Writing an essay

Writing to Convince Essay (Position Essay) English 10000 – Fall 2015

Writing Assignment In the second major essay, you were asked to seek a modern social issue that interests you (perhaps because of your major, a situation in your life, and/or other curiosity). Now that you have begun researching that issue, you’re asked to identify a specific argument (typically done by finding a problem to solve). Then, develop a solution (or at least a partial solution) to that problem and craft an argument that convinces readers that your position on the issue is valid and workable. You may use information and research from the rhetorical analysis assignment. Your argument must be related to your professional or academic goals. These arguments need to be real and personal. When you write to convince, you need to have

 a specific purpose in mind,

 a strong sense of your audience, and

 an idea of what might be an effective way to convince that audience (rhetorical analysis) In this essay, you need to take a stand on a controversial idea, issue, or practice and provide sufficient evidence to support that stand, the goal being that your readers will consider changing their behaviors or beliefs in order to solve a “problem.” Because argument asks for change, you cannot defend the status quo (unless the status quo is being challenged. Rhetorical Knowledge Purpose What exactly is your goal (x is so/x is good/x should be done)? What can you reasonably expect? Rhetorical Situation Your relationship as a writer to your audience, your subject, your purpose, and your motivation (exigency) are all factors that must be taken into account. Voice and tone Tone is very important in convincing others to adopt your viewpoint – should you come across strong? Subdued? Casual? Caustic? Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing Strategies

I. Craft a clearly stated, arguable claim – one that is reasonable and do-able. II. Present your issue in a compelling way.

III. Be aware of your audience(s). IV. Provide sufficient reasons AND evidence for those reasons. V. Use rhetorical appeals effectively. VI. Acknowledge and discuss other perspectives on the issue (counterargument).

VII. Conclude with a Call to Action (how individuals can act to solve the problem, a need for more research/consideration, etc.).

Grading and Submission Guidelines Your final draft should include at least five academic sources (but preferably six or seven—you should already have at least two from the Rhetorical Analysis with Annotated Bibliography essay) and should be:

 Typed in Times New Roman 12 font and double-spaced

 5-7 pages (not counting the Works Cited page)  In MLA format, including:

o in-text citations and a Works Cited page

o formatting for how to list your information on the first page o use of header to note your last name and the page number

Outline for the Position Essay

Reminder: You should be using the same topic for this essay as you did for your Rhetorical Analysis with Annotated Bibliography Essay. In that essay, you focused on one specific article. In this essay, you’ll use several articles (and, likely, statistics from websites and/or reputable news sites, etc.) to make an argument for your side of the argument. Since it is “classical argument” form, you also must present a counterargument and address it (through concession or refutation). Do not use “you” or “your” (which is known as “second-person” writing) in this essay, even in the conclusion.

I. Introduction

1. Attention-getter (one sentence): draw in your reader 2. Background: two or three sentences, at most, of information about your topic 3. Claim/Thesis (one sentence): take a strong stance regarding your topic

II. Body

1. Main Point 1 (of your topic, siding with your claim) 1. Use sources to defend this

2. Main Point 2 (of your topic, siding with your claim) 1. Use sources to defend this

3. If applicable, Main Point 3 (of your topic, siding with your claim) 1. Use sources to defend this

4. Counterargument (what the other side has to say about your topic) 1. Use at least one source to defend this

5. Concession or Refutation (your response to the counterargument) 1. Use sources (which you may have used earlier) to point out either:

a. Why, despite the other side having some valid points, your argument is still valid/important/significant (which would be concession)

b. Why the other side is wrong (which would be refutation)

III. Conclusion 1. Briefly (in no more than two sentences) summarize your essay 2. Call to action: implore your readers to act, react, research, consider, etc.

Deadlines:

 Proposal (listing your topic and stance, which may be handwritten and should only be approximately one paragraph in length)—November 10, 2015

 Draft One for Peer Review (with the Write Here, Write Now book for peer review forms)—November 17, 2015

 Draft Two (Instructor’s Draft)—November 24, 2015  Final Draft (due in the Final Portfolio)—on the last day of class, December 10, 2015