Persuasive Essay – Using Style to Influence your Reader
Your next formal writing assignment will be a persuasive essay on a controversial topic of your
choosing. You will need to complete an organizational outline, rough draft, peer revision, and
final copy. There will be time allotted in class for research, but you may need to do some
additional research on your own as well. Use http://www.noodletools.com/login.php for your
works cited page.
Possible Topics – Your essay will PROVE or DISPROVE the statement.
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All forms of government welfare should be abolished.
Both parents should assume equal responsibility in raising a child.
Americans should have more holidays and longer vacations.
Participating in team sports helps to develop good character.
The production and sale of cigarettes should be made illegal.
People have become overly dependent on technology.
Censorship in the media is sometimes justified.
Privacy is not the most important right.
Drunk drivers should be imprisoned on the first offense.
Students should be required to take physical education.
The dealth penalty is an accpetable form of punishment.
Once you choose a topic, you will need to include the following elements in your essay in some fashion. Check off each
technique as you use it. Also highlight and label in your essay.
Rhetorical/Persuasive Techniques
(highlight in yellow)
Stylistic Techniques
(highlight in pink)
_____ Appeal to ethos (develop your credibility)
_____ Peroration
_____ Appeal to logos (logical information)
_____ Figurative Language
_____ Appeal to pathos (use anecdotes, emotional
_____ Metaphor/Analogy
language)
_____ Facts/Statistics
_____ Sensory Details (descriptions that appeal
one of the five senses)
On the due date you will need to turn in:
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This check off sheet
Completed Organizational outline
Rough draft
Peer Revision Sheet
Final Copy
Rough Draft Due Date: ____________
Final Copy Due Date: ____________