Persuasive Essay Writing Assignment



Name _________________________________________ Period _______ Date ______________

Discursive Research Assignment

Mr. Furman

A discursive research is a work in which a writer presents a case for or against a particular position. You will write a discursive research paper on a topic of importance to you.

Assignment Criteria: Your paper should have the following characteristics.

• A clear thesis statement of your position on the issue.

• Evidence that supports your position and anticipates your readers’ counterarguments.

• An effective organization

• Discursive language that builds your argument

• An original title for your paper

Prewriting:

1. Choose a topic off the list provided and create an essential question to research about that topic to answer within your research. Find research that supports compelling arguments on both sides and choose a position.

2. Review both sides and use the T-chart to jot down facts and ideas that support and contradict your position and develop your conclusions about your issue.

3. Gather evidence from a wide variety of resources found on the CCPS Online Subscription Resources.

4. Use the Quotes and Facts Sheet to collect quotations and facts to include in your essay

5. After you gather all your notes, develop a thesis statement that clearly expresses your opinion.

Drafting:

1. Outline. Organize your arguments into a logical structure before you write your essay. Decide which arguments you will present to support your thesis statement and the best order to present the information. Be sure to include a place in your outline to address counter arguments.

2. Provide evidence for each point that you make. Types of effective evidence are statistics that show the impact of your argument. Expert Opinions include the advice of those who have training and experiences relating to your topic. Personal Observations tell the readers about your own experiences with the topic. Testimonials include statements from peers that reinforce your argument.

3. Write in a respectful tone and let your ideas be your strength of your essay. Avoid insulting the opposition and use a tone that shows respect.

Paper Structure

Introduction Paragraph Introduce your controversial social issue, briefly explain it and end the paragraph with a divided thesis statement which clearly explains your position on the social issue you choose.

Body Paragraph #2-5 Strongest Supporting Point First Present arguments to support your thesis in a logical manner. Use statistics, quotes from expert opinions, personal observations and testimonials to build your case.

Body Paragraph #6-7 Address the counterarguments. Again use the information you got off the internet that supports the opposing opinion. You must support that side in a logical, respectful manner.

Conclusion Paragraph Conclude by restating your thesis and present a memorable final thought or quotation that leaves the reader convinced of your side on the issue.

T-Chart

Issue: ________________________________________________

I agree with Side _____

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Conclusions:

Quotes and Facts Sheet

Make a list of important quotes and facts that you should include in your essay here. Make sure to cite your sources after each gathered quote or fact. After you list the quote or fact, write your commentary about that fact or quote (in your own words!!). Circle your top three best points.

1.

2.

3.

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Thesis Statement

Create a divided thesis for your argument listing the important points you will make in your persuasive essay.

A divided thesis statement is a complete sentence that makes a statement about what you will discuss in your essay and includes the key points that you will address in each body paragraph.

What is the purpose of your paper? ______________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Who is your audience? ________________________________________________________________________

Organizing your Thesis Statement

Dependent conjunction + Dependent Clause + Independent Clause = Thesis

+ + =

Example: Year round schooling is not beneficial for students because it would create unnecessary stress, negativity toward school, and limited vacation opportunities.

What is the main topic? _______________________________________________________________________

What is the main opinion about the topic? ________________________________________________________

What is the most important supporting point? _____________________________________________________

What is the second most important point? ________________________________________________________

What point would appeal to your critics against the opinion? _________________________________________

Create your divided thesis statement here:

What is your main topic? ______________________________________________________________________

What is your main opinion? ____________________________________________________________________

What is the most important supporting point ______________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

What is the second most important point? ________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

What point would appeal to your critics against your opinion? _______________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

My Divided Thesis statement:

Name _________________________________________ Period _______ Date ______________

Controversial Issue Topics

Circle 3 topic options. Number them 1-3, with number one as your top selection.

|Educational Issues |Science and Health Issues |Legal and Political Issues |

|Behavior Drugs & Children |Abortion |Affirmative Action legislation |

|Bullying in schools |Alcohol and substance abuse |Arts funding in Public Schools |

|Cell Phones in Schools |ADHD |Capital Punishment |

|Dress code |Cloning |Corporal Punishment |

|Discipline of Children |Eugenics/gene therapy |Child Abuse |

|Drug Testing for Sports or Schools |Embryonic Stem Cells |Church and State, Separation |

|Education Standards |Immunizations |Domestic Violence |

|Homeschooling |International Adoption |Gun control |

|Junk Food in Schools |Obesity & Health Insurance |Human Rights |

|No Child Left Behind |Organic Food |Identity Theft |

|Physical Education |Outsourcing |Iraq War |

|Pledge of Allegiance |Parental Consent |Legalized Gambling |

|Prayer in School |Single Parent vs. Nuclear Families |Minimum Driving Age |

|School Uniforms |Stem Cell Research |Minimum Wage Increase |

|School Violence |Sports Discrimination & Women |Nuclear Power/Weapons |

|Standardized Testing |Vegetarianism |NASA |

|Teen driving |Women’s Rights |Prison Reform |

|Year-Round School | |Patriot Act |

|Zero Tolerance Policies | |Racial Profiling |

|Animal Issues |Media Issues | |

|Animal Experimentation |Facebook/MySpace/YouTube | |

|Animal Rights |Internet censorship |My assigned topic is: |

|Animal Overpopulation |Media Bias | |

|Endangered Species |Media & Body Image |____________________________ |

|Hunting |Music Downloading/Napster | |

| |Video Games |____________________________ |

| |Violence in the Media | |

| | |____________________________ |

Discursive Research Essay Peer Edit Form

PEER EDITORS: WRITE DIRECTLY ON YOUR PEER’S DRAFT.

