Persuasive Essay Writing

By Sam Nusbaum

Essentials

An introduction paragraph thesis statement/3 overview points (in/after

thesis) 3 body paragraphs A conclusion Credible sources for information

Introductory Paragraph

Should contain general background info of the issue at hand that helps the reader get the big picture

Should have 3 overview points (can be in/after thesis) or topics to be discussed in each body paragraph

Should have a tie (last sentence) to help keep the essay flowing-to link to first overview point

Thesis statementThesis statement

Usually placed around end/middle of 1Usually placed around end/middle of 1stst paragraphparagraphThis should be your opinion or what you will be This should be your opinion or what you will be trying to persuade the reader to accepttrying to persuade the reader to acceptIt should be debatable-people can have differing It should be debatable-people can have differing opinions on thisopinions on thisShould be somewhat specific to allow for Should be somewhat specific to allow for enough supportive ideas/arguments in the bodyenough supportive ideas/arguments in the bodyBe sure to check weather the scope of your Be sure to check weather the scope of your thesis is to broad or to narrowthesis is to broad or to narrow

Body Paragraphs

• Each must maintain focus on one supportive more general argument

• You should be able to provide 2 or 3 subtopics of support that’s specific and detailed within each body paragraph

• Lead up to or follow up with each supportive subtopic by providing quick background info to give a sense of what’s going on

• Find textual proof or evidence to back up and justify your claims-anything that contributes to your argument

• Use quotes that show a credible point of view and will give other perspectives on the topic

• Use personal background knowledge on the subject to help analyze evidence

• Don’t forget to consider both sides of the argument; if you include and debate opposing arguments- you’re showing a diplomatic standpoint (establishes your own credibility) and this shows the reader that you’ve already taken them into account

Body (continued)Body (continued)

Know your limits- don’t give a strong Know your limits- don’t give a strong argumentative point and not back it up with a argumentative point and not back it up with a strong analysis or sufficient support; you should strong analysis or sufficient support; you should only use key points that you can generate ideas only use key points that you can generate ideas on and that you can expand on in your analysison and that you can expand on in your analysis

Try to use good transitions at the end of each Try to use good transitions at the end of each body paragraph that help connect or relate to body paragraph that help connect or relate to the next key argument in the upcoming the next key argument in the upcoming paragraphparagraph

Conclusion This is where you help solidify your standpoint

by compiling each of your 3 overview points; you should also refine and somewhat generalize your thesis into a bigger idea

You can: comment on how the issue at hand changes

over time; why it is important Predict how the issue will be in the future or

how it will be affected Or include deeper, moral insight that may

relate the issue to life in general

Sources for informationSources for information

2 types of evidence/sources:2 types of evidence/sources:-First hand research or your own personal knowledge on a -First hand research or your own personal knowledge on a

subjectsubjecteg. Interviews, experiments, surveys, or personal eg. Interviews, experiments, surveys, or personal

experience; anything you’ve conducted yourselfexperience; anything you’ve conducted yourself-Second hand research or supplied textual information -Second hand research or supplied textual information

already given to youalready given to youeg. Books, periodicals, and websites usually eg. Books, periodicals, and websites usually

compiled by otherscompiled by othersAll sources/research/evidence must be credible- All sources/research/evidence must be credible-

reliable, accurate, and trustworthyreliable, accurate, and trustworthy

How to assess credibilityTo determine the credibility of a source/opinion, take into account:- The author- respected in their field of study, well known, cite their own sources for

reference- if they do, you can check the accuracy of and support for what they’ve written

- Time- is source recent, up-to-date (only matters with certain topics such as technology, events), some topics, ie. Historical events that happened a long time ago, have old but accurate information

- Author’s purpose- consider the p.o.v. of the author- is it neutral or does it promote one view of the topic- it can be credible in both cases but don’t forget to include both sides of the argument

- Audience- what type of audience is reading this, young, old, liberal, conservative; what do they value in terms of sources of info, Time magazine, The Economist, web site or encyclopedia, think about the background of the audience

- Internet Sources- always be careful, look for author of cite, is it an institution, government department, university; Google, Wikipedia allows anybody to add/change content regardless of the validity of the info

The Art of PersuasionThe Art of Persuasion

To win an argument or persuade the To win an argument or persuade the reader to accept/take your standpoint, all reader to accept/take your standpoint, all you need to do is gather evidence and you need to do is gather evidence and analyze it to justify your argument; the only analyze it to justify your argument; the only hard part is choosing which case to hard part is choosing which case to support (which can also be very easy)support (which can also be very easy)

To persuade your reader use the 3 To persuade your reader use the 3 rhetorical strategies: Ethos, Pathos, and rhetorical strategies: Ethos, Pathos, and LogosLogos

Master of public speaking

Ethos (ethics)

This form of persuasion is based on the ethical appeal of the writer (you) toward the audience

Establish good character, credibility, and reliability as a writer through:

-citing legitimate sources-state possible opposing arguments-address both sides of argument (acknowledge

common values/beliefs)-use proper organization in your essay; proofread your

essay-no grammar mistakes- might question your intelligence as a writer

reliable

unreliable

Pathos (emotion)Pathos (emotion)

• Appeals to an audience’s moral values and Appeals to an audience’s moral values and emotional sensibilitiesemotional sensibilities

• Don’t use this incorrectly by misrepresenting Don’t use this incorrectly by misrepresenting the topic, using fear to persuade people, or to the topic, using fear to persuade people, or to distract the audience from the real issues of distract the audience from the real issues of debate (eg. politicians use in this way-debate (eg. politicians use in this way-demagogue)demagogue)

• Can be used by showing reality- things as Can be used by showing reality- things as they really are, the truth (eg. show downside they really are, the truth (eg. show downside of reality to appeal to audiences’ sympathy)- of reality to appeal to audiences’ sympathy)- one specific case can be more convincing than one specific case can be more convincing than a general statistica general statistic

Logos (logic and reason)Logos (logic and reason)

Appeal to the audiences’ natural, rational form of Appeal to the audiences’ natural, rational form of thinking- making sense through reasonable thinking- making sense through reasonable facts/evidence and logically inferring based on that facts/evidence and logically inferring based on that evidenceevidence

Build this type of argument by using:Build this type of argument by using:- Statistics/dataStatistics/data- ExamplesExamples- FactsFacts- Specific reasonsSpecific reasons- Drawing conclusionsDrawing conclusions- Providing evidenceProviding evidence

Block FormatBlock Format

May 26, 2009May 26, 2009Name of person you’re writing toName of person you’re writing toTheir street addressTheir street addressTheir Province/state, zip codeTheir Province/state, zip code

Dear Mr./Mrs.….,Dear Mr./Mrs.….,

5 paragraphs of writing5 paragraphs of writing

Sincerely, your nameSincerely, your nameYour street addressYour street addressprovince,/state, zip codeprovince,/state, zip code