Persuasive Thesis

Now it's time to read. Visit your Reading Guide to read Macbeth Scenes V

-

VII. You may also

use the "Macbeth Reading Guide" found in your Learning Guide as you read.

Ready for More

Argumentative Writing

53

Many of the other modes of development usually fo

cus either on the writer and his or her

thoughts and experiences (narration, description) or on the subject itself

(comparison/contrast, cause/effect, definition). Argumentative writing, in contrast, focuses on

the reader. Because the whole purpose of pers

uasive writing is to persuade, or convince, the

reader, the whole essay revolves around the kinds of reasons and evidence that the reader

will need in order to accept the idea presented in the writer's thesis statement.

Thus, the first step in planning

an argumentative essay is to carefully consider the targeted

reader. Whether this is one person or many, remember that arguments are not directed

at people who agree with the writer. Writing an essay for those who already concur with

the thesis would be a

waste of time. Instead, argumentative essays are directed at readers

who either disagree with the writer's viewpoint or have not yet made up their minds.

Once you have determined exactly who needs to be persuaded to accept your thesis, spend

some time thi

nking about that reader's (or those readers') needs, goals, and

potential objections. At this point, analyze your readers, at least informally. What do they

probably believe right now? What do you think their goals and priorities are? To what parts of

your

argument will they object? Can you think of ways to overcome those objections? As you

plan and write your essay, you will often return to this analysis to guide you in making

decisions about what to include and how to include it.

The Persuasive Thesis Sta

tement

You should have an idea of who your audience is if you are planning to craft an essay that will

win them over and convince them of your side of the argument. Your analysis of your readers

will affect your choice of a thesis statement (or claim) and

supporting reasons. A persuasive

53

Title: OpenNow English Composition 1. Authored by Cengage Learning License: CC BY 4.0

Now it's time to read. Visit your Reading Guide to read Macbeth Scenes V-VII. You may also

use the "Macbeth Reading Guide" found in your Learning Guide as you read.

Ready for More

Argumentative Writing

53

Many of the other modes of development usually focus either on the writer and his or her

thoughts and experiences (narration, description) or on the subject itself

(comparison/contrast, cause/effect, definition). Argumentative writing, in contrast, focuses on

the reader. Because the whole purpose of persuasive writing is to persuade, or convince, the

reader, the whole essay revolves around the kinds of reasons and evidence that the reader

will need in order to accept the idea presented in the writer's thesis statement.

Thus, the first step in planning an argumentative essay is to carefully consider the targeted

reader. Whether this is one person or many, remember that arguments are not directed

at people who agree with the writer. Writing an essay for those who already concur with

the thesis would be a waste of time. Instead, argumentative essays are directed at readers

who either disagree with the writer's viewpoint or have not yet made up their minds.

Once you have determined exactly who needs to be persuaded to accept your thesis, spend

some time thinking about that reader's (or those readers') needs, goals, and

potential objections. At this point, analyze your readers, at least informally. What do they

probably believe right now? What do you think their goals and priorities are? To what parts of

your argument will they object? Can you think of ways to overcome those objections? As you

plan and write your essay, you will often return to this analysis to guide you in making

decisions about what to include and how to include it.

The Persuasive Thesis Statement

You should have an idea of who your audience is if you are planning to craft an essay that will

win them over and convince them of your side of the argument. Your analysis of your readers

will affect your choice of a thesis statement (or claim) and supporting reasons. A persuasive

53

Title: OpenNow English Composition 1. Authored by Cengage Learning License: CC BY 4.0