Assignemnt: Persuasive Essay Guidelines

Topics 1-7: Full-Course Assignment

1) Throughout this course, you will work on writing a persuasive essay of 750¬-1,000 words (roughly 3-5 pages).

2) The essay-writing process is broken down into seven parts. Each part will be due in a different topic and graded separately.

a) Topic and Audience
b) Brainstorm
c) Thesis Statement
d) Outline
e) First Draft
f) Peer Review
g) Final Draft

3) Your essay will be informed by the topic readings and the use of a minimum of three peer reviewed resources found within the GCU eLibrary.

4) For this essay, you will begin by choosing a topic from the list provided in the "Persuasive Essay: Topic and Audience Worksheet." If you would like to write about a topic that is not on the list, you may ask the instructor for permission.

5) Next, take a position on your topic by deciding if you are for or against the topic. This would be considered the "stance or position".

6) The goal of this essay is for you to persuade your audience to agree with your position. Your written essay should demonstrate critical thinking by adhering to the following principles which will be studied throughout the course:

a) Acknowledge other perspectives and evaluate assumptions about the topic.
b) Manage emotions and avoid fallacies.
c) Provide evidence to support your position (Peer Review Journal Articles).
d) Include facts.

7) Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the GCU Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.

8) This assignment uses a grading rubric that can be viewed at the assignment's drop box. Instructors will be using the rubric to grade the assignment; therefore, students should review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the assignment criteria and expectations for successful completion of the assignment.

9) The first draft and final essaymust be submitted toTurnitin.Refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.

Part 1: Persuasive Essay: Topic and Audience Worksheet

If you did not take UNV 104 or if you would like to review the writing concepts introduced in UNV 104, it is suggested that you view a media piece entitled, "The Writing Process," which is available to support the development of your writing skills. For this Topic, focus on the "Planning and Getting Started?" section of the media piece.

Part 1: Select a Topic

Choose a topic for your persuasive essay from the list below. If you would like to write about a topic that is not on the list, please list it below within your answer to the first question to request approval.

• Stem cell research
• Prison reform
• Health Insurance/Healthcare Reform
• Social Media and the Workplace
• Internet Censorship
• Use of Title I funds
• Compensation for College Athletes
• Net Neutrality
• Global Warming
• Marijuana
• Genetically modified food
• Cloning
• Abortion
• Charter schools
• Nuclear Energy
• Renewable Energy
• Globalization
• Standardized Testing

1) What is the topic you have chosen for your persuasive essay?

2) Begin thinking about the different issues associated with the topic you have selected, narrow your focus, and take a pro or con position for the subject of your essay. Present a simple statement of your position here. Example statement:Same-sex marriage should be legalized.

3) Give rationale for that stance. (50-100 words. Avoid using emotional reasoning and focus on facts and evidence to help support you rationale)?

Section II: Identify your Audience

Review the media piece before beginning this section:

Answer the following questions regarding the audience for your essayin complete sentences.

1) Who do you intend to persuade with your essay (Audience) and why (avoid naming instructor, friends, family peers and colleagues?

2) What is the appropriate way to address this audience (professional, familial, friendly)?Why?

3) What about your topic is important to your audience? What about your topic is not important to your audience?

Part 2: Persuasive Essay: Brainstorming Worksheet

Review "How Should I Brainstorm?" in the media piece "The Writing Process." The media piece explores six ways to brainstorm:

1) Free Writing
2) Breaking Down a Topic
3) Listing
4) Mapping/Webbing
5) Three Perspectives
6) Journalistic Questions

Assignment Directions:

1. Choose three ways to brainstorm from the list above.

2. Brainstorm about the topic of your Persuasive Essay using each of your chosen three methods. Each brainstorming session should last at least 10 minutes in length.

3. Document the information from your brainstorming sessions in the space provided below. The information for each brainstorm should be substantive in nature, providing further insight into your current knowledge on your topic.

4. If you choose to brainstorm by mapping/webbing, document your brainstorm, please use the Smart Art feature within Word to create the map.

