Honors English 11: Controversial Topic Choices & Persuasive Research Paper

Honors English 11: Ms. Stevenson

Honors English 11: Controversial Topic Choices & Persuasive Research Paper

Here are the generic criteria for a “good” topic: you have some passion for it; you want to learn more about it; it’s do-able; it’s current. Traditional “academic” topics are inherently no better or worse than other kinds—professional, civic, personal. That is, a paper on harsher penalties for steroid use in baseball can have as much merit as a paper on tree-ring research methods. I also encourage you to consider local topics—issues that affect the lives of students in Virginia Beach/Ocean Lakes H.S. I encourage you to read The Virginian Pilot and other reputablenewspapers to help you consider potential topics. . Beyond that, I will note that you should choose a topic that is so emotionally charged that readers (audience) will be convinced to formulate the same opinion on the topic. You also have to have an open mind about the topic. Classical argument is not just about persuasion; it’s also about truth seeking.

Parts of a Classical Argument

Although form should take shape as you develop a piece of writing, we will talk about the parts of a classical argument. We will discuss the parts as reminders of the concerns that you, as a writer, need to address. As you work on your argument, you may find it helpful to assume that you will include all parts of a classical argument:

1. Exordium (Introduction): where the writer gains attention and/or establishes credibilityby hooking the audience with a mature and creative opener that provokes thoughts or establishes an emotional connection

1. Narratio (Statement of Background): background or context for the argument such as federal/state/local laws, court cases, facts, quotes, statistics, etc. associated with topic

1. Propositio (Proposition): thesis or major claim

1. Confirmatio (confirmation): proof and evidence in support of the thesis/claim

1. Confutatio (confutation): refutation of opposition viewpoint. Anticipates and argues against the opposing view point. Uses logic and evidence to counter the other side; doesn’t attack or criticize the opposition.

1. Peroratio (peroration): conclusion and/or call for actionrecaps the thesis and offers a

solution. Summarizes your most important points and reflects on the issue at hand. Return to your hook for effect/impact on your reader.

Beyond using the classical argument to format this paper, students will be instructed on the stylistic elements of persuasive writing, which are to be included and assessed in the paper.

A General Summary of Aristotle's Appeals . . .

The goal of argumentative writing is to persuade your audience that your ideas are valid, or more valid than someone else's. The Greek philosopher Aristotle divided the means of persuasion, appeals, into three categories--Ethos, Pathos, Logos.

Ethos (Credibility), or ethical appeal, means convincing by the character of the author. We tend to believe people whom we respect. One of the central problems of argumentation is to project an impression to the reader that you are someone worth listening to, in other words making yourself as author into an authority on the subject of the paper, as well as someone who is likable and worthy of respect.

Pathos (Emotional) means persuading by appealing to the reader's emotions. We can look at texts ranging from classic essays to contemporary advertisements to see how pathos, emotional appeals, are used to persuade. Language choice affects the audience's emotional response, and emotional appeal can effectively be used to enhance an argument.

Logos(Logical) means persuading by the use of reasoning. This will be the most important technique we will study, and Aristotle's favorite. We'll look at deductive and inductive reasoning, and discuss what makes an effective, persuasive reason to back up your claims. Giving reasons is the heart of argumentation, and cannot be emphasized enough. We'll study the types of support you can use to substantiate your thesis, and look at some of the common logical fallacies, in order to avoid them in your writing.

[The above text drawn verbatim from Ramage, John D. and John C. Bean. Writing Arguments. 4th Edition. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon, 1998, 81-82.]

Or The Shorthand Version:

Ethos: the source's credibility, the speaker's/author's authority

Logos: the logic used to support a claim (induction and deduction); can also be the facts and statistics used to help support the argument.

Pathos: the emotional or motivational appeals; vivid language, emotional language and numerous sensory details.

The Art of Rhetoric: Learning How to Use the Three Main Rhetorical Styles

Rhetoric (n) - the art of speaking or writing effectively (Webster's Definition).

