SUPPLEMENTARY EXERCISES

Persuasive essay is a method in organizing ideas in an essay. It is useful when the writer
tries either to change the way the reader thinks or to influence the reader to do something.
To persuade the reader, the writer gives information to support her/his viewpoint. Then the
writer considers the best argument against her/his viewpoint that an opponent might have
and tries to refuse that argument by showing why it is wrong, weak, or of less importance.
Process of an argument can be summarized:

( writers ideas + evidence) + ( opponents argument + refutation +evidence)
Pros Con
Exercise 1: Study the following refutations. Which methods* do they use( these are merely
refutations, not complete paragraph)?
1. Proposal: Worker should not be forced to retire at age sixty-five
CON and REFUTATION
Those who disagree with this proposal point out that as people grow older their bodies begin
to slow down, and it is risky for them to continue working. Actually, this is true only in one
respect the body does slow down. However, accident rates for those over sixty-five are slightly
less than those for people under 65. How can we explain this? Simply, workers over 65 have far
more experience in their jobs than younger workers, and workers over 65 are far more aware of
their own limitations.
Method?.............................................................................................................................................
...........
2. Proposal: Abortion should be legal
CON and REFUTATION
Pro-life people argue that abortion is the killing of a potential human being. This is
undeniably true. Nevertheless, as has been pointed out, if abortion is illegal, there will be a
dramatic increase in unwanted, neglected, and abused children; the number of women who die
getting illegal, unhygienic abortions will increase greatly; and women will lose what they have
fought so hard for the basic right to control their own bodies. These three points outweigh the
argument of the pro-lifers.
Method?.............................................................................................................................................
...........
3. Proposal: Sex education is appropriate for sixth graders in US school.
CON and REFUTATION
The opponents of this idea claim that most eleven-year olds have not seen information about
sex; therefore, teaching them sex education would put the idea of sex into their minds. Nothing
could be further from the truth; most eleven-year olds have been exposed to sex long before the
sixth grade. For example, the January 1985 Nielsen TV ratings showed that two of the shows
most heavily watched by eight and ten-year olds were the openly sexual Threes company and
Dallas both watched by 69 percent of the children this age. These and other TV shows,
combined with drugstore sex magazines, R rated movies, and even sexy comic books,
expose children to sex long before they are in the sixth grade.
Method?.............................................................................................................................................



Exercise 2:How would you respond to each of the cons listed there.
1. Proposal: Prostitution should not be legalized.
CON: ATTACK AND REFUTATION




2. Religion and government should be separate.
CON: ATTACK AND REFUTATION




3. The world would be better with one language.
CON: ATTACK AND REFUTATION



Exercise 3: Paraphrase and summarize the following sentences:
1. One of the major superiorities of group study is that it provides an environment in which
students can exchange ideas with each other. Another obvious advantage of studying in
group is that students have the opportunity to learn to socialize with others. However, we
should not overlook the fact that studying alone also has its unique merit----effectiveness.










2. Today governments more and more intend to invest hi-tech research because it is
believed that better hi-tech development can push forward a nations development and
improve its national strength. However, I dont think the poor population of a nation
should be neglected in this way; instead, I think government should invest the money on
improving its peoples living standard.