Description
What advice might you have for someone looking to bring more purpose into their lives? You may choose to discuss your own life or bring in an outside source as well Show a four-part introduction: hook, background info, transition, thesis
The Persuasive/Argument Research Paper
The purpose of a persuasive or argumentation research paper is to get the reader to side with you on a particular
topic for the reasons that you present. The information presented in this packet will serve as a guide to
understanding the elements of a persuasive/ argument paper and to formatting the paper, as well as offer
prewriting strategies and a checklist to verify that the requirements have been met.
Persuasive and argument essays contain some common elements.
They must:
Clarify the relevant values of the topic so that the audience can see the position of the paper.
o Remember that there are many parts of any argument. The topic of the paper should be specific
to the issue that you plan to address.
Present facts that support the side of the argument that you plan to present and to persuade for or
against.
o Facts can consist of statistics, researched information, and other materials that are found in
scholarly journals, government publications and other academic or professional fields.
o Remember to cite all information that is not your own original idea.
Sequence or prioritize the facts in a manner that builds the argument in the most influential way.
o The presentation of facts for the argument should follow the same organization presented when
clarifying the relevant values. The first issue stated in the thesis should be the first topic
approached in the persuasion/ argument section of the paper and so on.
Form and state conclusions.
o The conclusion should never be thought of as just a summary of the essay. If you answer the
question, “So, why am I writing this paper to this audience?” you can create a stronger
conclusion that does what it was intended to do, persuade.
Key Words and Transitional Phrases for Persuasive/Argument Papers
After you begin writing, you may run into difficulties when trying to make transitions between paragraphs or
ideas. Included below are some useful transition words that will be helpful.
accordingly, granted, of course, admittedly, however, on the
one hand, because, in conclusion, on the other hand, but,
indeed, since, certainly, in fact, therefore, consequently, in
summary, thus, despite, moreover, to be sure, even so,
nevertheless, truly
Persuasive Paper Format
INTRODUCTION
1-2 paragraphs tops
PURPOSE: To set up and state one’s claim
OPTIONAL ELEMENTS
Make your introductory paragraph interesting. How can you draw your readers in?
What background information, if any, do we need to know in order to understand your claim? If you
don’t follow this paragraph with a background information paragraph, please insert that info here.
REQUIRED ELEMENTS
STATE your claim (thesis statement) at the end of your introductory paragraph
Thesis Statement:
BACKGROUND PARAGRAPH
1-2 paragraphs tops; Optional (can omit for some papers). Also, sometimes this info is incorporated into
the introduction paragraph (see above).
PURPOSE: Lays the foundation for proving your argument.
Will often include:
o Summary of works being discussed
o Definition of key terms
o Explanation of key theories
SUPPORTING EVIDENCE PARAGRAPH #1
PURPOSE: To prove your argument. Usually is one paragraph but it can be longer.
Topic Sentence: What is one item, fact, detail, or example you can tell your readers that will help them
better understand your claim/paper topic? Your answer should be the topic sentence for this paragraph.
Explain Topic Sentence: Do you need to explain your topic sentence? If so, do so here.
Introduce Evidence: Introduce your evidence either in a few words (As Dr. Brown states ―…‖) or in a
full sentence (―To understand this issue we first need to look at statistics).
State Evidence: What supporting evidence (reasons, examples, facts, statistics, and/or quotations) can
you include to prove/support/explain your topic sentence?
Explain Evidence: How should we read or interpret the evidence you are providing us? How does this
evidence prove the point you are trying to make in this paragraph? Can be opinion based and is often at
least 1-3 sentences.
Concluding Sentence: End your paragraph with a concluding sentence that reasserts how the topic
sentence of this paragraph helps us better understand and/or prove your paper’s overall claim.
SUPPORTING EVIDENCE PARAGRAPH #2 & 3 etc.
Repeat above
COUNTERARGUMENT PARAGRAPH
PURPOSE: To anticipate your reader’s objections; make yourself sound more objective and reasonable.
Usually 1-2 paragraphs
What possible argument might your reader pose against your argument and/or some aspect of your
reasoning? Insert one or more of those arguments here and refute them.
End paragraph with a concluding sentence that reasserts your paper’s claim as a whole.
