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Holidays are a time of celebration, relaxation, and joy for many people. Whether it’s a traditional holiday like Christmas or a personal celebration like a birthday, holidays provide an opportunity to create lasting memories with loved ones. As a writer, you may want to persuade your readers to celebrate a particular holiday, embrace a certain tradition, or even try something new.
Writing body paragraphs in a holiday essay
When writing body paragraphs about a holiday, it’s important to paint a vivid picture for the reader. You want them to feel like they were right there with you, experiencing everything you did. Here are some tips to help you write effective body paragraphs about your holiday:
Start with a strong topic sentence
A strong topic sentence is the foundation of any persuasive paragraph. It sets the tone and establishes the main argument of your paragraph. Here are some examples of topic sentences related to holidays:
“Halloween is the most exciting holiday of the year because of its spooky traditions and creative costumes.”
“Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on the blessings of the past year and express gratitude to those who have made a difference in our lives.”“Valentine’s Day is not just a commercialized holiday but a special opportunity to express love and appreciation to those who matter most.”
Provide supporting evidence
Once you have established your argument, it’s essential to provide evidence to support your claims. Your evidence can come from a variety of sources, such as statistics, expert opinions, personal experiences, or anecdotes. Here are some examples:
Halloween: According to the National Retail Federation, Americans spent $9 billion on Halloween in 2018, making it the second-largest commercial holiday in the country. Additionally, Halloween allows people to express their creativity through costumes and decorations, promoting a sense of community and fun.
Thanksgiving: Research shows that gratitude can improve mental health and well-being by promoting positive emotions, reducing stress, and building stronger relationships. Thanksgiving provides an opportunity to express gratitude and strengthen bonds with family and friends, leading to greater happiness and fulfillment.
Valentine’s Day: Studies have shown that expressing love and affection can lead to better physical health, improved mental health, and stronger relationships. Valentine’s Day provides a special occasion to express these emotions and create lasting memories with loved ones.
Address potential counterarguments
No argument is without its flaws, and it’s important to address potential counterarguments to strengthen your argument. Here are some examples:
Halloween: Some people may argue that Halloween is too commercialized and promotes unhealthy habits like overeating and binge drinking. To address this, you could emphasize the creative and community-building aspects of Halloween and suggest healthier alternatives like pumpkin carving or apple cider tastings.
Thanksgiving: Some people may argue that Thanksgiving perpetuates harmful stereotypes about Native Americans and reinforces a narrow view of history. To address this, you could acknowledge the problematic aspects of Thanksgiving’s history and suggest ways to celebrate the holiday in a more inclusive and respectful manner, such as by learning about the traditions of different cultures or volunteering at a local food bank.
Valentine’s Day: Some people may argue that Valentine’s Day is too focused on materialistic expressions of love and can be exclusionary to those who are single or in non-traditional relationships. To address this, you could emphasize the importance of expressing love and affection in any form and suggest alternative ways to celebrate, such as by sending cards or small gifts to friends and family.
Use persuasive language and rhetorical devices
To make your argument more compelling, it’s important to use persuasive language and rhetorical devices. Here are some examples:
Halloween: Use strong adjectives to describe the excitement and creativity of Halloween, such as “spooky,” “thrilling,” and “imaginative.” Use rhetorical questions to engage readers, such as “Who doesn’t love a good scare?” Use analogies to help readers understand your point of view, such as “Halloween is like a giant costume party where everyone is encouraged to let their creativity shine.”
Thanksgiving: Use descriptive language to create a sense of warmth and gratitude, such as “heartwarming,” “thankful,” and “blessed.” Use emotional appeals to connect with readers’ values and beliefs, such as “What could be more important than expressing gratitude to those who have made a difference in our lives?” Use analogies to help readers see the importance of Thanksgiving, such as “Thanksgiving is like a giant hug from your family, reminding you of all the love and support that surrounds you.”
Valentine’s Day: Use strong verbs to describe the act of expressing love and affection, such as “cherish,” “adore,” and “treasure.” Use rhetorical questions to engage readers, such as “What better way to show someone you care than by showering them with love on Valentine’s Day?” Use emotional appeals to connect with readers’ values and beliefs, such as “Love is the foundation of all relationships, and Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to celebrate that love.”
Concluding sentence
A strong concluding sentence should sum up your argument and connect it back to your topic sentence. Here are some examples:
Halloween: In conclusion, Halloween is not just a commercialized holiday but a creative and community-building tradition that brings people together in a fun and exciting way.
Thanksgiving: In conclusion, Thanksgiving provides a special opportunity to express gratitude and strengthen bonds with loved ones, promoting greater happiness and fulfillment in our lives.
Valentine’s Day: In conclusion, Valentine’s Day is not just a materialistic holiday but a chance to express love and affection in meaningful ways, creating lasting memories with those who matter most.
Final Remarks
Writing a persuasive body paragraph about a holiday requires careful attention to detail and a deep understanding of your audience.
By starting with a strong topic sentence, providing supporting evidence, addressing potential counterarguments, using persuasive language and rhetorical devices, and concluding with a powerful statement, you can convince your readers to adopt your perspective and embrace the joy and celebration of holidays. So go ahead, put these tips into practice, and spread the holiday spirit!
Author: Brawnywriter
My goal is to help students achieve their full potential by crafting well-written, well-researched, and original papers that will set them apart from their peers.