1. Closely review the essay format and structure on your assignment sheet.

2. Compare each paragraph’s directions with the student’s paragraph to make sure the directions were followed. Is there something missing? As the reader, does the organization of the essay make sense?

3. Is the essay’s thesis statement placed as the last sentence in the introduction and underlined? Do you believe the thesis is well written and can be well supported? Make suggestions on to their essay draft.

4. Are each of the writer’s points supported with examples including facts, quotes, and testimonials? Have the quotes been incorporated into the essay smoothly? Make suggestions on their essay draft.

MLA Format: check to make sure your peer editor has included the following MLA format:

__Cover Page (Title of paper and student name)

__Outline (How your paper will be put together)

__Typed on one side of white paper

__Use 12 pt. black font throughout the paper

__Use Times New Roman font only

__Double-space entire paper

__Did not double-double space between paragraphs

__Margins are 1 inch – top, bottom, left, right

__Name, teacher, period date in upper left corner in proper MLA format

__Student’ last name and page # in upper right corner of each page

__Indents (tab once) before each paragraph

__ Correct text citations used after quotes or paraphrasing

__Original title centered, typed in required font (no bold, italics, underlined, etc.)

__Check spelling, grammar and written conventions. Offer suggestions and help. Your edits are crucial to a better paper.

Use the following rubric to score your peer’s work. Be honest and helpful so they can improve their work.

Categories |Level 6

Superior

|Level 5

Strong

|Level 4

Adequate

|Level 3

Marginal

|Level 2

Weak

|Level 1

Very Weak

| |Response to the topic

25 pts. |Addresses the topic clearly and responds effectively to all aspects of the task |Addresses the topic clearly, but may respond to some aspects of the task more effectively than others |Addresses the topic, but may slight some aspects of the task |Distorts or neglects aspects of the task |Indicates confusion about the topic or neglects important aspects of the task |Suggests an inability to comprehend the questions or to respond meaningful to the topic | |Quality and clarity of thought

25 pts.

|Explores the issues thoughtfully and in depth |Shows some depth and complexity of thought |May treat the topic simplistically or repetitively |Lacks focus, or demonstrates confused or simplistic thinking |Lacks focus and coherence, and often fails to communicate ideas |Is unfocused, illogical, or incoherent | |Organization, development, and support

25 pts. |Is coherently organized and developed, with ideas supported by apt reasons and well-chosen textual examples |Is well organized and developed, with ideas supported by appropriate reasons and textual examples |Is adequately organized and developed, generally supporting ideas with reasons and textual examples |Is poorly organized and developed, presenting generalizations without adequate and appropriate support or presenting details without generalizations |Has very weak organization and development, providing simplistic generalizations without support |Is disorganized and undeveloped, providing little or no relevant support | |Syntax and command of language

15 pts. |Has an effective , fluent style marked by syntactic variety and a clear command of language |Displays some syntactic variety and facility in the use of language |Demonstrates adequate use of syntax and language |Has limited control of syntax and vocabulary |Has inadequate control of syntax and vocabulary |Lacks basic control of syntax and vocabulary | |Grammar, usage, and mechanics

10 pts. |Is generally free from errors in grammar. Usage, and mechanics |My have a few errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics |May have some errors, but generally demonstrates control of grammar, usage, and mechanics |Has an accumulation of errors in grammar, usage and mechanics that sometimes interfere with meaning |Is marred by numerous errors in grammar, usage. And mechanics that frequently interfere with meaning |Has serious and persistent errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics that severely interfere with meaning | |Peer Editors: (1)_______________________________ (2)________________________________

_________ ________

Date Date

Required steps for Discursive Research Paper:

Pick your topic.

Create an essential question about your topic

Find at least 6 reliable sources about your topic (Both Sides of Issue)

Read each article and annotate them accordingly to decide what you can utilize

Use the T-Chart, Fact and Opinion sheet provided to organize your material.

Decide what is going to be your position on the issue

Create a thesis statement using the Thesis Statement sheet provided

Create an Outline that lets you and the reader know how your paper will be put together

Write your Rough Draft

Peer Edit

Write Final Draft

Submit this Discursive Research Paper within ANGEL in the Turnitin Drop Box January 8th.

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Unless Since

While If

Due to Until

After When

As Whenever

Before Even though

Because Although

Whereas Provided That

That While

Focusing On

1. Supporting Point 1, 2 & 3

(subtopics to discuss in argument)

2. Parallel structure or Parallelism (words or phrases must have the same grammatical form)

Put supporting points into best order to convey your argument.

DIVIDED THESIS

Main Opinion

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