Persuasion

Links to Persuasive Writing

Research Links

The Assignment

The Persuasive Outline

Types of Appeal

The Introduction

Links to Persuasive Writing
Writing a Persuasive Essay
Persuasive Essay Rubric
A Sample Persuasive Paper
The Argument and Supporting Details

Research Links
How Do I Cite That?
MLA Guide to Writing a Research Paper
Citing Sources using MLA Format
Using Quotations in Your Paper
A Sample Works Cited Page
Citing Sources in Your Paper
The Format of the Paper

    You will be writing a two to three page persuasive paper.  Choose a topic that is important to you, that is controversial, and that is current.  You will research the topic on the internet and in the library.  Please be sure that your sources are reliable (That is, make sure that the people producing the web site are actually experts in the area.  If you cannot prove that they are experts or verify the source of their information, do not use their information).

    You may choose one of the following topics for this assignment:
Before you consider the topics below, you may want to explore some of the links on the web page listed below:

1.  Should the death penalty be abolished?
2.  Should teenagers have a curfew?
3.  Should motorcycle or bicycle riders wear helmets?
4.  Should wearing seat belts be mandatory?
5.  Should the federal government provide land for endangered species?
6.  Should smoking be allowed in restaurants?
7.  Should drug testing in sports and industry be required?
8.  Should the lyrics of music be censored?
9.  Should books be banned from school libraries and curricula?
10.  Should parents limit the amount of television children should watch?
11.  Should parents avoid divorce for the sake of the children?
12.  Should schools be year round?
13.  Is block scheduling beneficial in schools?
14.  Should schools attempt to teach morals?
15.  Should college admission be based solely on academic achievement?
16.  Should student athletes receive tutoring and special academic assistance?
17.  Should the driving age be lowered?
18.  Should the new law concerning the number of passengers a sixteen year-old driver may transport be abolished?
19.  Should free speech be allowed?
20.  Should students be required to observe a minute of silence?
21.  Should public high schools require school uniforms?

    Thesis Statement:  A statement of your main focus.  For example, you may say something like Students should be
            required to observe a minute of silence.

    I.  Introduction
        A.  excite the reader / grab the reader's attention
        B.  state your position

    II.  Background Information
        A.  provide information about your topic, especially information that the reader may not know, or information that
            will bolster your argument.

    III.  Body Paragraphs (You must have at least 3 reasons....You may have more than 3)
        A.  Reason 1
            1.  explain your data / reason and why/how it clearly supports your position.
            2.  provide specific examples that contain logical and emotional appeals.

        B.  Reason 2
            1.  explain your data/reason and why/how it clearly supports your position.
            2.  provide specific examples that contain logical and emotional appeals.

        C.  Reason 3
            1.  explain your data/reason and why/how it clearly supports your position.
            2.  provide specific examples that contain logical and emotional appeals.

        D.  Opposing Argument
            1.  explain why some people disagree with your position
            2.  refute (pick apart) this argument and explain why your argument is superior.

    IV.  Conclusion
        A.  restate your position
        B.  call the reader to action / tell the reader what you want him or her to do.

Logical Appeal
    To appeal to your reader's logic, you must provide:

1.  Reasons:Give your reader a reason that is hard to argue with.
    "Ties are uncomfortable and often get messy in the bathroom or at meals."
    "Ties can be used as deadly weapons."

2.  Facts and Statistics:Cite credible sources and give facts that add to your argument.
    "According to www.nomorties.org, seven out of ten men complain that they waste too much time tying their ties."
    "In 1998, 22 men were murdered or attacked with the help of their own ties."
    "According to USA Today, 73% of ties worn by American men are produced in factories in third world countries by workers who receive an average of $0.47 a day."

3.  Expert Testimony: Find an expert on the subject and quote him or her directly in your essay.
    "According to John Smith, President and CEO of Ties Across America, "The cost of buying just one single tie has increased dramatically ever since Regis Philbin began supporting his own line of ties on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?"

Emotional Appeal
    Emotional appeal appeals to the reader's feelings.

1.  Loaded Words:Use words that give the impression that no one could possibly disagree with your statement.
    apparently, boldly, clearly, crystal clear, definitely, discernible, strikingly, unmistakably, glaringly, goes without saying, self-evident, needs no explanation, notably, noticeably, obviously, visibly, plainly, prominently, speaks for itself, stands to reason, starkly, distinctly, evidently, explicitly, outstanding, perceptible.

    "The fact that men are enslaved by ties is glaringly obvious."

2.  Bandwagon: Emphasize whatever steps other people are doing to further your case.  Make the reader feel like he or she is the last person to come to his or her senses to do the right thing.
    "Men across America are standing up for themselves and saying, 'No more ties!'"

3.  Testimonial:Make it easier for the reader to agree with you by providing an example of someone just like him or her who also changed his or her mind.
    "I used to be a tie-wearing zombie, but one day, I realized that it made me so unhappy to have to wear them day after day.  I finally had the courage to stand up to the silly laws of society and say, 'I will not wear a silly noose around my neck day after day!'"

Common Mistakes When Using Appeal
1.  Hasty Generalizations:Do  not make general statements without being able to back them up.  The reader may think that you do not know what you are talking about and are making all of it up.

    "There has never been a single man who enjoyed wearing a tie."
    "Any tie makes an outfit ugly and unattractive."

2.  Circular reasoning: Your argument should progress.  You should avoid using only one argument and wording it in several different ways.

    "Wearing a tie is unattractive.  Therefore, you should avoid wearing a tie because it makes you unattractive.  If you do wear a tie, no one will like you and you will become even more unpopular and more unattractive than you already are.  Therefore, attractive men choose not to wear ties."

Applying This to Your Essay
    In each of your three support paragraphs you should include at least one type of both logical and emotional appeal.

    1.  tell a story
    2.  write with description
    3.  ask a question
    4.  use dialogue
    5.  start with a surprising fact
    6.  make a bold statement

    Your introduction should also contain your thesis or opinion statement.

    Sample Introduction
 

It is the typical cartoon scene:  Popeye off sailing or toting a sledgehammer doing whatever Popeye does to make a living, while Olive Oyl, who does not have a job, lounges around.  I ask the question:  Why are women in cartoons constantly in need of male rescue?  Ultimately, women should be able to stand on their own without the assistance of a man.