Literacy Task III: Persuasive Writing

For this Task, you will be formulating a stance on a contestable issue or question regarding language. Your goal is persuasive: to convince your audience to make a deliberate choice regarding the issue. You need to acknowledge at least one dissenting view and help your readers understand why they should accept your stance as the most valid from among their available options. Steps Choose an article from Exploring Language and then locate a minimum of 3 outside sources that speak to (agreeing or disagreeing) the article you selected out of Exploring Language. Finally, using your sources: explain to me how and why this issue ought to grab my attention identify and defend your own rhetorical stance on the issue Note that not all of these sources have to agree with your stance. That is, you can cite them as sources that you agree with, or you can use them as examples of wrong thinking about your issue. If you choose to use them as hostile witnesses, though, you need to help your readers understand both that theyre wrong and why you think so. You can also use your own experience with the issue as a narrative frame for your argument, to help readers empathize with your position. This is a very powerful rhetorical move. Guidelines for Evaluation In crafting successive drafts of the essay for Task III, focus on the following. These are the elements I will focus on as I evaluate your final draft. Developing a focused, argumentative claim (thesis) and articulating it clearly to your audience. Working closely with the texts that you have at your disposal, especially quoting and paraphrasing from them effectively. Blending information from multiple sources effectively.

 Developing an effective organizational plan for your paper. Using language and rhetorical strategies that are appropriate for your audience. Quoting or paraphrasing from and citing sources effectively using MLA style. Good luck! Im happy to help if you need some additional assistance at any stage of this paper. My office hours are Monday and Wednesday 9am-10:30am. You can reach me as well via email at rifenburg@ou.edu.

Literacy Task III: Persuasive Writing Quick Reference Rhetorical Situation: Purpose: help your audience understand and agree with your stand toward a contestable stance regarding how language is or might be used in American society Audience: President Boren Stance: your choice Length: 1700-2000 words Up to two images permitted, if rhetorically justified Must use MLA to cite at least four, and not more than six, credible sources Works cited page needs to be included Submission Details: Post rough draft to appropriate D2L discussion board by November 17th Literacy Task III to appropriate D2L dropbox by November 22nd