Documentation of Brainstorm:

Record and identify your brainstorm strategies below, using as much space as needed for each entry. Make sure your information is substantive and is on your essay topic. Please do not write about the brainstorming strategies in general.

Brainstorm One:

Brainstorm Two:

Brainstorm Three:

Part 3: Persuasive Essay: Thesis Statement and Gathering Resources Worksheet

Part i: Thesis Statement

Assignment Directions:

Review "Thesis Statements"in the "Drafting the College Essay" section of "The Writing Process" media piece.

Here is an example of a persuasive thesis statement from our essay.

Grass fed beef is a much healthier option than corn fed beef because it has higher nutritional value, can provide the body with much needed Omega 3 fatty acids, and has the health benefits of conjugated linoleic acid.

Stance:Grass fed beef is a much healthier option than corn fed beef.

Subtopic 1: it has higher nutritional value.
Subtopic 2:it can provide the body with much needed Omega 3 fatty acids.
Subtopic 3:and has the health benefits of conjugated linoleic acid.

Create a thesis statement for your persuasive essay. Your thesis statement should be one sentence that includes three subtopics.

Write your thesis statement in the box below:

Topic:

Stance:

Subtopic 1:

Subtopic 2:

Subtopic 3:

Thesis Statement:

Thesis Statement Self-Evaluation:

Consider the following questions when developing the thesis statement for your essay. The answer to each of the four questions below should be yes if you have drafted a quality thesis statement.

1) Is your topic stated in the thesis?

2) Does your thesis include your position/stance?

3) Is the thesis statement specific?

4) Does the thesis include three subtopics?

Part ii: Gathering Resources

Assignment Directions:

Review "Research and Sources"in the media piece "The Writing Process."

Use the GCU elibrary to find three Peer Reviewed sources to use in your persuasive essay. Fill out the requested information in the table below about your sources.

Topic 1: Persuasive Essay: OutlineWorksheet

Review "How Do I Organize My Brainstorm into an Outline?" in "The Writing Process" Media piece.

Assignment Directions:

Use the Persuasive Essay Outline on the next page to outline your persuasive essay by completing the following:

1) Use the feedback you received from your instructor to revise your thesis statement.

a) Write your thesis as a complete sentence (as you would in your essay) in the "Thesis Sentence" section under the Introductory Paragraph heading in the outline below.

2) Create a topic sentence for each of the three paragraphs that comprise the body of your essay.

a) Record the topic sentences in each of the "Topic Sentence" sections under the "Support for Thesis" headings in the outline below.

b) Your topic sentences should support your thesis and provide transitions between the paragraphs.

3) Write at least three details for each topic sentence.

a) These details should provide support for the topic sentence.
b) Remember to include at least one in-text citation for each supporting paragraph.

4) Write a concluding sentence under the "Conclusion" heading in the outline below.

a) Your concluding sentence should be your thesis restated in different words.

Persuasive Essay Outline

Introductory Paragraph:

Hook:

Background and contextual information:

Thesis Sentence:

Support for Thesis 1(Subtopic 1)

Persuasive Topic Sentence including position and subtopic 1:

Detail A:

Detail B:

Detail C:

Transitional sentence:

Support for Thesis 2 (Subtopic 2)

Persuasive Topic Sentence including position and subtopic 2

Detail A:

Detail B:

Detail C:

Transitional sentence:

Support for Thesis 3 (Subtopic 3)

Persuasive Topic Sentence including position and subtopic 3:

Detail A:

Detail B:

Detail C:

Transitional Sentence:

Conclusion

Paraphrase thesis statement (restated in different words):

Summarize main points:

Final remarks:

* More below: Please move on to the next page.

References (New page at the end of the essay)

Organize all references below into a reference list. Be sure the references arein alphabetical order based on the author's last name, double-spaced. List should be formatted to have hanging indents by ½ an inch, with the first line hanging and all others indented. See the GCU Style Guide for help with formatting references and citations. Within the essay, this reference page will be on its own page at end of your essay.