Animal Testing (oppossing):
Paper instructions:
Persuasive Essay with Research Component:
Objective: Students will write a persuasive essay on a controversial issue of their choice. Students will research and include data to support their point of view. Students will then document that data using appropriate MLA format.
Rationale: Why do people write persuasively? Well, the answer should be obvious: people write persuasively to convince others to agree with their point of view. Those talented enough to possess the skill to persuade through writing can convince people to do a myriad of things. Persuasive writers can get you to purchase the latest workout video series, or they may try to convince you that organic food is the only truly safe food on the market today.
These writers don’t simply function in the political arena. They work in marketing, sales and advertising.
Assignment: For the purposes of this assignment, you will choose a controversial topic. You will also need to choose a side of your issue to argue. Topics will be chosen on a first-come, first-served basis. Choose your topics wisely and quickly.
Follow this suggested format for the paper you will be writing:
Paragraph 1: Opening paragraph. You should make an emotional appeal to your audience. Start your paper with a story that pulls your reader in and emotionally engages them in your topic. The story could be either true or fictitious; however, it needs to make the reader care about your topic and make them committed to reading the arguments you will make. For example, you might want to tell a dramatic story about a paroled murderer who killed again if you are writing in favor of capital punishment.
Paragraph 2: Introducing your topic. Use this section of your paper to thoroughly introduce your topic. You should give any pertinent history or background. Be sure to document any sources that you use, following MLA format. At the end of this section, either stated explicitly or implied, you should affirm your position on the topic.
Paragraphs 3 – 5: Reasons. Use this section to make specific arguments that support your position. Here is where you bring to bear any emotional, logical, or ethical appeals that would support your reasons. Any statistics or data that you can find to support your reasons should also be thoroughly discussed in this section. Again, be sure to document all of your sources, adhering to MLA format.
Paragraph 6: Counterarguments. Most good arguments have counterarguments. Use this section of your paper to explore the counterarguments to your position and then refute those counterarguments. Again, be sure to document all of your sources, adhering to MLA format.