Outline:

1. Introduction
1. Thesis: Based on primary sources and personal accounts of the war, The Persians would have been a world power if the conquered the Greeks in the Persian Wars.
2. Body Paragraph 1
1. Primary Sources:
1. "It is certain that he commanded those who scourged the waters to utter, as they lashed them, these barbarian and wicked words: "Thou bitter water, thy lord lays on thee this punishment because thou hast wronged him without a cause, having suffered no evil at his hands." (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/herodotus-xerxes.html )
2. Surpporting Text
1. Persians were harsh people. Especially Xerxes. The things he said were harsh and merciless. Since they were fierce, they would have crushed everything in their path.
3. Closing Sentence:
1. Persian would have been a world power because they didn’t let anyone get in their way.
3. Body Paragraph 2
1. Primary Sources:

Xerxes flew into a rage at this, and he commanded that the Hellespont be struck with three hundred strokes of the whip and that a pair of foot-chains be thrown into the sea.

(http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~wldciv/world_civ_reader/world_civ_reader_1/herodotus.html)

2. Supporting Sentences:
1. The Persians were so powerful. They didn’t back down to people. Although they were defeated by the Greeks, they were still a superpower. Xerxes was a beast like no other.
3. Closing Sentence:
1. Although the Persian's were loosing to the Greeks, they still remained powerful.
4. Body paragraph 3
1. Primary Source:

"By this time the spears of the greater number were all shivered, and with their swords they hewed down the ranks of the Persians; and here, as they strove, Leonidas fell fighting bravely, together with many other famous Spartans, whose names I have taken care to learn on account of their great worthiness, as indeed I have those of all the three hundred. (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/herodotus-xerxes.html)

2. Supporting Sentences:
1. The Persians were being beaten. It was a wonder that they were loosing. They greatly outnumbered the Greeks.
3. Closing Sentence:
1. Even though the Persians were defeated by the Greeks, they still would have a major super power. And possibly could have conquered the world.