Unit 1Unit 1

Persuasive Writing

Defend a Viewpoint

Persuasive Writing

Defend a Viewpoint

Defend a Viewpoint

Writing a Persuasive Essay• Persuasive writing or speech is intended to convince

an audience to change their viewpoint or rise to action.• In this assignment, you will write a persuasive essay

defending a viewpoint that expresses an informed opinion about a topic that interests you.

• You will support your opinion with information gathered from research on the topic.

Writing Assignment

Assignment • Plan, write, and revise an essay that

supports your opinion on an arguable topic

Purpose • To persuade readers to your point of view

Audience • Someone who disagrees with your

standpoint or is undecided about the topic

WRITING RUBRICWRITING RUBRIC

A successful persuasive essay has these qualities: an introduction that captures the reader’s

interest and identifies the topic a clear thesis statement that expresses the

argument the author plans to make a body that provides researched supporting

evidence and acknowledges and refutes possible counterarguments

a conclusion that reemphasizes the main point and provides closure

PREWRITE

Select a Topic• The best topics for a persuasive essay are those

that have two or more clear factions and are perhaps controversial.

• Generate a list of four to six such topics.• Choose the topic that most interests you.

PREWRITE

Gather Information• You may begin your search with the Internet, but

don’t limit yourself to it. • Scour news media, including television and radio

news shows, newspapers, and news magazines.• If your topic is not as current, search back issues of

newspapers and magazines. • If your topic is not of national concern, consider interviewing the individuals

involved.

PREWRITE

Gather Information • Create an Argument Chart like the one on the next

slide, listing at least five arguments and counterarguments.

• Try to come up with a counterargument for each point you make.

• Remember that often the most convincing argument is made in debunking a counter-argument.

Argument Chart

My Argument The Counterargument Why I’m Still Right

PREWRITE

Organize Ideas• Review your chart.

—Do you have at least five distinct points of argument?

— Does every argument have a balanced counterargument?

—Do you disprove the counterargument in a convincing way?

• Circle your three most convincing arguments.• Then number them in the order you want them to

appear in the essay.

PREWRITE

Write a Thesis Statement• Based on the points you have chosen, write a one-

sentence argument. This is your thesis statement.• Using information from the Argument Chart, one

student wrote this thesis statement :

A patron whose cell phone rings during a performance should be fined.

DRAFT

Write your essay by following this three-part framework:

Introduction

Point 1 Point 2 Point 3

Conclusion

Body

Introduction• Start by “hooking” your readers. Include your thesis

statement and the points you plan to make.

Body• Write one paragraph for each main point of your

argument. Support each point with information from your research. Include a counterargument as well as a refutation for each point.

Conclusion• Re-emphasize the thesis, and give your essay

closure.

DRAFT

Draft the Introduction• To capture the reader’s attention and to give the

argument a context, introduce your argument with —a statistic

—an interesting fact

—an anecdote

—a rhetorical question (a thought-provoking question not meant to be answered)

DRAFT

Draft the Introduction• The introduction also states the thesis,

establishing the main idea or point of the essay.

• Finally, a good introduction generatesinterest by insinuating the importance of your topic.

DRAFT

Draft the Body• In the body, state each point you want to make

about the argument.—Support or prove each point using your research.

• Use the counterargument points from your Argument Chart.

—Make sure you include your refutation to each counterargument.

• This is information that you already mapped out in the Prewrite stage.

DRAFT

Draft the Body• Review the three statements you circled on your

Argument Chart and the order in which you planned to present them.

• Develop each statement into a paragraph by adding evidence you gathered from research.

Point 2Body

Evidence Evidence Evidence

As Robin McKinley, contemporary fantasy fiction author, notes, “If you are excited by what you are writing, you have a much better chance of putting that excitement over to a reader.”

How can you tell Patrick Henry is passionate about his topic in “Speech in the Virginia Convention”?

HENRY

Henry acknowledges the validity of his opponents’arguments but stands firmly by his belief that “The question before the house is one of awful moment to this country. . . . I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery.” He chooses words that portray his convictions: truth, treason, arduous, salvation, insidious,pledged, formidable, liberty, submission.He ends with a rousing line: “Give me liberty or give me death!”

DRAFT

Draft the Conclusion• A good conclusion does two things:

(1) it summarizes the main point made in the body of the essay, reemphasizing the thesis without merely restating it

(2) it brings the discussion to a close, often ending with a warning or call to action.

Writing an effective conclusion that reminds readers of your thesis without merely restating it can be a difficult but important task. You don’t want to end an otherwise strong essay with a weak finish.

LONGFELLOW

As Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the famous nineteenth-century American poet, once said, “Great is the art of beginning, but greater is the art of ending.”

➌ REVISE

Evaluate the Draft• Evaluate your own writing or exchange papers with

a classmate. • Examine the content and organization.

—The introduction, body, and conclusion should work together to prove the thesis.

—Every paragraph should relate clearly back to that main argument.