According to Aristotle, rhetoric is "the ability, in each particular case, to see the available means of persuasion." He described three main forms of rhetoric: Ethos, Logos, and Pathos. In order to be a more effective writer, you must understand these three terms.

Note: This paper consults no less than 5 sources during the research process: a variety of source types must be used altogether! NO WIKIPEDIA!! The paper must demonstrate 5 persuasive devices/techniques highlighted and labeled directly on the final draft. Your voice (position) must be present in the paper, but avoid “I think” or “my opinion is”! Simply state your position as: Dog fighting is a senseless act that contributes to the abuse and the eventual death of animals; therefore, dog fighting should be outlawed as a form of sports entertainment.

Dates and requirements pertaining to the progression and the development of this paper will be announced as a pacing guide for class/instructional time. You know your capabilities; I only ask that you work to your greatest potential on this assignment. Since a great deal of work, both in and out of English class, will be required for successful completion of this intense writing assignment, the research paper will count 10 times (5) = 50 points using the five point scale!

Sincerely,

Ms. Stevenson

Virginia SOL’s:

A.) 11.13 The student will write in a variety of forms with an emphasis on persuasion.

--11.13.3 Write a multi-paragraph persuasive essay (using a combination of any of the following: opposing views, reliable evidence, facts, sound generalizations, trustworthy opinions, and logical arguments.

B.) 11.3 The student will analyze and evaluate persuasive presentations by self and others. (All enablers)

C.) 11.17 The student will analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and organize information from no less than 5 sources. You must use a combination of any 3 types of sources (i.e. books, web sites, editorials, databases, interviews, etc.)

______

(Student Signature)(Parent Signature)

Basic Rubric for Evaluating the Classical Argument

Feature / 5-Exceptional / 4-Effective / 3-Acceptable / 2-Unsatisfactory / 1-Failure
Topic / The topic and your treatment of it are very interesting to you and to some identified group of readers. / The topic and your treatment of it are moderately interesting to you and to some identified group of readers. / The topic may be interesting to you, but your treatment of it has limited interest to any readers. / You don’t seem that interested in the topic, and you don’t make it very interesting to readers. / Student fails to meet the requirements. No effort is shown to demonstrate knowledge and skills. Objectives are clearly not met.
Parts of the Argument / You use all parts of a classical argument effectively. / A few essential parts are missing or ineffective. / Several essential parts are missing or ineffective. / You offer little or no refutation. /
Use of Appeals / You use an effective balance of logos, ethos, pathos. / You need either more logos or more ethos. / You need more logos and more ethos. / You rely mostly on pathos.
Persuasive Style, Technique, & Tone / Your paper highlights at least 5 persuasive techniques and communicates a convincing tone. / You paper highlights 4 persuasive techniques and/or less convincing and effective. / Your paper highlights 3 persuasive techniques; is inconsistent in persuasive appeal / You paper uses only 2 persuasive techniques rendering the paper non-persuasive.
A Research-Based
Approach / You consistently use research to support your claims. / Some additional researched support is necessary. / Much more researched support is necessary. / You use little researched support.
A Focused-Straightforward Presentation / You stay focused on the parts and how they interact. / You occasionally digress. / You digress frequently. / You digress throughout much of the paper.
Documentation / You’ve carefully documented all of your sources in proper MLA format. Internal citations are correct as well as works cited page / You’ve documented most of your sources carefully. 2 mistakes present on your works cited page. / You’ve documented many but not most of your sources carefully. 3 mistakes on your works cited page. / Documentation is missing or inconsistent. 4 or more mistakes on your works cited page.
Expression- style & mechanics / Your sentences are grammatical and varied; your diction is precise; you’ve carefully attended to conventions of punctuation and mechanics. / Your sentences are grammatical but lack variety; your diction lacks precision in places; you’ve attended to most conventions of punctuation and mechanics. / Some sentences are ungrammatical and lack variety; your diction is vague or imprecise in places; you’ve not consistently attended to conventions of punctuation and mechanics. / Many sentences are ungrammatical and lack variety; your diction is imprecise in many places; you’ve not paid much attention to conventions of punctuation and mechanics.