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:  Facts or statistics  Anecdotes (short story) or case studies (observations)  Scenarios (what if? futuristic speculation)  Testimony (interview quotes or survey results)

___ 4. Counter argue by presenting objections to your position and prove them wrong.

 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!!!

 Accommodate objections by incorporating them into your argument.

 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:

 parallelism  repetition  figure of speech (simile, metaphor…)  rhetorical question  historical/literary allusions  emotional appeal  logical appeal  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______