UMEI 004C

The persuasive essay is an essay that makes a point and supports and develops that point with evidence. This assignment asks you to write a 350 word persuasive essay in response to 2-3 texts you’ve read over the course of the semester. 

Your purpose is to make a point that persuades an educated audience that your opinion is reasonable. Your evidence will come from the texts you’ve read and from your own personal knowledge and insight.  Your language should be descriptive, precise, and persuasive for your chosen audience.  The essay should be approximately 250 words (2-3 pages, typed, double-spaced) in length.                  Your essay should contain the following elements:                Paragraph 1—Introduction and context/background concluding with your thesis                  Paragraph 2—Summary of the main argument(s) against your thesis                Paragraph 3—Subpoint 1 and evidence                Paragraph 4—Subpoint 2 and evidence                Paragraph 5—Subpoint 3 and evidence                Paragraph 6—Conclusion that answers the question “So what?”  (For example, Why should I care?  What should I do?  Why have I learned?)             What the persuasive essay is:1) a means of going beyond the literal content of the source3) a tool to personalize ideas from sources by reacting and making a point4) a means of providing support for that point 

            What the persuasive essay is not:1) a mere expression of personal, unsupported opinion 2) a means of offering only negative criticism of sources while ignoring the positive3) a text that only summarizes sources