1. PERSUASIVE ESSAYS ARGUING PRO OR CON

2. PURPOSE AND DEFINITION Should standardized testing be part of the application process?  Select Your Point of View  Persuade the audience Example of thesis statement Standardized testing should not be required as part of the application process for a university because it is too narrow in its subject matter, some good students are not strong test-takers, and test preparation classes mean that strategies, not abilities are actually tested.

3. THESIS—THERE HAS TO BE AN OPPOSING SIDE! Try this topic—Fast food restaurants: they allow us to spend time on what really matters and take away the stress of food preparation. How compelling is this argument. Provide support and use examples.

4. CONVINCING THE READER You must write a thesis statement that will lead to a persuasive essay defending your point of view.

5. SCHOOL UNIFORMS Students should wear uniforms to school so they can focus on their studies. Students should express themselves by their fashion choices and be allowed to wear what they want to school. Which argument do you find more compelling? Support your answer. WRITE A THESIS STATEMENT AND 2-3 reasons supporting it.

6. GMAT EXAMPLE People often complain that products are not made to last. They feel that making products that wear out fairly quickly wastes both natural and human resources. What they fail to see, however, is that such manufacturing practices keep costs down for the consumer and stimulate demand. Which do you find more compelling: the complaint about products that do not last or the response to it. Explain your positions using relevant reasons and/or examples from your experience, observations or reading. What should you do first?

7. BRAINSTORM: WHICH SIDE CAN YOU SUPPORT BETTER? BADGOOD wastes natural resourcesstimulates demand wastes human resourceskeeps costs down products wear out quicklykeeps people employed

8. THESIS STATEMENT I love getting the latest style pants and shirts. However, I don’t think we can ignore the degradation to the environment caused by planning for products to wear out. Not only does it deplete natural resources, it is also a waste of human resources. Companies should not create throw- away products because it adds to waste of resources and pollution, should focus on creating longer-lasting products, and should focus on training workers for these more satisfying, less exploitative jobs.

9. SUPPORT FOR THESIS A throw-away culture adds to the garbage we produce. Yet products wear out or feel outdated. We replace them. I get a new water bottle every couple of months even though it is not supposed to be disposable. Somehow the one I’m using gets a funny smell or texture. Why can’t a higher- quality water bottle be made that’s a better texture and can even be put in the dishwasher? I would be willing to spend a little more, so I wouldn’t have to replace mine so often. Alternative technologies and options exist to make higher quality products. Consumers are savvy enough to understand they have to pay more for higher quality. Yet companies produce many products that are unnecessary and need to be thrown away after one use.

10. SUPPORT FOR THESIS Even consumers who don’t want to pay more for higher quality, longer-lasting products would probably get used to it. They might even appreciate it, especially when it comes to utilitarian items such as a coffee- makers, water bottles, etc. Another example of how consumers could adapt to higher quality, longer-lasting products is paper plates, often used as a convenience for picnics. Would people really object to taking the dishes home and reusing a more durable plate? It might taking getting used to. However, consumers would eventually realize it actually saves money. The dishes can be washed and used again. They many even be willing to pay more for exquisite design since they know they’ll be reusing. Companies should utilize more resources to create products that will last.

11. SUPPORT FOR THESIS Planned obsolescence (making products that don’t last) wastes our precious natural resources, including electricity, water, oil, etc. With short-term use and low costs, companies can also reduce labor costs but that results in wasting human resources. We hear of the factories in Bangladesh and China with overworked and underpaid workers. Moreover, it’s probably impossible to find fulfillment in these jobs; can the laborer take pride is what he/she is producing?

12. CONCLUSION If consumers recognized and reflected upon the throw-away society, they might come to appreciate the goods that cost more, but are higher quality. They may not have to close their eyes to the cheap labor that has allowed them to buy a blouse that they don’t even like that much, just because it is so cheap! Perhaps consumers should stop buying these low-cost, disposable items and let companies know they no longer want to waste resources.