College Writing
Ms. Radlinger
GUIDELINES
The aim of an informative essay is to give information as impartially as possible, while
the aim of a persuasive essay is to argue for a particular point of view in an attempt to
convince the audience to believe you.
Topics for persuasive writing deal with controversial issues that involve people’s most
basic attitudes, values and beliefs.
Go to
http://debatepedia.idebate.org/en/index.php/Welcome_to_Debatepedia%21
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/persuasive-speech-examples.html
You will write a QUESTION OF VALUE essay in which you will TAKE A POSITION on a
controversial issue stating the right/wrong, good/bad, morality/immorality of it and WHY!
WRITING A QUESTION OF VALUE Essay
Five Steps
___ 1. Approach your topic in a question form that can be answered from different
sides.
Example
Should abortion be legal?
_____ 2. From this preliminary question choose ONE side of the issue and develop the
major points of your argument with REASONS why you have chosen that side.
Abortion should (not) be legal because 1, 2, and 3.
___ 3. Support your position with a variety of types of evidence from:




Facts or statistics
Anecdotes (short story) or case studies (observations)
Scenarios (what if? futuristic speculation)
Testimony (interview quotes or survey results)
___ 4. Counter argue by presenting objections to your position and prove them
wrong.
 Acknowledge objections to your position. Shows you are open minded and
thorough. Introduce objections with lead-ins such as “Some critics say…” or
“One argument against…” or “Those that disagree argue…” or “One student
at M.G.H.S. feels…” Use quotes from sources including surveys!!!
 Accommodate objections by incorporating them into your argument.
 Refute objections. “Ok you’ve got some good points, but I am still right.”
“Even though Mr. Smith makes a valid point he neglects to recognize….”
___ 5. Persuasive, Rhetorical & Figurative Language
will make your argument stronger. Include,
the following:
highlight, and label ALL of
parallelism
repetition
figure of speech
(simile, metaphor…)
rhetorical question
historical/literary allusions
emotional appeal
logical appeal
 personal appeal
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





___ 6. SOURCES You are expected to cite at least 10 bits of information
from five different sources in your speech.

Use lead ins – According to…… (must see TEN!) HIGHLIGHTED!!!!!!

Provide a proper bibliography.
Content & Organization
Introduction
___ attention getter effectively grabs reader
___ background information effective
___ thesis clear and effective
33 points
___ clear and effective organization
___ clear and effective ideas
___ ideas effectively supported with a variety of facts, statistics, examples, anecdotes
Conclusion
___ thesis restated
___ main points summarized
___ profound statement
Style:
___ three appeals (at least one of each) : logical, personal, emotional
___ diction (solid, scholarly word choice)
___ six stylistic devices (alliteration, simile, metaphor, parallelism, allusion, etc.)
___ transitions
___ variety in sentence length, types, and beginnings
___ strong, tight sentences (no wordiness)
Correctness:
33 points
33 points
____ no: sentence errors, spelling errors, comma errors, contractions, no second person (you/your) or first
person (I, me, we, us)
____ smooth and proper integration of quotations or borrowed information
____ 12 point font, proper heading & title
____ proper works cited
Prep Outline
Taking a Position
NAME:________________
Add LEAD-INS!
Preliminary Question:_______________________________________________
________________________________________________________________.
Preview Statement (THESIS)
Position:____________________________________________________
Reason1:___________________________________________________
Reason 2:__________________________________________________
Reason 3:___________________________________________________
I.
Reason 1
A. Evidence
1.____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________(
).
2.____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________(
).
B. Counterargument
1. Acknowledge Objections
a._________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
__________________________________________(
).
b._________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
__________________________________________(
).
2. Refute Objections____________________________________
___________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
II. Reason 2
A. Evidence
1.____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________(
).
2.____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________(
).
B. Counterargument
1. Acknowledge Objections
a._________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
__________________________________________(
).
b._________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
__________________________________________(
).
2. Refute Objections____________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
II.
Reason 3
A. Evidence
1.____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________(
).
2.____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________(
).
B. Counterargument
1. Acknowledge Objections
a._________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
__________________________________________(
).
b._________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
__________________________________________(
).
2. Refute
Objections__________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________