Persuasive Essay
The next essay will be a persuasive essay. Each student will choose a topic to defend or refute. A list of
sample topics is given below. However, you may wish to choose a topic that is closer to you like a school
related issue.
Students will need to be familiar with the methods of persuasive arguments such as bandwagon appeals,
hasty generalizations, and fallacious reasoning in order to avoid these errors in reasoning. Essays should rely
on more than emotional appeals to persuade. Equally important, essays will need to present both sides of the
argument. This means some recognition of the opposition’s side will be included in each essay.
Here are the paper requirements:
 Final draft should be typed and in MLA Format
 Paper should be 2-3 pages long (not counting works cited)
 You will need a works cited page AND in-text citations (minimum of four sources).
 This is an academic essay and your tone should remain academic as well. Stick to third person, write in
active voice, avoid slang/clichés, etc.
1.
2.
Dieting makes people fat.
Romantic love is a poor basis for marriage.
3.
4.
The war on terror has contributed to the growing abuse of human rights.
High school graduates should take a year off before entering college.
5.
6.
All citizens should be required by law to vote.
All forms of government welfare should be abolished.
7.
8.
Both parents should assume equal responsibility in raising a child.
Americans should have more holidays and longer vacations.
9.
10.
Participating in team sports helps to develop good character.
The production and sale of cigarettes should be made illegal.
11.
12.
People have become overly dependent on technology.
Censorship is sometimes justified.
13.
14.
Privacy is not the most important right.
Drunk drivers should be imprisoned on the first offense.
15.
16.
The lost art of letter-writing deserves to be revived.
Government and military personnel should have the right to strike.
17.
18.
The continuing decline of CD sales along with the rapid growth of music downloads signals a new era of innovation in popular music.
Financial incentives should be offered to high school students who perform well on standardized tests.
19.
20.
All students in high school and college should be required to take at least two years of a foreign language.
College students in the U.S. should be offered financial incentives to graduate in three years rather than four.
21.
22.
College athletes should be exempted from regular class-attendance policies.
To encourage healthy eating, higher taxes should be imposed on soft drinks and junk food.
23.
24.
Students should not be required to take physical education courses.
To conserve fuel and save lives, the 55 miles-per-hour national speed limit should be restored.
25.
26.
All citizens under the age of 21 should be required to pass a driving education course before receiving a license to drive.
Zoos are internment camps for animals and should be shut down.
27.
28.
People who contribute to Social Security should have the right to choose how their money is invested.
Professional baseball players convicted of using performance-enhancing drugs should not be considered for induction into the Hall of
Fame.
29.
Any citizen who does not have a criminal record should be permitted to carry a concealed weapon.
Important Dates
Mon. 1/5 - Tue. 1/6
 Assign Paper
 Start Research in Lab
 Discuss Brainstorming and Outlining
 HW: Bring in complete Brainstrom and Outline next class
Wed. 1/7 – Thurs. 1/8
 Lecture/Notes on essay organization and drafting techniques
 Thesis Statements
 Considering your audience
Fri. 1/9 – Mon. 1/12
 Work Day – Compose rough drafts in Lab
 HW: Finish Rough Drafts
Tues. 1/13 – Wed. 1/14
 Three different peer revisions
 Personal reflection on the current state of your rough draft
Thurs. 1/15 – Tues. 1/20
 Lab to work on Final Drafts
 HW: Final Drafts due!
Wed. 1/21 – Thurs. 1/22
 Final Drafts due
Name: __________________________________ Block: _____ Date: __________________
Title of Essay: __________________________________________
Persuasive Essay
I. THESIS – clear, concise, specific and includes a strong and credible position
statement
__________
(0-5)
II. ORGANIZATION – introduction, conclusion, and well-developed paragraphs
__________
(0-10)
III. CONTENT – The paper presents your own ideas and effectively uses
textual evidence to support thesis.
__________
(0-25)
IV. STARRED COMMENT – This paper addresses the major problem present
in your previous paper.
__________
(0-15)
IV. GRAMMAR, USAGE, and MECHANICS
__________
(0-15)
o
o
o
o
Few or no errors 16-20
Some errors that do not affect the reading of the paper 11-15
Some errors that affect the reading of the paper 6-10
Major errors that affect the reading of the paper 0-5
VI. SUPPORT – Proper use of quotations and/or evidence
o
o
o
o
o
o
__________
(0-15)
quote introduction
check punctuation of quotations
check accuracy of quotation(s)
quotations for support
support is relevant to topic
do not begin or end a paragraph with a quotation – use your own words to introduce and explain
quotations
VII. MLA FORMAT
o
o
o
o
o
o
__________
(0 - 15)
check heading
check page numbers
check double-spacing
check title
check font and/or font size
works cited page
VIII. ADDITIONS and DEDUCTIONS
__________
( + or - )
GRAND TOTAL:
__________