PERSUASIon ASSIGNMENT TIPS 1.Select a controversial topic that you feel strongly about. 2.Avoid HOT topic issues or topics that everyone already knows about. 3.Narrow your topic. 4.Know your audience. 5.Establish a clear thesis or opinion. 6.Use powerful facts, statistics, quotes, & specific examples to support your thesis. 7.State your sources. 8.Know opposing points of view. 9.Include a rebuttal or concession to an opposing viewpoint, representing the other side accurately & sympathetically. 10.Conclude with a recommendation or a call to action.

SOME TIRED PERSUASIVE TOPICS Death penalty Legalization of marijuana Lowering the drinking age Abortion Wearing seat belts Smoking Giving blood Recycling Sex in the media Pet adoption [spaying/neutering] Affirmative action

A FEW POSSIBLE PERSUASIVE TOPICS Searching students’ lockers Effect of beauty contests Teen curfews Physical punishment of children Sending people into space Negotiating with terrorists Government censorship of web materials Government censorship of song lyrics TV’s influence on society Reality TV shows Flag burning Effect of sports on society Plastic surgery School uniforms/dress code Images of women/minorities in media Illegal music downloading Violent video games/movies Effect of iPods on society Gender-based schools Salary caps for professional athletes Professional athlete strikes Drafting high school athletes College sports recruitment practices Benefit of sports to kids Athletes as role models Violence in sports [hockey, boxing, etc.] Use of animals to develop drugs for humans Preventing extinction of species Whale hunting Zoos Animals for entertainment Criminalization of hate acts/speech Mandatory drug tests in schools Assassinating terrorists or dictators Assisted suicide Sale of human organs Cell phone use/texting Performance enhancing drugs Required community service hours

RESEARCHING YOUR TOPIC Books [Use LMC’s Catalog to find them.] Periodicals [Use LMC’s Catalog or check LMC shelves.] Databases [Get an LMC Bookmark for Passwords.] Internet [Use it thoughtfully & cautiously.]

Don’t assume a site is credible because it appears at the top of a website list. Don’t assume a site is credible because it looks good. Don’t assume a site is credible because it gets many hits. GOOGLING or YAHOOING? EVALUATE SOURCES!!!

HOW TO EVALUATE A WEBSITE

Content Balanced or Biased? WEB SITE EVALUATION PROCESS Purpose Advocate or Inform? Author Credentials ? Adequate? Information Current? Site Recognized by others? Coverage of Topic

USE BVNW’S DATABASES! WANT TO MAKE IT EASY ON YOURSELF ?

SUGGESTIONS FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT SIRS RESEARCHER OPPOSING VIEWPOINTS VIRTUAL REFERENCE LIBRARY [e-books] PROQUEST PLATINUM

BVNW DATABASES

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CITATIONS

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EXAMPLES TOPIC QUESTIONS THESIS STATEMENT

EXAMPLE OF TOPIC

EXAMPLES OF QUESTIONS TO DRIVE RESEARCH What might be the effects on students or society of required community work? Should high school organizations, such as the Honor Society, force its members to do community service? Should community service be required in order to receive a high school diploma?

Although high school students should be encouraged to do community service work, forcing them to do so will lead to fakery or hypocrisy and rob some students of necessary employment time. EXAMPLE OF

REMINDER SUPPORT YOUR THESIS STATEMENT Find FACTS that support your point of view. Find STATISTICS that support your opinion. Find QUOTES from leading, reliable, respected experts that support your point of view. Find SPECIFIC EXAMPLES to illustrate your opinion.