Sadler 2003
What is it?
Finally, you now have your big chance to let loose and actually let your own opinion show on a topic. Now comes the time for you to “take a stand” on your issue. In this essay, you will create a convincing, reasonable, and well-researched argument for a specific audience that is concerned about your issue. In order for you to do this effectively, it will be necessary for you to do additional preparation. First of all, you must take a clear and unmistakable stand about your issue, as it is not possible to effectively argue your side if you don’t have a clear stance to begin with. Then, you must collect information to support your stance. In order to do that, you will need to do library research in order to establish: the history and background of the issue, the groups involved (those who present arguments and those affected), and the various points of view which are held on this issue. After identifying your thesis and thoroughly researching the issue about which you plan to write, you will need to identify the audience to whom you wish to address your argument. Deciding who your audience is will help you to focus your essay and decide what information and evidence will be relevant to your essay. You should not begin writing the actual essay until after you have done all of the preparatory work detailed above, because prior to having done this preparatory work, you will not have the tools necessary to write an effective Persuasive Essay. One key difference between this paper and other persuasive papers that you may have written in the past is that your instructor is not the audience for this paper (no kidding!). You will be writing for a very specific audience in this paper—one you will choose very early in the process your writing. In fact, when you turn in your final draft of this paper you will include a copy of your paper to be sent to your audience. To ensure that your argument actually reaches your audience you will turn in one copy of your final draft to me in a stamped (with enough postage!!!), addressed, unsealed envelope that I will take to the post office and send for you! Once you are prepared to begin writing, be sure to assess the strengths and weaknesses of your own position, keeping in mind the various opinions that are held on this issue and the particular audience that you hope to convince. An effective Persuasive Essay will exhibit a complex understanding of all the various points of view that can be held on your issue; a onesided argument that refuses to acknowledge the validity of other points of view will convince nobody (especially me!!!!!). You may choose from three different approaches to the Persuasive Essay: the Proposal, the Position Paper, and the Refutation (see pages 305-306 in the SG for an assignment from Sara Spurgeon, which is similar to mine).
Sadler 2003
The Three Options:
The Proposal will probably take the form of a letter to a specific person or organization that has the ability to put the solution which you have suggested into action. In this case, then, your paper may have a single person as the audience (say the president of a company or a politician) or a larger group (such as the readership of a magazine). The Position Paper will probably take the form of an article or a letter to the editor (written with a specific publication in mind). If you choose the position paper you need to keep in mind who the audience should be. You probably would not, for example, want to write a letter arguing for gun control to “The American Rifleman.” On the other hand, it would not make sense to write an anti gun control article for that magazine either- after all, the readers of that publication don’t need to be convinced. The Refutation, of course, will take the form of an article or a letter addressed to the publication in which the first argument appeared. It is important to note that if you choose the refutation paper the article you refute must be recent. I define recent as no more than two months old (and one month old would be greatly preferred). Articles older than this may not be used for the refutation paper. Once again, keep in mind that each of these approaches requires you to designate a specific audience and to shape your essay to suit the particular interests of that audience.
Requirements:
You must use at least 5 sources, and at least one of these sources must be a non-library resource. This would most likely be an interview from some local person who could be considered an expert on your topic. This interview could also be done by e-mail if you’d like to get input from an outside expert. Also, only one of your sources can be an “Internet Resource.” Regardless of whether you write this essay in the form of an article or letter, you must document your sources using MLA format. We will be discussing the use of MLA format in class, and you also have the information in the Pocket Style Manual, which is a great quick reference guide for writing. You must submit photocopies of the sources you have chosen to paraphrase or quote (with the passages which you have used highlighted), transcripts of interviews that you have used, and copies of any surveys that you have distributed. When you turn in your paper make sure that you include the final draft, rough draft(s), drafts on disc, etc. in a two-pocket folder. Don’t forget to include a copy of your paper in an unsealed envelope that is addressed to your audience and includes the correct postage. Length: 5-6 pages, double spaced (not including the Works Cited page)
Proposal and Annotated Bibliography due: First Draft due: Final Draft due:
Tues., March 11th Thurs., March 27th Tues., April 8th