Organizing your persuasive essay will depend greatly on the type of thesis you plan to present. Using the Thesis and Research Questions Worksheet from this week, you can begin to outline and organize the content of your Week 4 Persuasive Essay.
This assignment has two parts, Part A and Part B.
In Part A, choose either Option 1 or Option 2. Respond to the questions for the option you select.
After you finish Part A, complete Part B of the assignment.
Part A
Read "Organizing the Material," on pp. 374-384 in Ch. 12 of Elements of Argument.
Consider the thesis and research question you are creating for your Week 4 Persuasive Essay.
Review Option 1 and Option 2 below for organizing an essay.
Choose one of the following options as your strategy for organizing your Persuasive Essay:
Option 1: Organization Strategies
Which of the four organizational strategies (defending the main idea, refuting an opposing view, finding the middle ground, or presenting the stock issues) will you use, and why have you selected that strategy?
How does the strategy you selected align with your thesis statement?
Option 2: Contention
In what order will you unfold your essay's main contentions?
What is your strongest and most persuasive contention?
Why is it more appropriate to place your strongest contention in the emphatic position (either first or last)?
Write a response of at least 350 words total to the corresponding questions from the option you selected above.
Part B
You will now start your Persuasive Essay, due in Week 4, by beginning with an outline.
Outline your paper in at least 350 words, using the Persuasive Essay Instructions as a template. Be sure to use complete sentences for each component of the paper (i.e., introduction, body, and conclusion).
Format any citations within your assignment according to appropriate course-level APA guidelines.