Persuasive+Essay


 * TOPICS TO CHOOSE FROM:**

School uniform. Good tradition or outdated habit. The influence of the Internet: More harm than good or vice versa. Should a woman/man resort to plastic surgery to look more beautiful/handsome? Children nowadays are less grateful with poorer work ethic. Agree or disagree? Persuasive Essay ** What is a persuasive/argument essay? **  Persuasive writing, also known as the argument essay, utilizes logic and reason to show that one idea is more legitimate than another idea. It attempts to persuade a reader to adopt a certain point of view or to take a particular action. The argument must always use sound reasoning and solid evidence by stating facts, giving logical reasons, using examples, and quoting experts. ** When planning a persuasive essay, follow these steps **  1. Choose your position. Which side of the issue or problem are you going to write about, and what solution will you offer? Know the purpose of your essay.  2. Research your topic. A persuasive essay must provide specific and convincing evidence. Often it is necessary to go beyond your own knowledge and experience. You might need to go to the library or interview people who are experts on your topic.  3. Structure your essay. Figure out what evidence you will include and in what order you will present the evidence. Remember to consider your purpose, your audience, and you topic. ** Start writing a draft! **  Start as close as possible to your reading/research Do not concern yourself with grammar or spelling ** Write your first paragraph **  · Introduce the topic  · Inform the reader of your point of view!  · Entice the reader to continue with the rest of the paper!  · Focus on three main points to develop  · Establish flow from paragraph to paragraph  · Keep your voice active  · Quote sources to establish authority  · Stay focused on your point of view throughout the essay  · Focus on logical arguments  · Don't lapse into summary // in the development-wait for the conclusion // ** Conclusion **  1. Summarize, then conclude, your argument  2. Refer to the first paragraph/opening statement as well as the main points <span style="display: block; line-height: 150%; margin-left: 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"> · does the conclusion restate the main ideas? <span style="display: block; line-height: 150%; margin-left: 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"> · reflect the succession and importance of the arguments <span style="display: block; line-height: 150%; margin-left: 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"> · logically conclude their development? <span style="display: block; line-height: 150%; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo6; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"> 1. The following criteria are essential to produce an effective argument <span style="display: block; line-height: 150%; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo6; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"> 2. Be well informed about your topic. To add to your knowledge of a topic, read thoroughly about it, using legitimate sources. Take notes. <span style="display: block; line-height: 150%; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo6; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"> 3. Test your thesis. Your thesis, i.e., argument, must have two sides. It must be debatable. If you can write down a thesis statement directly opposing your own, you will ensure that your own argument is debatable. <span style="display: block; line-height: 150%; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo6; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"> 4. Disprove the opposing argument. Understand the opposite viewpoint of your position and then counter it by providing contrasting evidence or by finding mistakes and inconsistencies in the logic of the opposing argument. **// Support your position with evidence. Remember that your evidence must appeal to reason. //**  The following are different ways to support your argument: <span style="display: block; line-height: 150%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo5; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"> 1. Facts - A powerful means of convincing, facts can come from your reading, observation, or personal experience. <span style="display: block; line-height: 150%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo5; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"> 2. Note: Do not confuse facts with truths. A "truth" is an idea believed by many people, but it cannot be proven. <span style="display: block; line-height: 150%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo5; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"> 3. Statistics - These can provide excellent support. Be sure your statistics come from responsible sources. Always cite your sources. <span style="display: block; line-height: 150%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo5; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"> 4. Quotes - Direct quotes from leading experts that support your position are invaluable. <span style="display: block; line-height: 150%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo5; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"> 5. Examples - Examples enhance your meaning and make your ideas concrete. They are the proof. Here is a sample topic and paragraph for you to look at. ** IS IT MORE IMPORTANT TO ENJOY YOUR JOB THAN TO EARN A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY? ** **// SAMPLE OPENING //** An ancient Chinese saying says: “Find a job you enjoy doing and you will not have to work a day in your life”. The meaning is that you will be so busy enjoying your work that you will not consider it work at all. Certainly this is a realistic statement and we might add that a person who enjoys his job is likely to be happier and better person than one who seeks work as a drudgery or worse still as a necessary discomfort. **// SAMPLE PARAGRAPH //** One certainty is that money is also important. There can be little happiness for a person who does not have enough money. For a person to enjoy life he certainly needs money and if it means of obtaining money is somewhat unpleasant – like working in a mortuary – or even difficult – like working as a manual worker, can we say that he should abandon his job and seek a job that he would enjoy? An immediate difficulty that comes to mind would be that if all of us seek only jobs that are enjoyable, there are jobs that no one will find enjoyable and no one would like to do these. What will happen to the country – and the world – id everyone wants to be a musician and no one wants to be a mortician or a coal miner? There are certainly are jobs that no one can enjoy doing. **// SAMPLE CLOSING //** Hence we could say that though it is true that enjoying a job is more important than money, it would be wonderful if we enjoyed the job and earned a lot of money from it. Enjoying ourselves is a matter of attitude: We can find enjoyment anywhere if we look hard enough. But given a definite choice that we can only have one or the other, I would agree that enjoying a job is more important than money.