Persuasive Writing Benchmark #3

Serious and Debatable Should euthanasia (mercy killing) be acceptable in the U.S.? Should women be expected to fight and die on the battlefield in defense of their country? Should tighter regulations be imposed upon the general public with regard to access to our national forests? Should our school be painted blue or brown? Which animal makes a better pet: a dog or a cat? Which fast-food industry giant really makes the best hamburger?

Which position do you take? Proponents In favor of a position you are said to be: pro It is the latin word meaning “for”. Opponents In opposition of to a view you are said to be: con It comes from the latin word “contra” meaning “against”.

Good Arguments Good arguments can usually be made on both the “pro” and the “con” sides of any serious, debatable issue. In fact, the more serious and debatable an issue is, the better the arguments that can be made.

What is Persuasion? Persuasion is: Mind-changing Convincing Getting a reader to admit that a certain view might make sense. Persuasion IS NOT: A matter of right vs. wrong. A matter of mere personal preference.

The magic word in persuasion is? REASONS If you want to sway or change a reader’s thinking, you need to give her good reason to do so. The more good reasons you can offer a reader the more likely she is to become inclined to make this change.

Persuasive Writing Requires: A serious, debatable topic, not a topic that is a matter of mere personal preference. Serious, debatable topics naturally tend to divide the population into three camps: the pro, the con, and the undecided There is never any right or wrong in persuasion. It is not a black or white concept. The purpose of persuasion is to convince a reader that a view has merit. Sound reasoning must be employed.

Your idea or your issue: Must be both serious and debatable People naturally align themselves up with three fashions: Some strongly favor the idea. Some strongly oppose the idea. Some are uncertain.