CONCLUSION PART 1: SUM UP PARAGRAPH
PURPOSE: Remind readers of your argument and supporting evidence
Like the conclusion you were most likely taught to write in High School
Restates your paper’s overall claim and supporting evidence
CONCLUSION PART 2: YOUR “SO WHAT” PARAGRAPH
PURPOSE: To illustrate to your instructor that you have thought critically and analytically about this
issue.
Your conclusion should not simply restate your intro paragraph. If your conclusion says almost the exact
same thing as your introduction, it may indicate that you have not done enough critical thinking during
the course of your essay (since you ended up right where you started).
Your conclusion should tell us why we should care about your paper. What is the significance of your
claim? Why is it important to you as the writer or to me as the reader? What information should you or I
take away from this?
Your conclusion should create a sense of movement to a more complex understanding of the subject of
your paper. By the end of your essay, you should have worked through your ideas enough so that your
reader understands what you have argued and is ready to hear the larger point (i.e. the “so what”) you
want to make about your topic.
Your conclusion should serve as the climax of your paper. So, save your strongest analytical points for
the end of your essay, and use them to drive your conclusion
Vivid, concrete language is as important in a conclusion as it is elsewhere– perhaps more essential,
since the conclusion determines the reader’s final impression of your essay. Do not leave them with the
impression that your argument was vague or unsure.
WARNING: It’s fine to introduce new information or quotations in your conclusions, as long as the new
points grow from your argument. New points might be more general, answering the “so what” question;
they might be quite specific. Just avoid making new claims that need lots of additional support.
Persuasive Essay Evaluation Rubric
Criteria 15 pts 10-14 pts 5-9 pts 1-4 pts Unacceptable
Assignment Student completely
fulfills assignment
requirements
-Process Complete
-Due Dates Met
-Final Copy Submitted
-Format Correct
-Works Cited Incl.
Student completely
fulfills assignment
requirements
Student partially
fulfills assignment
requirements (almost
all)
Student partially
fulfills assignment
requirements (almost
all)
Student’s work in no
way relates to
assignment
Thesis
Student’s thesis is a
clear, arguable, well
developed, and
definitive statement of
position. It answers a
why or how question
Student’s thesis is a
clear and arguable
statement of position
that answers a why or
how question
Student’s thesis is a
clear, arguable
statement of position
Student’s thesis is an
outline of points; it is
not an arguable
statement of position
Student’s work does
not have a thesis
Development Student’s paper
demonstrates a logical,
mature, and thorough
development of points
that support the thesis
Student’s paper
demonstrates adequate
development of points
that support the thesis
Student’s paper
demonstrates an
adequate development
of points that support
the thesis
Student’s paper
presents a superficial
development of points,
many of which do not
support the thesis
Student’s paper does
not present any
evidence of
development of points
that support the thesis
Evidence:
Analysis
Synthesis
Student presents
relevant and fully
analyzed textual
evidence to support the
thesis following the
evidence formula
Student synthesizes
textual evidence and
points back to thesis
statement
Student presents
relevant and
adequately analyzed
textual evidence to
support the thesis-.
Student makes an
attempt at synthesis
Student presents
relevant and partially
analyzed textual
evidence to support the
thesis-.
Student makes an
attempt at synthesis
Student’s textual
evidence is irrelevant
and is not analyzed-.
Student makes no
attempt at synthesis
Student provides no
textual evidence to
support the thesis—
Student makes no
attempt at synthesis
Opposition/
Refutation
Student clearly and
fully explains
opposition and
persuasively refutes it
Student explains
opposition and gives
refutation
Student explains
opposition and gives
refutation
Student does not
include op./ref. in
paper
Student does not
include op./ref. in
paper
Citation Student follows
citation format with
meticulous care.
Includes a complete
works cited list.
Student follows
citation format with
care. Includes a
complete works cited
list.
Student follows
citation format with
meticulous care.
Includes a
partial/mediocre works
cited list.
Student does not
follow citation format.
Does not include
works cited list.
Incomplete or Missing
Conventions Is error-free. Contains minimal
mistakes that do not
interfere with meaning.
Numerous minor errors
often make memoir
difficult to read.
Many errors in
spelling, capitalization,
and punctuation often
interfere with meaning.
Many errors in
spelling, capitalization,
and punctuation often
interfere with meaning.