Preview of Persuasive Essays

Formal Essay Assignments
Essay 1:
Write a newspaper column, op-ed piece, or article for a specified newsletter arguing a topic of interest to your interest.

Essay 2:
Write an argumentative essay about some aspect of the "media" (television, radio, print media, electronic media, etc.) which you find interesting.

Essay 3:
Write an argumentative essay about a topic of your choice. Use at least three sources, citing them parenthetically in the text, and include a list of "Works Cited" following MLA format. Length should be a minimum of three full pages (typed, double-spaced). Maximum length should be six pages.
Essay 4:
Write an argumentative essay about a topic of your choice. Your main claim (i.e., thesis) can be any of the three types (fact, value, policy), but you should incorporate appeals to needs and values somewhere in your essay. Use at least three sources, two of which should be current magazine, journal, or newspaper articles; cite uses of your sources parenthetically in the text, and include a list of "Works Cited." Include all of this with every draft, including the first. Failure to cite your sources in your first draft will result in your not receiving credit for that draft on the day it is due.
The minimum length of your text (not including your Works Cited page) is four typed, double-spaced pages, with an upper maximum of about six pages. The first draft is due in class on Tuesday, March 26 for peer critique; the second draft, along with three peer critiques and a typed first draft, will be due in class on Thursday, March 21. I will not accept any essays lacking any of these things. Any late papers (including those returned to students for failing to turn in all required materials) will be penalized on your daily work grade.

Remember, each successive draft of an essay should constitute a substantive change (i.e., REVISION) over the previous draft. Revision includes more than simply changing a few words and/or grammar errors. If your second draft is substantially the same essay as the first draft, I will return it to you for further revision and you will be penalized on your daily work grade accordingly.

Essay 5:
Write an argumentative essay similar to Essays 4 and 5, but this time your topic should pertain to some aspect of the future. While it is not necessary that you speculate or try to predict the future, the essay should somehow look toward the future.
The minimum length of your text (not including your Works Cited page) is four typed, double-spaced pages, with an upper maximum of about six pages. The first draft is due in class on Thursday, April 11, for peer critique; the second draft, along with three peer critiques and a typed first draft, will be due in class on Tuesday, April 16. I will not accept any essays lacking any of these things. Any late papers (including those returned to students for failing to turn in all required materials) will be penalized on your daily work grade.

Remember, each successive draft of an essay should constitute a substantive change (i.e., REVISION) over the previous draft. Revision includes more than simply changing a few words and/or grammar errors. If your second draft is substantially the same essay as the first draft, I will return it to you for further revision and you will be penalized on your daily work grade accordingly.