Persuasive Essay

Persuasive Essay American Literature

Persuasive writing or speaking attempts to influence people’s beliefs and behavior. It is also employed in many areas of life including politics, law, business and media. To be persuasive, writers use techniques that appeal to both reason and emotion in order to develop an effective, convincing argument. In persuasive/argumentative writing, you must try to convince others to agree with your position using facts, arguments and conclusions.

This project will consist of many steps towards a comprehensive essay: choosing and refining a topic, researching a topic, using source cards for references, formulating an outline, drafting an essay, revising/editing an essay and creating a works cited page. Each of these steps is listed below with due dates and more details.

Requirements:

______10/15 Topic:______10/15 Stance:______10/15 Audience:______

____(10/30%) 10/17 Source cards: minimum of three sources *includes the bibliographic information, facts, statistics, etc from that source. *Be sure to include the page number. *You may put more than one piece of information per note card. ____(20/30%) 10/19 Outline: use the suggested format in the following pages ____(20/30%) 10/22 An edited draft of persuasive essay that is signed by an adult *this must clearly be edited and include useful comments for a revision. ____(50/70%) 10/23 Final copy of your persuasive essay *works cited page which includes at least three secondary sources and is written in MLA format *parenthetical documentation throughout paper which employs MLA format ____(100)Total

_____(5++) 10/23 Political cartoon which features your topic and position

Use this Requirements section as a checklist. You will turn in all above mentioned materials, including this paper, to me on the final persuasive essay due date. Persuasive considerations and key words:

Essay structure: Opening (lead suggestions): Open with an unusual detail Open with a strong statement Open with an anecdote Open with a quotation Open with a statistic or fact Open with a question Open with and exaggeration or outrageous statement Create a thesis statement: Tell the reader the specific topic of your essay (What is your paper about?) **be sure to state your position Suggest the organization of your essay ( How will you discuss it?) Body: Refer to outline included with this material **You need to have three distinct arguments and a counterpoint to support your position. **You will also employ various persuasive techniques discussed in class. **The counterpoint shows your audience that you have considered the opposing position and agree that it does have one valid point. Conclusion: Restate thesis statement Summarize your main points Conclude with a personal comment or call to action Prediction Question Recommendation Quotation Adding Support: Predictions Observations Statistics Analogy Comparisons Expert Testimony Demonstrations Analysis Clarify a position (what needs to be explained?)

Using Qualifiers: Making Concessions Almost often admittedly granted In most cases I cannot argue with…. Probably If…then… Suppose that… First, Second…Next, Then… What if…. Persuasive Essay Outline Template

I. Introduction a. Lead/”hook” b. Background information c. Thesis statement

II. Point 1 a. Topic sentence b. Facts, evidence, support c. Facts, evidence, support include persuasive technique d. Facts, evidence support e. Clincher sentence

III. Point 2 a. Topic sentence b. Facts, evidence, support c. Facts, evidence, support include persuasive technique d. Facts, evidence support e. Clincher sentence

IV. Point 3 a. Topic sentence b. Facts, evidence, support c. Facts, evidence, support include persuasive technique d. Facts, evidence, support e. Clincher sentence

V. counterpoint a. Topic sentence b. Rebuttal to opposing argument include persuasive technique c. Evidence and support for rebuttal VI. Conclusion a. Restatement of Thesis b. Summary of main points c. Call to action or personal comment