STATION+FOUR+Persuasive+Writing

Here are some persuasive writing prompts to get you started:

1. Convince your parents to raise your allowance. 2. Should at least two years of foreign language classes be required for high-school graduation? 3. Should there be a dress code at your school? 4. Persuade your parents to listen to your favorite music. 5. Your principal has asked you to suggest one way of improving your school to make it a better place for students. Think about the changes that are needed at your school. Pick one change you feel would really make a difference. Write an essay to convince your principal that your idea is one that should be adopted. 6. Convince your teacher to read a favorite book of yours to the class. 7. Children watch too much television. Do you agree? Take a stand and support it. Convince your reader of your position. 8. Are part-time jobs for high school students a good thing or do they hinder getting an education? Take a stand. 9. Students are allowed to drop out of school at age 16. Should the state lower the school dropout age? Write an essay to support your view on the subject. 10. Should your school require uniforms? Convince your reader why or why not uniforms should or should not be required in your school. 11. Convince your parents to take you to a particular place. 12. Should gum chewing (use whatever is forbidden at your school) be allowed on the school campus? 13. Should community service be a requirement for graduation from high school? 14. Suppose you want a pet, and your parents are not sure you should have one. Think of the reasons for having a pet. Think of what you can say that would change your parents’ minds. Write a paper to convince your parents to allow you to have a pet. 15. Persuade your mom to let you have your favorite food any time you want it. 16. Should the state legislature add ten days to the school year? Write to convince your reader of your side of the argument. 17. Should we do away with extra-curricular activities such as Art, P.E., and Music and go back to the basics, or are these classes necessary to a student’s education? 18. Should homework be eliminated? 19. Considering the rights of non-smokers, write an essay about whether smoking should or should not be permitted in public places. Convince your reader of your position. 20. Should students be allowed to drop out of school? 21. If you could make a suggestion to change the school dress code, what one suggestion would you make? Now write to convince your reader to adopt your suggestion. 22. Your teacher has asked for suggestions on a place to visit for a field trip. Where would you like to go? Now write to convince your reader to adopt your suggestion. 23. We have rules everywhere. Argue to support the need to change a rule or situation that affects you. 24. Vandalism is becoming a problem in today’s society. Do you think teenagers who vandalize should pay fines or serve mandatory community service to help repair the damage? Write an essay to convince your reader of your position. 25. Should students hold after-school jobs? Convince your reader of your point of view. 26. Parents, courts, and cities often impose curfews on teenagers. What do you think of curfews? Are they helpful in saving lives and keeping teenagers out of trouble, or are they just another insult to responsible teenagers? Think of some arguments to support your opinion. 27. Some things are taught in school that students do not think should be taught. Think of one thing you are required to learn in school that you do not think should be included in the curriculum. Now, write an essay to convince your teachers to abandon that part of the curriculum. 28. The state writing assessment test puts pressure on students and their teachers. On the other hand, student writing all over the country has improved since this test has been implemented. What is your opinion on the matter? Should there be a state writing assessment test, or should this particular test be eliminated? Write an essay to convince your state of your opinion on whether there should (or should not) be a state writing assessment test. 29. Parents, schools, and society all impose rules, but schools especially have a set of rules that must be followed. Think of one school rule that you really dislike. Think of some arguments against having this rule at your school. Now, write an essay to convince your principal and teachers to abandon this particular rule. 30. Universities require that an entering freshman must have taken at least two years of a foreign language in high school in order to be considered for admission. Some teacher and politicians think that high schools should require two years of a foreign language for graduation. What do you think of this possible requirement? Should high schools require two years of studying a foreign language for graduation? There are many arguments for and against this. Write an essay to convince the powers-that-be whether or not two years of a foreign language should be a requirement for graduation from high school.