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2. Persuasion - Paragraph and Plan
The following outline shows examples of each method of persuasion for a persuasive paragraph.
The topic sentence of the paragraph will be: "School libraries should not be able to restrict students'
access to controversial books." The examples of the methods of persuasion each support this topic
sentence. Click the methods of persuasion in the left column to see an explanation of the role the
sentence plays in the paragraph.
Topic Sentence: School libraries should not be able to restrict students' access to
controversial books.
Directions: Read the following persuasive paragraph, and answer the questions that follow.
(1) The United States should not exercise the power to censor online content. (2) First and foremost,
online censorship impedes the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution: the right to free
speech. (3) The Constitution says that Congress "shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of
Example:
Fact:
Authority:
Answering
opposition:
Consequences:
The U.S. Constitution states that American citizens have a right to
freedoms of speech and press.
According to publisher Pearson Prentice Hall, some of the most
controversial books are also the most highly recommended and important
books to prepare students for college.
Lily Maclean, a student at New York City College, argues, "Reading
essential (but sometimes banned) library titles, such as Twain's The
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Angelou's I Know Why the Caged
Bird Sings, helped me understand more about American literature and
history."
If individual libraries are able to restrict books at will, many students may
not have access to the materials they need to succeed, and the public's
intellectual freedom will be inhibited.
While some may say that books like The Catcher in the Rye are
inappropriate and "lewd," teachers and students commonly cite this
classic as one of the most important and influential texts in high school
curricula today.
Sentence 1 is the topic sentence of the paragraph. According to the topic sentence, the writer will:
Argue against government censorship of the Internet
Argue against inappropriate online content
Argue for greater government control of the Internet
Points:
1 / 1
Close Explanation
Explanation:
The topic sentence (sentence 1) indicates that the paragraph will "argue against government
censorship of the Internet." The subject is the government's censorship of online material.
Which of the following outlines accurately represents the main points that support the topic sentence
in the paragraph?
speech, or of the press. . . ." (4) Each citizen of the United States deserves this Constitutional
right. (5) Second, as the American Library Association states, intellectual freedom is the "basis for our
democratic system," and each of us has the right to "seek and receive information from all points of
view without restriction." (6) Proponents of censorship say that the government is responsible for
protecting the public from online content that may be violent, sexual, or hateful; however, each of us
has the right and the responsibility to educate ourselves and our children about what we learn from
the Internet. (7) Finally, censoring some material could be a slippery slope toward the government's
restriction of other information. (8) If the U.S. government begins to censor certain material, this
power could extend further to encroach upon information that should remain public and free. (9) Who
would draw the lines to limit government control? (10) Some countries have shown that drawing these
lines can be difficult; for example, China's Internet censorship policies prevent users from accessing
social networking sites, international news, and anything that contradicts the Communist
Party. (11) The U.S. must lead by example and practice what it teaches by preventing Internet
censorship in our country.
Sources: Palmer, Doug, and Ralph Jennings. "China, U.S. Spar over Internet Censorship." Reuters. Reuters. 22 Jan. 2010.
Accessed 27 April 2010. ; "Bill of Rights." The Charters of Freedom. Accessed 27 April 2010; "Intellectual Freedom and
Censorship Q & A." American Library Association. ALA. 2010. Accessed 27 April 2010.
Outline 1
Reason 1: The government
cannot control the amount of
content that is already
online.
Reason 2: The American
Library Association is the
Outline 2
Reason 1: Censorship violates
laws set forth by the U.S.
Constitution.
Reason 2: People can make
their own decisions about what
Outline 3
Reason 1: The U.S.
Constitution protects our
right to free speech and
expression.
Reason 2: The American
Library Association is the
Outline 1Outline 2
authority on intellectual information is appropriate and
freedom. important.
Reason 3: China is a Reason 3: Censorship of some
frightening example of whatmaterial can get out of control.
can happen under online
censorship.
Outline
Outline #1#2Outline #3
Outline 3
authority on intellectual
freedom.
Reason 3: The United
States must lead by
example by not restricting
Internet content in our
own country.
Points:
1 / 1
Close Explanation
Explanation:
The paragraph uses three main reasons to support the argument that the United States should not
censor the Internet. The first reason, indicated by the phrase "first and foremost," is that the U.S.
Constitution protects our legal rights to free speech; the second reason, indicated by the phrase
"second," suggests that it is our right to pursue whatever information we want to; the third reason,
indicated by the word "finally," suggests that a little bit of censorship can create a bad standard and
can lead to much greater threats to personal freedom of citizens.
Which of the following is not a true statement about the paragraph?
Sentence 5 refers to authority.
Sentence 8 refers to authority.
Sentence 6 answers the opposition.
Points:
1 / 1
Close Explanation
Explanation:
Sentence 8 does not refer to authority but rather predicts the consequences of what could
happen if the United States begins to censor; the writer suggests that if the United States begins to
censor, the government might threaten other rights as well. Sentence 5 does refer to authority (the
American Library Association), and Sentence 6 does answer the opposition (even though some people
think the government should be responsible to protect people from inappropriate content, the writer
contends that every person can make his or her own decision about what is "appropriate").
Which of the following statements are true about the paragraph? Check all that apply.
The writer uses China as an authority on censorship.
The writer predicts that small acts of censorship by the government could lead to larger violations of
citizens' rights.
The writer uses the American Library Association as an authority.
The writer suggests that the opposition favors sexual content on the Internet.
The writer uses China as an example of what could happen in the United States if censorship got out
of control.
Points:
1 / 1
Close Explanation
Explanation:
In sentence 5, the writer does use the American Library Association as an authority; in sentence 8, the
writer predicts that the consequence of small acts of censorship will damage other personal freedoms
of citizens; in sentence 10, the writer uses China as an example of the worst-case scenario of damage
to personal freedoms because of government control. The writer does not suggest that the opposition
to his or her argument is in favor of sexual content on the Internet; rather the writer suggests that the
opposition to his or her argument is that the government is responsible for protecting the public from
sexual content on the Internet. The writer uses China as an example, not as an authority, on the topic
of censorship.
A probable audience for this persuasive paragraph is:
American citizens and voters
The American Library Association
Chinese ambassadors
Points:
1 / 1
Close Explanation
Explanation:
This paragraph addresses an issue that could potentially affect all U.S. citizens; because the issue of
Internet censorship involves choices and powers of elected officials, American voters in particular
would be interested in this topic.
