Graphic Organizer – Persuasive Essay Name______

Writing Prompt: Because of safety concerns, many states have increased the age at which teens can begin to drive. Your state legislature is considering raising the minimum driving age from 16 to 18. Do you think the minimum driving age should be raised? Take a position on this issue. Support your response with reasons and specific examples.

PARAGRAPH ONE--INTRODUCTION

Introduction: Grab your reader’s attention; establish tone. / Getting a Driver’s License is a rite of passage that each teenager dreams about. (Add personal thoughts and feelings about the importance of driving at 16.)
Overview: Background what is the issue and what need is there for discussing it? Include an identification of the antithesis (opposing argument). / 1. Some people believe that the age for getting one’s license should be increased.
2. It is said that more mature drivers will be more responsible.
3. This does not take into account the amount of experience a teenage driver will lack if getting their license is delayed.

Thesis statement: State what your claim is.

/ The driving age should remain the same because young drivers need experience to gain skills, many young drivers work and need transportation to get to their jobs and many young drivers participate in extracurricular activities and need transportation.
PARAGRAPH TWO—BODY PARAGRAPH ONE
Topic Sentence with Transition Statement: 1st premise / To begin, young drivers require experience to gain skills.
Supporting details: Use evidence to support your claim. / 1.
2.
3.
PARAGRAPH THREE—BODY PARAGRAPH TWO
Topic Sentence with Transition Statement: 2nd premise / In addition, young drivers need transportation to allow them to get to jobs.
Supporting details: Use evidence to support your claim. / 1.
2.
3.3.
PARAGRAPH FOUR—BODY PARAGRAPH THREE
Topic Sentence with Transition Statement: 3rd premise / Finally, many young drivers participate in extracurricular activities and need transportation.
Supporting details: / 1.
2.
3.
PARAGRAPH FIVE--COUNTERCLAIM
Counterclaim: Introduce with a transition, the counter argument and refute, reiterating your premises for support. / Some people might argue if the driving age were increased to 18, drivers would be more mature and therefore would be better drivers. The problem with this argument is that age doesn’t necessarily equal maturity. Adults do plenty of stupid things at any age. Look for example, television shows that promote immature behavior in adults who dare each other to do stupid stunts to get a laugh.
PARAGRAPH SIX--CONCLUSION
Conclusion: Introduce with a transition, and then REFUTE & REAFFIRM-their claim is wrong; YOU are right! / In conclusion, in the case of driving, older does not necessarily make for wiser.
So what?: How will your reader benefit from adopting your view? / Allowing the driving age to remain the same, will allow teenagers to receive the additional practice time that they need to become better drivers, will allow them drive to work and participate in extracurricular activities.
Call to Action: What can your reader do to help affect change? / When it comes time to vote, make sure that your choice is the educated one—don’t change the driving age!