Overview

Persuasion is a constant in each of our lives. No matter where we  look, what we read, what we see, or whom we interact with, we inevitably  encounter some form of persuasion. Advertisements want us to buy  things. Media outlets sometimes want to convince us of how we should  feel about events. We are put into positions where we must defend our  thoughts and beliefs to others, and the process we apply is typically  some form of persuasion.

Persuasive writing is a powerful form of writing—it can influence  one’s thoughts and has the ability to change minds about an issue. A  persuasive essay is an ideal tool for supporting an opinion on an issue  using researched facts and information. It also gives you, as the  writer, the chance to recognize an opposing viewpoint and refute it,  noting that at least part of the intended audience of the piece will be  people who hold that opposing viewpoint.

Prompt

For this assignment, you will use a guided prompt to write notes that  will help you better understand how to approach the persuasive essay.  As you complete this assignment, remember to apply what you have learned  in Modules One and Two in the course when discussing your issue. Then  in Module Three, you will build upon these writing notes to prepare a  more refined writing plan, which will help to prepare you to draft your  persuasive essay.

Use these writing notes as a way to gather your thoughts and  determine your strategy for writing your persuasive essay. This process  will allow you to develop a potential structure for effectively  persuading readers to agree with your argument. Additionally, these  notes will help keep your thought processes on track when you begin  writing and revising your essay.

Specifically, you must address the following:

1. Describe the argument to be addressed in your persuasive essay. Explain how the argument relates to your major, the major you are considering pursuing, or your field of work.
   1. Make certain your topic is debatable. Are you able to see at least two perspectives to this argument?
2. Identify the potential challenges you may encounter in supporting your argument with a specific audience.
   1. First, state the audience you will be writing to.
   2. Then address the challenges of supporting your argument with this audience.
3. Establish a goal that you hope to accomplish with this essay. What will this essay need to successfully meet your goal?
4. Determine three key points that will help support your argument.
5. Provide a brief description of at least two sources that support the key points of your argument.
   1. First, list the authors and titles of each source. These sources may be books or articles you identified in a previous assignment.
   2. Then provide a brief description of how each source may reinforce your argument.
6. Explain how you plan to effectively integrate evidence in the essay.