work. Be sure to tell the person why you feel that getting the same grade with less work is unfair, what they should be doing to eliminate the problem, and how you are willing to work with them. Remember that you like this person and want to retain their friendship.






Writing Prompt - Persuasive Writing

Hey Owner! You are Neglecting Me! How about Some Attention?

Assume you are the family pet. (Be sure to define what you are.) You are being neglected in a big way and do not like it. You cannot speak to the owner as a human, but you can use all of the tricks of your kind to convince the owner that you want and need attention.

Let the reader know what you are doing and why you are doing it. Remember that you are persuading the owner to stop what he or she is doing and to be more attentive to you and your needs. Be sure to include the owner's reactions. Do this as a five paragraph essay.






Writing Prompt - Persuasive Writing

How Come You Won't Let Me Go?

You over hear your parents talking about the fact that they are going to one of your favorite places or or a place that they know you always wanted to visit. Then you hear them discussing getting a babysitter for you. You now know what they are not taking you.

Decide on a place to which you would love to go and be sure to incude that in the opening sentence. Think of reaons that your parents might not be taking you. Then persudade them that they should include you. Be sure to give specifics and not just general statements. Remember that you want to convice them to include you.

Do this in a five paragraph essay.