In class: working on persuasive essay. Below is another copy.
Outline organizer for the your essay. Please fill in the organizer, before writing. This is to be turned in with your essay on Monday. (class handout / copy below)
Assignment due Monday, May 19. Think about a topic that you personally
find important. This may be social, economic, political or environmental. You
are to write an essay of no fewer than 400 words in which you make an argument
to bring people around to your way of thinking. This should be three
paragraphs. You are to employ all three rhetorical devices: logos, ethos and
pathos. As well, you should incorporate either
the technique of anaphora or epistrophe
and parallelism. In case you are struggling for a topic, I have
listed some suggestions below. As well, I have broken down the essentials you
need to know to write an affective persuasive or argumentative essay. Please
review, before beginning your paper. As always, if you write a careful outline,
the paper will build itself.
What is an argumentative or persuasive essay? The argumentative essay is a genre of writing that
requires you to investigate a topic and establish a position on the topic
in a concise manner.
How
should you organize your essay?
The structure of the argumentative essay is held together by the following:
1) A clear, concise, and defined thesis statement that reviews the topic in a general way. It is essential that this thesis statement have a narrow focus. You are not writing a book.
The structure of the argumentative essay is held together by the following:
1) A clear, concise, and defined thesis statement that reviews the topic in a general way. It is essential that this thesis statement have a narrow focus. You are not writing a book.
2) Clear and logical transitions.
Transitions are the mortar that holds the foundation of the essay together. Without logical progression of thought, the reader is unable to follow the essay’s argument, and the structure will collapse. (see sheet of transition words). Make sure to address a conflicting opinion, noting how it might not be well-informed.
3) A conclusion that does not simply
restate the thesis, but readdresses it in light of the evidence provided.
This is where folks are struggling. Remember that this is the portion of the essay that will leave the most immediate impression on the mind of the reader. Therefore, it must be effective and logical. Do not introduce any new information into the conclusion; rather, synthesize the information presented in the body of the essay. Restate why the topic is important, review the main points, and review your thesis. You may also want to include a short discussion of more research that should be completed in light of your work. DO NOT REPEAT THE INTRODUCTION!
This is where folks are struggling. Remember that this is the portion of the essay that will leave the most immediate impression on the mind of the reader. Therefore, it must be effective and logical. Do not introduce any new information into the conclusion; rather, synthesize the information presented in the body of the essay. Restate why the topic is important, review the main points, and review your thesis. You may also want to include a short discussion of more research that should be completed in light of your work. DO NOT REPEAT THE INTRODUCTION!
IF YOU NEED AN
IDEA
1. Should students have to wear uniforms?
2.. Should all American citizens have to
complete a year of community service?
3.. Should students have to pass a basic
skills test to graduate high school?
4. Should prostitution be legalized and
regulated by the government?
5. Should large businesses and corporations
be required to employ a number of minorities
proportionate to the
population?
6. Should college athletes be paid?
Review of rhetorical terms and techniques
anaphora- (noun) repetition of a word or words at the
beginning of two or more successive verses, clauses, or sentences. Its purpose is to make the statement
memorable, to emphasize an idea, thought or passage and to provide a linking
thread. Examples: “Every day, every night, in every way, I am
getting better and better”
“My
life is my purpose. My life is my goal. My life is my inspiration.”
“Buying nappies for the baby, feeding the baby, playing with the baby:
This is what your life is
when
you have a baby.
“I want
my money right now, right here, all right?”
epistrophe- (noun)- stylistic
device that can be defined as the repetition of phrases or words at the end of
the clauses or sentences. Its purpose is to make the statement memorable, to
emphasize an idea, thought or passage and to provide a linking thread.
Examples: “The big sycamore
by the creek was gone. The willow tangle was gone. The little enclave of
untrodden bluegrass was gone. The clump of dogwood
on the little rise across the creek–now
that,
too, was gone….
parallelism – (noun) - the
use of components in a sentence that are grammatically the same; or similar in
their construction, sound, meaning or meter. This method adds balance and
rhythm to sentences giving ideas a smoother flow and thus can be persuasive
because of the repetition it employs.
Examples: Like father, like
son.
The
escaped prisoner was wanted dead or alive.
Easy
come, easy go.
Whether in class, at work or at home, Shasta was always busy.
logos- (noun)- a mode of
persuasion that uses logic and reason as a means to convince an audience of the
presenter’s
argument.
ethos-(noun)-a mode of
persuasion that uses ethical appeal as a means to convince an audience of the
author’s credibility or character.
pathos-(noun)- a mode of
persuasion that uses emotion to convince an audience of the presenter’s
argument.
Transitional
Words & Phrases
Using transitional words and phrases
helps papers read more smoothly, and at the same time allows the reader to flow more smoothly from one point to the next.
helps papers read more smoothly, and at the same time allows the reader to flow more smoothly from one point to the next.
