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Assignment 3 EN 101: This week’s assignment is intended to help get you started on the   persuasive essay we will be working on throughout the remainder of this course

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Assignment 3 EN 101: This week’s assignment is intended to help get you started on the

 

persuasive essay we will be working on throughout the remainder of this course. Before getting

 

started on this assignment, it might be beneficial for you to read the criteria for the Week Six

 

Persuasive Essay.

 

For this week, we will be practicing topic selection and outlining. Because this is preparation for

 

next week’s persuasive essay, you will need to start by picking a topic that is persuasive. This

 

topic must meet the following criteria:

 

Arguable (are there at least two logical, yet opposite ways to look at the issue? Are there at

 

least two sides?)

 

Solvable (i.e. avoid religious, moral, or politically charged topics)

 

Manageable (keep your topic focused and specific)

 

Think of a specific problem or issue that you are interested in researching and writing an essay

 

about. This issue should be argumentative in nature, so the topic that you choose should have

 

an equally valid opposing viewpoint.

 

An example of an appropriate topic would be this:

 

A specific community is debating an ordinance banning the ownership of pit bulls. Some

 

residents agree that pit bulls should be banned, while others disagree with this position (there is

 

plenty of research to back up either side of the argument).

 

Your job from there will be to explore the issue, look at both sides of the argument as

 

completely as you can, and take a side. Your essay will be an attempt to convince others to join

 

you in your decision.

 

Directions

 

Look up and read the following article in the EBSCOhost Database:

 

Step-by- step through the writing process. (2007). Writing, 30. 1-8.

 

(Note: You do not need to answer any of the questions from the reading in your assignment).

 

Read and respond to EACH of the following questions and submit them and your outline in a

 

single document (both parts must be completed).

 

Part One: Topic Search

 

For the first part of this assignment, consider the following three questions:

 

What issue or problem would you like to write about?

 

Choose a side. What is your view on the issue? What is the opposing view?

 

What specific change might fix this issue?

 

Then, freewrite for 10-15 minutes about the topic you have chosen. Share all of the reasons you

 

can think of for why your problem needs to be fixed. Do not worry about grammar, spelling, or

 

format. Do not edit. Write what comes to mind. Do not research yet. If you are stumped and

 

cannot write what you know for 10-15 minutes, go back to #1 and start with a new topic.

 

Part Two: The Outline

 

Draft an informal outline for your upcoming persuasive paper. Do not include quotations or

 

paraphrased material. Your outline should be built from your current knowledge of the topic.

 

You can refine this later when you conduct your research.

 

Basic Outline for a Five Paragraph Essay

 

Introductory Paragraph (five to seven sentences that include a hook, background information,

 

and a thesis)

 

Body Paragraphs

 

First Topic Sentence

 

Supporting Point

 

Supporting Point

 

Supporting Point

 

Second Topic Sentence

 

Supporting Point

 

Supporting Point

 

Supporting Point

 

Third Topic Sentence

 

Supporting Point

 

Supporting Point

 

Supporting Point

 

Closing paragraph (five to seven sentences that include a restatement of the thesis, summary

 

of the main ideas, and a closing thought)

 

If you are having trouble with your outline, the following link leads to a video that should help:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXWMPbfKtUI