Writing Project 3: The Persuasive Essay

Overview: A good researcher is constantly shifting between the questions that drives her
research forward and the answers that cause her to reflect with skepticism on her original
propositions or theses, which in turn will most likely lead to new questions and new directions to
be explored with further inquiry. It appears sometimes that the research process is never ending,
yet at times the researcher must move beyond discovery and exposition of information to take
positions on the information they have gained. They must make arguments about the
implications of that knowledge.
Thus, WP3: The Persuasion Essay asks you to take a position on the issue you have researched in
order to make an argument that shows why your reader should accept, or at least entertain, your
position. Therefore, your essay should:
address an issue of social, cultural, or political import
be thesis or claim driven
support claims with sound reasoning and valid evidence
account for counter-arguments and divergent perspectives
appeal to an informed audience in an accessible and rhetorically effective manner
Research: In order to effectively persuade your audience that a position is worth consideration,
you will need to highlight the significant, compelling, and novel information you have discovered
and effectively deploy that information to support your claims. Thus, you will use the research
conducted in WP2 to (1) teach your audience about something of which they have limited
awareness, and (2) convince them a position is valid and worth considering.
Requirements: Your essay should be 2000 words in length, incorporate at least 7 credible
sources, and follow APA format guidelines, including a title page, abstract, and references page.

Project Submission: A rough draft of WP3 will be submitted to a corresponding Google

Classroom assignment for peer review. The final draft of WP3 will be submitted as an APA
formatted document to the WP3 (Safe Assign) drop box on BB. This draft should also be installed
in your Writers Website.

Sample Classical Outline (Why
Im Right)
Introduction. Present the topic;
Provide background on the topic;
Assert the thesis (your argument)
Sample Toulmin Outline (Why they are
wrong)
Introduction of the problem/topic. Gets the
reader's attention (a "hook"). Introduces issue and
states main claim.

Your Argument Grounds: Assuming the audience questions

whether this claim is true, the writer produces
o Assert point #1 of your grounds for the claim (what is needed to support
claims the claim and basic assumptions on which the
argument stands).
Illustrate
your claim Warrant: The writer provides a warrant that the
claim follows the grounds (justification that the
Explain your claim meets criteria). Backing: The writer
claim / illustration produces backing for the warrant (support for the
o Assert point #2 of your validity of the warrant in the current context. May
take the form of sources, examples, analysis, data,
claims
or fallacies).
Illustrate
 your claim Explanation of why or how the data supports the
claim.
Explain your
claim / illustration Counterclaims: Thee Writer acknowledges claims
against the position, the counter-claimers
o Assert point #3 of your grounds, warrant, and backing.
claims
Rebuttals: The writer concedes limitations of the
Illustrate argument (ex: circumstances or situations where
your claim the argument would not hold). The writer then
shows how the initial claim still holds or is better
Explain your than counter-claims.
claim / illustration
Conclusion. Implications of the argument;
Counter Argument. Summarize summary of points; motivate reader to action
the counterclaims; Provide through a final point.
supporting information for
counterclaims; Refute the
counterclaims; Give evidence for
refutation
Conclusion: Restate the argument;
Assert the arguments importance
and implications; Propose a plan of
action
 Writing Project 3: The Persuasive Essay
Grading Criteria: Please see the rubric below for criteria that will be used to evaluate your
written assignment. Use these criteria as checklist to ensure that you have addressed all
requirements thoroughly. Feedback will be provided as follows: A= excellent; B = good; C =
average; D = poor; X = unsatisfactory

Criteria Expectations A B C D X
Assignment The essay is written with a primarily persuasive/argumentative

Requirement purpose
s The essay is approximately 2000 words in length
General APA formatting is present (cover page; font; header,

etc)
The essay incorporates at least 7 external sources
Audience Target audience identified and specific
Audiences needs are identified; audience-based reasoning is

used
Voice, tone, and diction appropriate for the audience
Introduction Introduces the topic and related issues to be addressed
Captures and maintains the readers attention
Writers The writers claim and purpose is directly stated or clearly

Claim implied.
Development Explains background info necessary to understand issues

of Issue and significance
Positions Writer presents and supports each reason in turn
Each reason is tied to a value or belief held by the audience
Each reason is developed in detail and supported with

evidence
Development Summarizes differing viewpoints on the issue
of Rebuttal Refutes or concedes to opposing views effectively
Each refutation is developed in detail and supported with

evidence
Conclusion Returns the discussion to the larger scope
Calls for action or relates topic to a larger context of issues
Leaves strong final impression
Citation and Credible sources selected; reasoning for source choice is

Documentati apparent
on Sources summarized, paraphrased, or quoted as appropriate
Sources incorporated into the text effectively
In-text citations and References page adhere to APA guidelines
Quality of Free of grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors
Writing Organization has purpose and enhances the argument
Topic sentences and transitions used
Quality of Effectively uses appeals to logic, credibility, and emotion
Rhetoric
Effectively uses logical reasoning and avoid fallacious logic
Overall A-
 Writing Project 3: The Persuasive Essay
Below are a few general comments on how to make a good paper better. To learn more about an
issue, click on the link provided. Note that not all errors/issues may be marked. As a professional
student, assume that errors exist even if others do not catch them or mark them.

Audience: This proposal does not target an audience or targets a generic audience
instead of a specific, real audience. Successful communication (in essays, chats, etc.) needs
its message to be tailored to an audiences needs.
Integrated Sources: Material from outside sources are not integrated into the
essays conversation. When bringing in outside sources, make sure to do two things: (1)
introduce it in your own words and (2) follow up with your own analysis or discussion. Doing so
will ensure that the reader understands the materials significance in the discussion.
Redundancy: This essay contains several redundancies and unnecessary repeats.
Watch for phrases or longer passages that repeat words with similar meanings. Words that
don't build on the content of sentences or paragraphs are rarely necessary. Look for extra
words or phrases that do not add to the meaning of the sentence and could be removed.