8th Grade Persuasive Essay on Martin Luther King, Jr.

Hello students and parents,

8th Grade has been working on writing a persuasive essay related to Martin Luther King, Jr. and the civil rights movement.

-The essay is due on Thursday: 2/20/2014

-The essay is a persuasive essay, and the essay prompt states:

In "The Strength to Love," Martin Luther King, Jr. claimed that fear was the ultimate cause of hatred, prejudice, and violence. Do you agree or disagree with this assessment? Write a persuasive essay defending your answer. 

The essay outline that was discussed in class is in the following format: 
(also available on pg. 144 of the Grammar textbook)

Nestorian Order with an Answer to the Opposition:

I. Introductory Paragraph:

1. Thesis Statement: states the topic and the writer's position on the topic
2. Introduce second best argument
3. Intro. opposing argument
4. Intro. your best reason
5. Conclude 

II. Second Best Reason:
    1. State your reason,
    2. Describe your reason,
    3. Support your reason using evidence)

*Evidence = quotes from expert opinions on the topic, statistics on the topic, personal accounts related to the topic)


III. Opposing Argument:
    1.  Present the strong arguments against your position


IV. The Opposition Refuted:
     1.  Refute (or argue and disprove) these arguments.  Show that they are illogical or misstate facts, or that your ideas outweigh them (or are stronger)
     2. Remember to use evidence to support your argument!

V. Best Reason:
    1. State your reason,
    2. Describe your reason,
    3. Support your reason using evidence)

VI. Conclusion:
    1. Summarize your arguments
    2. Restate your thesis
    3. Tie all of your points together, and conclude with a strong statement