Sample Persuasive Essay

You've Got Internet
by Julie Vanzant 

During a presidential radio address in 1997, President Clinton stated, "We must prepare our children for the 21st century-with the full promise of the Information Age at their fingertips." Although the enormous task of wiring schools to the internet is expensive, students will benefit from the knowledge they gain by surfing the world from their classrooms. In order to insure a technically literate future for generations to come, computer and internet accessibility should be provided for all schools.

First, in order to achieve success, help from the state and federal government is a must. In a news release, Governor Keating proposed using 70 million dollars to help schools link up to high-speed connections, especially in rural Oklahoma. Because some older schools had to be completely rewired in order to receive the technology, government programs were able to help them move forward. While helping schools out in this way, the assistance will hopefully pay off by preparing students for the technology to come.

Of course there is opposition. One concern from Senator Hollings (D-SC) was that with children becoming more comfortable with the internet, they might have access to inappropriate material. To remedy this, the Internet Protection Act and the Safe Schools Internet Act were established.

On the other hand, others feel that there are already too many programs. Senator Don Nickels thinks that the ideas sound good, but instead of creating new programs, we should focus on fixing what doesn't work.

One program that did work was giving rhe Federal Communications Commission the ability to give discounts for schools. This is called E-rate, a discounted telecommunications service for schools and libraries. For example, with help from E-rate, seventh graders at Whitebead School in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, communicated directly with scientists conducting research in Africa. The students were then able to write papers based on what they learned from the research.

We shouldn't rely only on support from the government; without community support where would the schools be? Be active in helping your community schools become internet accessible.

Sample Persuasive Essay

The essay below demonstrates the principles of writing a basic essay. The different parts of the essay have been labeled. The thesis statement is in bold, the topic sentences are in italics, and each main point is underlined. When you write your own essay, of course, you will not need to mark these parts of the essay unless your teacher has asked you to do so. They are marked here just so that you can more easily identify them.

Cats Make Good Housepets

"A dog is man's best friend." That common saying may contain some truth, but dogs are not the only animal friend whose companionship people enjoy. For many people, a cat is their best friend. Despite what dog lovers may believe, cats make excellent housepets.

In the first place, people enjoy the companionship of cats. Many cats are affectionate. They will snuggle up and ask to be petted, or scratched under the chin. Who can resist a purring cat? If they're not feeling affectionate, cats are generally quite playful. They love to chase balls and feathers, or just about anything dangling from a string. They especially enjoy playing when their owners are participating in the game. Contrary to popular opinion, cats can be trained. Using rewards and punishments, just like with a dog, a cat can be trained to avoid unwanted behavior or perform tricks. Cats will even fetch!

In the second place, cats are civilized members of the household. Unlike dogs, cats do not bark or make other loud noises. Most cats don't even meow very often. They generally lead a quiet existence. Cats also don't often have "accidents." Mother cats train their kittens to use the litter box, and most cats will use it without fail from that time on. Even stray cats usually understand the concept when shown the box and will use it regularly. Cats do have claws, and owners must make provision for this. A tall scratching post in a favorite cat area of the house will often keep the cat content to leave the furniture alone. As a last resort, of course, cats can be declawed.

Lastly, one of the most attractive features of cats as housepets is their ease of care. Cats do not have to be walked. They get plenty of exercise in the house as they play, and they do their business in the litter box. Cleaning a litter box is a quick, painless procedure. Cats also take care of their own grooming. Bathing a cat is almost never necessary because under ordinary circumstances cats clean themselves. Cats are more particular about personal cleanliness than people are. In addition, cats can be left home alone for a few hours without fear. Unlike some pets, most cats will not destroy the furnishings when left alone. They are content to go about their usual activities until their owners return.

Cats are low maintenance, civilized companions. People who have small living quarters or less time for pet care should appreciate these characteristics of cats. However, many people who have plenty of space and time still opt to have a cat because they love the cat personality. In many ways, cats are the ideal housepet.