The strength of your argument Thesis Statement The strength of your argument

Understand what you’re writing Your goal in persuasive writing is to influence or change your audience’s thoughts or actions. By using logic and sound reason, you are to show that your idea is more valid than another idea. Your argument should include evidence such as stating facts, giving logical reasons, using examples and quoting experts.

Ask yourself what is the topic of your persuasive piece. Example: Abortion Then ask yourself what is your position. Position: against it all together OR making restrictions on them.

Creating Your Thesis/Claim Your claim should be clearly stated, without using “I” or “You”. Not a good claim: Abortions are used throughout America. The claim has to be debatable and narrow. The thesis must be something that people could reasonably have differing opinions on. If it is something that people generally agree on or is an accepted practice, then there is no reason to persuade people.

Non-debatable thesis: Pollution is bad for the environment. It is a wide known fact that pollution (negative connotation) has been proven bad for our environment and health. A debatable thesis: At least twenty-five percent of the federal budget should be spent on limiting pollution. America’s anti-pollution efforts should focus on privately owned cars.

Narrow your scope The scope is the breadth/lens that you would be examining your paper through. Many writers have trouble narrowing their focus. The more narrow your thesis, the more effective your argument will be. Your claim must be supported by evidence. The broader your claim is, the more evidence you will need to convince reader your position is right.

Example of a thesis that is too broad: Drug use is detrimental to society. Too many questions arise: what is included as a “drug”? Is this illegal, medicinal, recreational? How are they detrimental? Cause and effect: drugs equal death, change in moral climate, decline in economy? What is meant by society: America, global population? Children vs. adults? You do not have the time, space, or resources to elaborate on all of the topics available in such a broad, sweeping statement. Narrowing your focus will eliminate feeling overwhelmed with research, and it will make your paper more concise and well argued.

Example of a focused thesis: Illegal drug use is detrimental because it encourages gang violence. America’s anti-pollution efforts should focus on privately owned cars because it would allow most citizens to contribute to national efforts and care about the outcome.

Different Claims Claims of fact or definition: These claims argue about what the definition of something is or whether something is a settled fact. Ex: What some people refer to as global warming is actually nothing more than normal, long-term cycles of climate change. Claims of cause and effect: these claims argue that one person, thing or event caused another thing or event to occur. Ex: The popularity of SUV’s in America has caused pollution to increase.

Claims about value: These are claims made about what something is worth, whether we value it or not, how we would rate or categorize something. EX: Global warming is the most pressing challenge facing the world today. Claims about solutions or policies: These are claims that argue for or against a certain solution or policy approach to a problem. Ex: Instead of drilling for oil in Alaska we should be focusing on ways to reduce oil consumption, such as researching renewable energy sources.

Imagine who your target audience is, the format of the argument and the forum. (not me) what do you know about your topic? Choose the type of claim you are going to use and go from there. Group of parents, at a community forum open to the public. Government officials, at a city meeting, closed to private business owners.

My example: Cause and effect claim. According to the Center for Disease Control, Abortion rates have risen in the African-American community and is responsible for the termination of 13 million abortions since 1973, accounting for thirty-five percent of abortions performed in America today. Many civil activists in the community have called attention to this fact, calling it “A Major Crisis in the African-American Community” , says Rev. Raphael of Howard University in Washington, DC. Though African-Americans represent twelve percent of the general population, abortions are disproportionately higher amongst this community, leading some to dub the epidemic a modern day genocide. Because of this disconcerting practice, abortions should be regulated by the federal government, forcing all, especially African-Americans, to use safer sex and resist using abortions as a form of birth control.