Transitions enhance logical organization and understandability
and improve the connections between thoughts. They indicate relations,
whether within a sentence, paragraph, or paper.
and improve the connections between thoughts. They indicate relations,
whether within a sentence, paragraph, or paper.
This list illustrates categories of "relationships"
between ideas,
followed by words and phrases that can make the connections:
followed by words and phrases that can make the connections:
Addition:
also, again, as well as, besides, coupled with, furthermore, in addition, likewise, moreover, similarly
also, again, as well as, besides, coupled with, furthermore, in addition, likewise, moreover, similarly
When there is a trusting relationship coupled with positive
reinforcement, the partners will be able to overcome difficult situations.
Consequence:
accordingly, as a result, consequently, for this reason, for this purpose,
hence, otherwise, so then, subsequently, therefore, thus, thereupon, wherefore
accordingly, as a result, consequently, for this reason, for this purpose,
hence, otherwise, so then, subsequently, therefore, thus, thereupon, wherefore
Highway traffic came to a
stop as a result of an accident that morning.
Contrast and Comparison:
contrast, by the same token, conversely, instead, likewise,
on one hand, on the other hand, on the contrary, rather,
similarly, yet, but, however, still, nevertheless, in contrast
contrast, by the same token, conversely, instead, likewise,
on one hand, on the other hand, on the contrary, rather,
similarly, yet, but, however, still, nevertheless, in contrast
The children were very
happy. On the other hand, and perhaps more importantly, their parents were very proactive
in providing good care.
Direction:
here, there, over there, beyond, nearly, opposite, under, above,
to the left, to the right, in the distance
here, there, over there, beyond, nearly, opposite, under, above,
to the left, to the right, in the distance
She scanned the horizon for any
sign though in the distance she could not see the surprise coming her way.
Diversion:
by the way, incidentally
by the way, incidentally
He stumbled upon the nesting
pair incidentally found only on this hill.
Emphasis
above all, chiefly, with attention to, especially, particularly, singularly
above all, chiefly, with attention to, especially, particularly, singularly
The Quakers gathered each
month with attention to deciding the business of their Meeting.
Exception:
aside from, barring, beside, except, excepting, excluding, exclusive of, other than, outside of, save
aside from, barring, beside, except, excepting, excluding, exclusive of, other than, outside of, save
Consensus was arrived at by all
of the members exclusive of those who could not vote.
Exemplifying:
chiefly, especially, for instance, in particular, markedly, namely,
particularly, including, specifically, such as
chiefly, especially, for instance, in particular, markedly, namely,
particularly, including, specifically, such as
Some friends and I drove up the
beautiful coast chiefly to avoid the heat island of the city.
Generalizing:
as a rule, as usual, for the most part, generally, generally speaking, ordinarily, usually
as a rule, as usual, for the most part, generally, generally speaking, ordinarily, usually
There were a few very talented
artists in the class, but for the most part the students only wanted to avoid the alternative course.
Illustration:
for example, for instance, for one thing, as an illustration,
illustrated with, as an example, in this case
for example, for instance, for one thing, as an illustration,
illustrated with, as an example, in this case
The chapter provided complex
sequences and examples illustrated with a very simple schematic diagram.
Similarity:
comparatively, coupled with, correspondingly, identically, likewise, similar, moreover, together with
comparatively, coupled with, correspondingly, identically, likewise, similar, moreover, together with
The research was presented in a
very dry style though was coupled with examples that made the audience tear up.
Restatement:
in essence, in other words, namely, that is, that is to say, in short, in brief, to put it differently
in essence, in other words, namely, that is, that is to say, in short, in brief, to put it differently
In their advertising business,
saying things directly was not the rule. That is to say,
they tried to convey the message subtly though with creativity.
Sequence:
at first, first of all, to begin with, in the first place, at the same time,
for now, for the time being, the next step, in time, in turn, later on,
meanwhile, next, then, soon, the meantime, later, while, earlier,
simultaneously, afterward, in conclusion, with this in mind,
at first, first of all, to begin with, in the first place, at the same time,
for now, for the time being, the next step, in time, in turn, later on,
meanwhile, next, then, soon, the meantime, later, while, earlier,
simultaneously, afterward, in conclusion, with this in mind,
The music had a very retro
sound but at the same time incorporated a complex modern rhythm.
Summarizing:
after all, all in all, all things considered, briefly, by and large, in any case, in any event,
in brief, in conclusion, on the whole, in short, in summary, in the final analysis,
in the long run, on balance, to sum up, to summarize, finally
after all, all in all, all things considered, briefly, by and large, in any case, in any event,
in brief, in conclusion, on the whole, in short, in summary, in the final analysis,
in the long run, on balance, to sum up, to summarize, finally
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