College Writing Ms. Radlinger
College Writing Ms. Radlinger
GUIDELINES
The aim of an informative essay is to give information as impartially as possible, while the aim of a persuasive essay is to argue for a particular point of view in an attempt to convince the audience to believe you.
Topics for persuasive writing deal with controversial issues that involve people’s most basic attitudes, values and beliefs.
Go to http://debatepedia.idebate.org/en/index.php/Welcome_to_Debatepedia%21
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/persuasive-speech-examples.html
You will write a QUESTION OF VALUE essay in which you will TAKE A POSITION on a controversial issue stating the right/wrong, good/bad, morality/immorality of it and WHY!
WRITING A QUESTION OF VALUE Essay
Five Steps
___ 1. Approach your topic in a question form that can be answered from different
sides.
Example Should abortion be legal?
_____ 2. From this preliminary question choose ONE side of the issue and develop the
major points of your argument with REASONS why you have chosen that side.
Abortion should (not) be legal because 1, 2, and 3.
___ 3. Support your position with a variety of types of evidence from:
ü Facts or statistics
ü Anecdotes (short story) or case studies (observations)
ü Scenarios (what if? futuristic speculation)
ü Testimony (interview quotes or survey results)
___ 4. Counter argue by presenting objections to your position and prove them
wrong.
Ø Acknowledge objections to your position. Shows you are open minded and thorough. Introduce objections with lead-ins such as “Some critics say…” or “One argument against…” or “Those that disagree argue…” or “One student at M.G.H.S. feels…” Use quotes from sources including surveys!!!
Ø Accommodate objections by incorporating them into your argument.
Ø Refute objections. “Ok you’ve got some good points, but I am still right.”
“Even though Mr. Smith makes a valid point he neglects to recognize….”
___ 5. Persuasive, Rhetorical & Figurative Language
will make your argument stronger. Include, highlight, and label ALL of the following:
Ø parallelism
Ø repetition
Ø figure of speech (simile, metaphor…)
Ø rhetorical question
Ø historical/literary allusions
Ø emotional appeal
Ø logical appeal
Ø personal appeal
___ 6. SOURCES You are expected to cite at least 10 bits of information
from five different sources in your speech.
¨ Use lead ins – According to…… (must see TEN!) HIGHLIGHTED!!!!!!
¨ Provide a proper bibliography.
Content & Organization 33 points
Introduction
___ attention getter effectively grabs reader
___ background information effective
___ thesis clear and effective
___ clear and effective organization
___ clear and effective ideas
___ ideas effectively supported with a variety of facts, statistics, examples, anecdotes
Conclusion
___ thesis restated
___ main points summarized
___ profound statement
Style: 33 points
___ three appeals (at least one of each) : logical, personal, emotional
___ diction (solid, scholarly word choice)
___ six stylistic devices (alliteration, simile, metaphor, parallelism, allusion, etc.)
___ transitions
___ variety in sentence length, types, and beginnings
___ strong, tight sentences (no wordiness)
Correctness: 33 points
____ no: sentence errors, spelling errors, comma errors, contractions, no second person (you/your) or first
person (I, me, we, us)
____ smooth and proper integration of quotations or borrowed information
____ 12 point font, proper heading & title
____ proper works cited
Prep Outline Taking a Position NAME:______
Add LEAD-INS!
Preliminary Question:______
______.
Preview Statement (THESIS)
Position:______
Reason1:______
Reason 2:______
Reason 3:______
I. Reason 1
A. Evidence
1.______( ).
2.______( ).
B. Counterargument
1. Acknowledge Objections
a.______( ).
b.______( ).
2. Refute Objections______
______
II. Reason 2
A. Evidence
1.______( ).
2.______( ).
B. Counterargument
1. Acknowledge Objections
a.______( ).
b.______( ).
2. Refute Objections______
______
II. Reason 3
A. Evidence
1.______( ).
2.______( ).
B. Counterargument
1. Acknowledge Objections
a.______( ).
b.______( ).
2. Refute
Objections______
______