Developmental pattern

 

The Opposing Viewpoints Persuasion Essay Assignment

 

Peer Editing Day:  Thursday, March 5

 

Essay Due:  Beginning of class, Thursday, March 12

 

To be successful, it is CRITICAL that you complete all steps IN ORDER and complete each step fully before continuing on to the next.

 

____1. Go to the S.C.C. Library Home page.

 

____2. Click on Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center (under Library Databases).

____3. If you are off-campus, enter your Student I.D. number in the box where it asks for your library card number.  Click Continue.

____4. Scan the many topics in both columns.

____5. Pick several of topics of interest, click on them, and explore each of them a bit.

____6. For each topic you explore, see if you can find two opposing essays.

For example, under Alcoholism you will find essays arguing that Alcoholism should be treated as a disease (#1 and # 2) and essays arguing that Alcoholism is not a disease (#5).

Under Genetic Engineering you will find an essay entitled Genetic Engineering of Humans is Ethical (#1) and an essay entitled and Human Cloning Should Be Banned  (#2).

Under Media Violence you will find essays arguing that media violence has an effect on human behavior (#2 and #4) and essays arguing that the evidence is exaggerated or inconclusive (#5 and #6). 

You get the idea.

____7. Select one of the topics you explored (any controversial topic of interest will do), find two essays that oppose each other, and read them.

____8. Decide which side of the topic you will support and defend. The side you take will be the thesis of your essay.

____9.  Think about reasons that support your position (your thesis).  Make a list of these.  You will need at least three.

____10.  Write your thesis sentence which is a clear statement of your position on the issue. Below are some sample thesis sentences—please note their style and content:

  • Participation in Alcoholics Anonymous is effective for a majority of people.
  • I believe that the Environmental Movement over the past two decades has been remarkably ineffective.
  • Contrary to what many politicians might tell you, the 2003 war in Iraq has increased our nuclear security.
  • There is little doubt that Global Warming is the most serious threat to our continued existence on this planet.

______11. Return to the list you made in step 9.  Pick the three strongest reasons for your position and put them in emphatic order.  Write rough draft paragraphs for each of these.  Each paragraph needs to explain just how this reason supports your position.

 

               ! A sample topic sentence for one of these paragraphs might be

 

                        “The first reason that human cloning should be banned is . . . .”

 

Note: Have NO sources open in front of you when doing the above step or you may become guilty of plagiarism.

 

J Take a break to let your rough draft cool a bit.

____12. Return to the Opposing Viewpoints essay that supports your position. Locate and highlight specific quotes you could blend into your own body paragraphs to add support and to make those paragraphs more persuasive.

____13. Carefully read Working with Words from a Source, (Grey Packet). Look particularly at the examples.

____14.  Please read Working with Words from a Source again.

____15. Dig out the rough drafts of your body paragraphs (step 11).  Try to blend some of the words from the sentences you highlighted in step 12 into the appropriate support paragraphs.  The goal is to make your supporting paragraphs stronger by adding corroboration (support) from this outside source.  Refer again to Working with Words from a Source for guidance.

      EKeep the quotations you will borrow small in number and few in words.

____16. Write your introductory paragraph.  This paragraph should identify your readers, clearly introduce the controversial issue to them, and establish its importance (why should they care?).

      [Remember to place your thesis statement at the end of this paragraph. (Make it the paragraph’s final sentence.)

____17. Write your concluding paragraph recommending some action for your readers to take now that they agree with you.

____18. Collect all the paragraphs you have written and stack them in the proper sequence.  Add any transitions your reader will need to move comfortably from one paragraph to the next.

CYou now have built the rough draft of your essay, so take a break, relax, and celebrate for a bit.  When you feel appropriately refreshed, go on to the next step.

____19. Read ALOUD through your rough draft. Revise and polish it as best as you can.  Make as many drafts as necessary to get it right.

____20. Create a final draft for submission.