Persuasive Essay

1. Persuasive Essay Composition

2. What is a persuasive essay? • A persuasive essay: • presents your side of an arguable (has two sides) issue while addressing opposing arguments. • uses evidence to support a position. • uses clear organization to present a logical argument. • length: 5 paragraphs, 3-4 pages (double spaced), including an introduction, 3 body paragraphs, and conclusion. • includes a minimum of 3 supporting reasons (develop each into a body paragraph).

3. Sample • Smoking should be banned—position (Organize reasons from weakest to strongest). • Reasons: • It is too expensive. • Second-hand smoke harms those who are already choosing not to smoke. • It’s harmful to the smoker’s health.

4. Works Cited • You must use at least 3 sources and cite them in the essay. One must be print: • Database articles (SIRS, Badgerlink, etc.) • Print sources (magazines, newspapers, journals, pamphlets, books, etc.) • Personal interviews • NO WEBSITES ALLOWED AS SOURCES unless approved by me (approval form).

5. The Issue • Choose an issue that directly affects you in some way. • School dress code • Teenage driving restrictions • School start times • Hunting restrictions • Other ideas? • You must sign up for your topic and only one student per topic is allowed. Topics may not be re-used.

6. Audience • Consider your audience. • How can you appeal to your audience to make them care about the topic? • Establish common ground with the audience. What common beliefs, customs, ideas do you share with your audience? • What does your audience know about your topic? Fill in necessary information and background.

7. Audience (Cont’d) • Example: • Thesis: Wisconsin should educate public school students in single-sex classrooms. • Who is my audience? • People who attended co-ed public schools. • People who maynot think it’s necessary to educate the genders separately. • How can I appeal to my audience? • Comfort – People may feel uncomfortable discussing certain topics or taking risks speaking in front of the opposite sex. • Educational benefits – Single-sex classrooms would allow students to be in an environment where other people understand them from a gender viewpoint.

8. Evidence • Build a strong case for your position by choosing the best methods of elaboration. • Consider these types of elaboration: • Facts: Information that is objective and can be proved – names, dates, data, background info. • Statistics: Cite numbers that prove your position. Give information that shows what percentage or how many. • Comparison: Show your readers how your topic matches others they may already know. • Expert opinion: Cite outside sources who are experts on your topic and whose opinion will strengthen your argument.

9. Organizing a Persuasive Essay • Once you have gathered sufficient supporting information and elaboration, organize it in a logical and persuasive format. • Introduction: • Introduce your topic (hook). • Explain necessary background information, including the controversy. • Establish common ground with your audience. • End with a strong thesis statement – your stand on the issue. • NO QUESTIONS!

10. Organization • Body paragraphs: • Start with your weakest reason/argument first. • End with your strongest reason/argument. • Show and argue against opposing views (counter-argue) immediately following the topic sentence • Use research to introduce the opposing view (paraphrase or quote) • Use research (evidence) to argue against (your supporting details) • Conclusion • Sum up each of your arguments (remind the reader). • Tell the reader what opinion they should reach as a result of reading the essay (without saying you).

11. Counter Arguments • Why should you consider arguments against your position? • It can be a persuasive and disarming tactic: • It allows you to anticipate doubts and pre-empt objections that a skeptical reader might have. • It presents you as the kind of person: • who weighs alternatives before arguing for one • who confronts difficulties instead of sweeping them under the rug • who is more interested in discovering the truth than winning a point • who has conducted his/her research.

12. Possible Topics • Choose topics that are not too broad, but are also not too narrow for a 3-4 page essay.

13. Topics No-No’s Overdone Topics Outlawed Topics Legalizing Marijuana or Drugs Abortion Alcohol/alcoholism Supernatural (ghosts, aliens, life on other planets, etc.) Visit SIRS Top 100 Issues • Steroids in Sports • Global Warming • Stem Cell/Genetic Engineering • Women’s Body Issues and Media • Eating Disorders • Beauty pageants • Plastic surgery • Smoking bans • Adoption • Capital punishment • Gambling • Illegal Immigration • Euthanasia • Animal rights • Cloning • Drilling for Oil • Nuclear weapons/energy • Obesity

14. Methods of Persuasion Activity • Break into 3-4 groups. Each group will be assigned a scenario. As a group, discuss what you would say to your parents in order to convince them of whatever the scenario calls for. • One member of each group will explain their group’s arguments.

15. RHETORICAL DEVICES • There are three types of rhetorical appeals, or persuasive strategies, used in arguments to support claims and respond to opposing arguments. A good argument will generally use a combination of all three appeals to make its case.

16. Determining the Appeals • Were all of the arguments offered by the group effective? • Did the group use logical or emotional appeals? Both? • If the group has only used one form of argument, brainstorm other arguments that could fill the missing appeals tactic.