PERSUASION ESSAY
MINIMUM 750 WORDS
In the Persuasion Essay, you take a stand or position on a current issue and define your argument—in other words, take a side. You are attempting to persuade your audience to accept your point of view or to take a particular course of action. Your audience should be a person who holds opinions opposite to yours, or a group that could be expected to do so. In this essay, you are trying to define your position without offending the opponent. In order to avoid offending the opposition, the entire essay should be written in third person.
There is a required topic for this essay. You should argue for or against the statement, "Racial profiling should be illegal."
All Essays MUST include sources to back up and authenticate your claims. A MINIMUM of two sources is required. These sources will be provided for you in class. WEBSITES, PERSONAL INTERVIEWS AND INTERNET SOURCES ARE NOT ALLOWED. All sources must, of course, be cited in your essay and listed in your Works Cited page in MLA style.
Your Essay should include:
Paragraphs:
1. a. A statement of the problem or issue you are talking about. Tell the reader about the problem for which you are proposing a solution or the issue and position which you hope to persuade him or her to accept. Give any background or characteristics of the issue that will be necessary for your reader to have a full understanding of the situation and of your argument.
b. A statement of the solution you are advising. Describe the solution you propose. As fully and clearly as possible, show how your solution will solve the problem or your position is the most rational and best for all concerned.
2‑4. Three advantages of your position or arguments in its favor. Discuss at least three advantages of the position or solution you have proposed. That is, show the reader three ways in which your position would improve or clarify the issue or the situation you have described. Give the evidence for your position here; it should be hard facts that your audience cannot dispute. For this reason, religious beliefs or statements are not acceptable as arguments or advantages, since however clear they may seem to you, your audience may disagree with them.
5-7. Answer three of the audience's objections. Find out the reasons why people disagree with you—these are their objections. Answer the objections that your audience is most likely to make, not just the ones that are easiest to answer. These should be their strongest possible objections in order to show that you are dealing with the issue honestly. Be sure that you answer the objections—don’t just list them! Explain why their objections do not change the fact that your solution is best for all concerned.
8. The conclusion. The conclusion should summarize your thesis and its development to assure the reader is left with a clear understanding of your position and its logical basis.
Especially be sure that you have not insulted your audience.
Your essay should consist of these items:
1. Introduction with thesis statement (not question), clearly stated, in third person, containing the words “should” or “should not.” This is what you are trying to prove.
2. 3 supporting arguments (see nos. 3-5 above). These are usually each a separate paragraph.
3. 3 audience objections and your answers to them (see no. 6-8 above), also usually separate paragraphs.
4. A separate paragraph conclusion.
