Essay Study Guides
By Mrs. Spangler in the
Middle
©2014 E. Spangler

The following pages are study guide “cards” to hand out to your students to help them study for your state writing assessment.
They serve as reminders of how essays should be organized and give some transition, definition, example, objection and anecdote starters.
I suggest copying them on cardstock with Persuasive on one side and Expository on the other side to save paper. 
I hope this helps you and your students feel more confident about your assessments!

Persuasive Essay an Introduction – 3 sentences
1. Hook (Interest Catcher)
2. Answer to the prompt
3. Thesis (3 reasons) Focused on ADVANTAGES to the READER

Persuasive Essay

Introduction – 3 sentences
1. Hook (Interest Catcher)
2. Answer to the prompt
3. Thesis (3 reasons) Focused on ADVANTAGES to the READER

Support – 1 paragraph for each reason > Use transitions (To begin,

Support – 1 paragraph for each reason > Use transitions (To begin,

1. Topic sentence
2. Definition (By this I mean, To clarify, ____ means)
3. Example (This looks like, For example, For instance) or Objection (I know

1. Topic sentence
2. Definition (By this I mean, To clarify, ____ means)
3. Example (This looks like, For example, For instance) or Objection (I know

Furthermore, Most importantly)

you may be thinking/wondering/considering, but…)
4. Anecdote {could refute objection} (I remember, The first, One time)

5. Conclusion (connected to topic)
Conclusion – 3 sentences
1. Answer to the prompt
2. Thesis restatement
3. The Zinger (Red Bow Sentence)

Furthermore, Most importantly)

you may be thinking/wondering/considering, but…)
4. Anecdote {could refute objection} (I remember, The first, One time)

5. Conclusion (connected to topic)
Conclusion – 3 sentences
1. Answer to the prompt
2. Thesis restatement
3. The Zinger (Red Bow Sentence)

Persuasive Essay

Persuasive Essay

Introduction – 3 sentences
1. Hook (Interest Catcher)
2. Answer to the prompt
3. Thesis (3 reasons) Focused on ADVANTAGES to the READER

Introduction – 3 sentences
1. Hook (Interest Catcher)
2. Answer to the prompt
3. Thesis (3 reasons) Focused on ADVANTAGES to the READER

Support – 1 paragraph for each reason > Use transitions (To begin,

Support – 1 paragraph for each reason > Use transitions (To begin,

1. Topic sentence
2. Definition (By this I mean, To clarify, ____ means)
3. Example (This looks like, For example, For instance) or Objection (I know

1. Topic sentence
2. Definition (By this I mean, To clarify, ____ means)
3. Example (This looks like, For example, For instance) or Objection (I know

Furthermore, Most importantly)

you may be thinking/wondering/considering, but…)
4. Anecdote {could refute objection} (I remember, The first, One time)

5. Conclusion (connected to topic)
Conclusion – 3 sentences
1. Answer to the prompt
2. Thesis restatement
3. The Zinger (Red Bow Sentence)

Furthermore, Most importantly)

you may be thinking/wondering/considering, but…)
4. Anecdote {could refute objection} (I remember, The first, One time)

5. Conclusion (connected to topic)
Conclusion – 3 sentences
1. Answer to the prompt
2. Thesis restatement
3. The Zinger (Red Bow Sentence)

Introduction – 3 sentences
1. Hook (Interest Catcher)
2. Answer to the prompt
3. Thesis (3 reasons)

Expository Essay

Introduction – 3 sentences
1. Hook (Interest Catcher)
2. Answer to the prompt
3. Thesis (3 reasons)

Expository Essay

Support – 1 paragraph for each reason > Remember Transitions (To

Support – 1 paragraph for each reason > Remember Transitions (To

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

begin, Furthermore, Most importantly)

Topic sentence
Definition (By this I mean, To clarify, ____ means)