—Each paragraph should logically connect to the next.

➌ REVISE

Evaluate Your Draft• Read the paper a second time to check for spelling

and grammatical errors. • Use the Revision Checklist to evaluate the writing. • Consider how the writing can be clarified or be

made more engaging.• Make notes directly on the paper about its

strengths and weaknesses and the changes that need to be made.

➌ REVISE

Grammar & Style• Maintaining a consistent point of view (first,

second, or third person, singular or plural) is essential.

• Shifting viewpoints within a paragraph or sentence sounds sloppy and confuses readers.

It’s not fair for one person to disrupt everyone else because you are he or she is not willing to turn off your his or her cell phone.

DRAFT STAGE

Introduction

People have become very dependent

on their cell phones. Every where

you go, you are almost guaranteed to

see people talking on a cell phone.

It’s really annoying when someone’s

phone rings during a movie or play. A

patron whose cell phone rings during

a performance should be fined.

Provides a context for the

argument

States a thesis

REVISE STAGE

Introduction

People have become very dependent

on their cell phones. Every where you

go, you are almost guaranteed to see

people talking on a cell phones. Is

there a point where cell phones become

more annoying than useful? It’s really

annoying when someone’s phone rings

during a movie or play. When does one

person’s convenience interfere with

another person’s enjoyment of

something like a movie or play? A

patron whose cell phone rings during a

performance should be fined.

Corrects agreement error

Inserts motive

Sets up thesis with another

question, rather than a statement

DRAFT STAGE

Body Paragraph

When you are paying money to see a

movie or play you don’t expect any

disturbances. If every couple of minutes

you hear the ringing or buzzing of a cell

phone, your experience will be ruined.

It’s not fair to disrupt everyone because

you are not willing to turn your cell

phone off. There are certain instances

when having a cell phone on is a

necessity. If this is the case, then you

should turn your phone on silent or

vibrate.

Gives specific example

Acknowledges counter-

argument

Refutes counterargument

REVISE STAGE

Body Paragraph

When you are paying money to see a

movie or play, you don’t expect any

disturbances. If every couple of minutes

you hear the ringing or buzzing of a cell

phone, your experience will be ruined.

It’s not fair for one person to disrupt

everyone else because you are he or she

is not willing to turn off you’re his or her

cell phone. off. There are certain

instances when If having a cell phone on

is necessary, a necessity. If this is the

case, then you should turn your phone

then it should be set on silent or vibrate.

Adds comma

Corrects point of view

Moves preposition

Adds passive voice;

streamlines language

DRAFT STAGE

Conclusion

Overall, I think that everyone would

benefit from fining patrons for

leaving their cell phones turned on

during performances. Offenders

would learn to respect the people

around them. If they didn’t, they

would literally pay the price.

Enforcing this policy would make

going to a play or movie a relaxing

and enjoyable experience again.

Re-emphasizes thesis

without restating it

Restates main points

made in body

Gives some closure

REVISE STAGE

Conclusion

Overall, I think that everyone would

benefit from fining patrons for

leaving their cell phones turned on

during performances. Offenders

would learn to respect the people

around them. If they didn’t, they

would or literally pay the price.

Enforcing this policy would make

going to a play or movie a relaxing

and enjoyable experience again.

Ignoring the problem will encourage

people’s rude behavior.

Eliminates unnecessary “I”

Combines two sentences

Adds greater sense of closure;

provides a warning

REVISION CHECKLISTREVISION CHECKLIST

Content & Organization

Does the introduction give the argument a context and captivate readers?

Does the introduction present a clear thesis statement?

Does each paragraph in the body clearly relate back to the thesis?

REVISION CHECKLISTREVISION CHECKLIST

Content & Organization

Does each body paragraph provide enough relevant evidence gathered from research to back up its point? Are counterarguments presented and refuted in a convincing way?

Does the conclusion summarize the essay by reemphasizing the thesis? Does it provide a warning or call for action that helps bring the essay to a close?

REVISION CHECKLISTREVISION CHECKLIST

Grammar & Style

Do all of your subjects and verbs agree? Do you use correct tenses of verbs? Do you use correct pronouns throughout? Do

your pronouns agree with their antecedents?

➌ REVISE

Proofread for Errors• Read through your essay again to check for any

remaining errors.• Use proofreader’s symbols to mark any errors you

find.

• Print out a final draft and read the entire essay once more before turning it in.

Student Model

Review the Student Model final draft on page 115 of your textbook and answer the questions that appear in red in the margin.

Writing Follow-Up

Publish and Present• Find out whether your school has a magazine,

journal, or newspaper that publishes students’ writing and submit your essay as an editorial.

• If your essay focused on a community decision, consider presenting your argument at a public meeting on the topic.

Writing Follow-Up

Reflect• Does the topic you chose seem more or less

pressing now that you have researched it and written this persuasive essay?

• What have you learned about effective arguments from having compiled your own?

—Think about arguments you have heard for other contemporary issues. Which make the most convincing case? Why?