Academic and Professional Writing Essay 3: Persuasive Essay
In a persuasive essay you are trying to persuade your reader of the logic, justice or superiority of your position. You can use logic, examples, opinion, science, humor or emotion to convince the reader that you are correct.
In this essay you will be trying to convince the reader that the technological innovation you have chosen is one of the most important inventions in human history. The invention you choose is your personal opinion. The essay will consist of your support for that opinion. You should use a variety of types of support, from quotations to logic to personal experience to facts to statistics to examples.
You should also use a variety of the persuasive writing techniques from the handout, including , humor, repetition, comparisons and prognostications. You may use:
- logic (rational reasons your invention is important)
- comparison (to other inventions)
- examples (of things your invention has made possible)
- details (your invention has brought about)
- quotations (about the invention or its effects)
- speculation (if nor for...)
- historical context (past and future)
- Statistics
- images or pictures
- emotion (ability to inspire, your feelings)
For this essay you should not make anything up or invent anything.
Later, you will also be giving an oral report on the same topic, between 5 and 15 minutes long. You will practice presenting your evidence and support orally, or graphically in a WIKI page or ppt. The oral report must include AT LEAST the following:
- The name of the invention
- A description of the invention, what it does, and who uses it
- The name of the inventor, if known
- Where and when the invention or discovery took place
- Three additional points of support
- How the invention changed the world at the time it was introduced
- How the invention and its effects can be seen in the world of today
However, you are not limited to these and if you want you can include any other points or techniques you feel are likely to persuade your audience.
Here are three good quotation sites
In your introduction, you should introduce your invention and explain the who, what, when and where. In the body of your essay, you should enumerate and explain your reasons for thinking that this invention is one of the most important in human history. In your conclusion, you should repeat and sum up the most important or persuasive of your arguments. Your audience should be your peers, classmates and friends.
2 pages, double-spaced. Due Friday, April 1
Possible Outline for a Persuasive Essay
I Introduction
A. Topic sentence - introduce your invention
B. Additional detail - describe the invention
C. Factual background - who, when, where
D. Transition sentence
II. Development part 1
A. A logical reason why your choice is important
B. An historical fact about how your invention changed the world
C. A statistic showing the impact of your invention of choice
D. A quotation about the importance of your invention
III. Development part 2
A. An example of how your invention affected the world at its introduction
B. An example of how your invention is affecting our lives today
C. A personal story of how the invention has influenced your life today
D. Speculate on how the influence of this invention will continue in the future
IV. Conclusion
A. A funny joke or comment about your invention
B. Repeat your two strongest arguments
C.Speculation on what the world would be like without your invention
D. A general concluding sentence about how for all these reasons it is clear that this invention is one of the most important in the whole of human history.
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