Persuasive Assignment

Check the course on Angel for all materials relating to the proper execution of this assignment.

You’ll be writing a paper that argues in favor of (or in opposition to) something—a product, group, organization, etc.—for which there are many choices.
  • A note on topic selection: The point of this paper is not to argue for or against a position (such as abortion, immigration, the death penalty, etc.), but rather to select something from which there are a range of similar choices. A way to think about approaching this topic is to pretend you work for the product, group, organization or whatever and are trying to promote it (or just inverse that if you want to argue against something). For Example: Let’s say I want to write about X. My task in this paper would be to persuade the reader why X is a better choice than A-Z.
  • A second note on topic selection: Failure to adhere to the guidelines for the paper may result in a zero grade for the assignment. If you're confused—ASK ME!

Here are the general parts/elements of a summary that should be apparent in your essay:
  • Introduction of the subject
  • Thesis statement that clearly states your position on the subject that you will be arguing for
  • Use of key examples/research/expert analysis to reinforce main points
  • Logical organization
  • Effective transitions
  • Conclusion
Remember, an effective argument relies mostly on logic, with emotional and moral appeals used sparingly to help enhance the argument. Not the other way around.

Keep in mind that your audience is college-educated adults, so you don’t need to explain basic information, but you will need to explain more specific, complicated concepts when needed.

Due Date and Other Administrative Stuff:

Draft Due: Monday, October 24 by 11:50 p.m., in the dropbox on Angel.
Peer Editing Due: Wednesday, November 2 (instructions on this to follow)
Final Due: Wednesday, November 9 by 11:50 p.m., in the dropbox on Angel.
This essay will be graded on a 100-point scale of A, B, C, D, and F.

Essay Submission Guidelines:

  • The finished submitted draft must be AT LEAST five (5) pages PLUS your works cited page, typed, double-spaced on 8.5" x 11" sheets of paper with one-inch (1") margins on all sides.
  • Please follow MLA or APA essay format and citation guidelines. (See
    www.dianahacker.com/resdoc for more information on how to do this.)
  • Please use 12-point Times New Roman.
  • No handwritten, sloppily presented, or late work will be accepted.

Final Notes and If You Need Help:

Review the assignment sheet and the content available on Angel.
Please email me with questions or visit the Writing Center.
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