If you've played a new game lately, you probably had to read the directions to find out how to play. Those directions had one common feature found in all games: They state the game's goal, or purpose. What game-makers strive to convey in their goals is the information you need to know to win the game.

In the same way, knowing the goal, or purpose, of a writing assignment can help you successfully write a good paper. It keeps you on track so that you're not wandering off into areas where you're wasting your time and energy. In this lesson, you will be writing the first drafts of a persuasive essay that makes a claim about the value of smart technology. Then you will persuade your readers to seriously consider or accept your claim.

In a previous lesson, you should have created an outline about the benefits or drawbacks of technology. This outline, if done correctly, should have narrowed your focus to one side of the issue. Your outline should also include several reasons why you believe the way you do. In this lesson, you'll use this outline as the basis for a persuasive essay.