Persuasive/Persuade

www.roanestate.edu/owl
To write a persuasive paper, youll need to use evidence and good reasons to
convince others to agree with your point of view on a particular subject.
Select a good topic! If you don't care about your topic, how are you going to get
anyone else to? Youll also need to conduct effective research, obtaining facts
and evidence to support your ideas.
As you begin the research process, ask yourself:
1. What type of information would I need to use in order to convince
someone that I'm right?
2. What facts, statistics, and evidence would an audience want to see?
3. Are there any experts on this topic that I could quote in my essay?
The answers to these questions should help you determine what key words you'll
want to use, as you begin searching for sources.
How is this different from a typical research paper?
Its important to remember that a persuasive essay doesn't simply report
information (like a typical research paper would)--it uses that information to
make an argument or prove a point!
Typical Research Paper on Biofuels

Persuasive Paper on Biofuels*

Popular interest in the use of

biofuels developed in the 19th Century
when "Henry Ford and Rudolf Diesel
supported the notion"*.

Though the public has been interested in

biofuels for decades, "biofuels have
attained the greatest political momentum,
in part because they promise lucrative new
markets for farm products."*

Biofuels are, to a certain extent, already

being used. In fact, "nearly all the
gasoline sold in the United States today is
mixed with 10 percent ethanol, known as
E10."*

Despite the clear benefits that biofuels

provide, many Americans
wonder, "whether the 33 percent of the
U.S. corn crop diverted to ethanol drives
up the price of food."*

*Evidence taken from: http://www.nytimes.com/info/biofuels/

What should my thesis statement look like?
A persuasive thesis statement is a one-sentence description of your topic AND
the argument that you plan to make. For example, if I was arguing about the use
of the death penalty in the U.S., my thesis statement would probably look like
one of the following examples:
The death penalty gives rights to humans that should only be given to
God; therefore, the death penalty should be abolished in the United States.
1

 The death penalty forces murderers to give their own lives as a just
punishment for taking someone else's life; therefore, we should continue
to use this form of punishment in the United States. Please correct the
error as it reduces your web site's credibility.
Notice that both thesis statements not only tell us WHAT the essay will be about,
but also WHERE THE AUTHOR STANDS on that issue (his or her opinion)
and briefly explain WHY. Make sure that your thesis statement includes these
three elements too!
Cause & Effect
To write a cause and effect essay, youll need to determine a scenario in
which one action or event caused certain effects to occur. Then, explain what
took place and why! This essay allows us to identify patterns and explain why
things turned out the way that they did.
How do I choose a topic and get started? Try choosing a major event, either
in your own life or an event of historical significance. For example, The
Great Depression.
Cause of The Great Depression: stock market crash
How would we elaborate? We'd discuss the behaviors, carelessness, errors,
and even cultural attitudes that led to the crashexplaining why it was
devastating.
Effects of the Great Depression: joblessness & poverty
What should we say about the effects?
Businesses went underexplain HOW the crash caused this
Describe poverty in detailexplain how this couldve been handled more
efficiently or even avoided
Narrowing a Large Topic
In a short essay, it might be difficult to tackle the cause and all of the many
effects of a big event like the Great Depression. To narrow a cause and effect
topic down to a manageable size, ask yourself
1. What's the main (most important) cause? Most people attribute it to
the stock market crash, so that's a good place to start.
2. Can I break the different types of effects down into categories? Yes! I'll
break my ideas down into categories like: economic, social,
employment, practical, and morale effects. (example below)
3. Which category interests me the most? "Practical effects" is the most
interesting. I'll narrow the topic of my paper down so thatmy essay will
now be about how the stock market crash affected the practical ways
that people lived their lives during the Great Depression.
Can that category be broken down even further to make the topic more
manageable? I'm actually interested in the ways that the Great Depression
affected the farming industry. I want to talk about the new skills and methods
that farmers were forced to learn and implement, as a result of their difficult
situation.
2

Narrowing a Large Topic - Example

Can I break the different types of effects down into categories? Yes! I'll
break my ideas down into categories like: economic, social, employment,
practical, and morale effects.
Economic

Social

Employment Practical

money loses
value

poverty
increases

jobs
eliminated

companies
lose value

homelessness
increases

farming
employers pay
techniques
lower wages
change

Morale

public
low selfresourcefulness
esteem
increases

public wastes
banks lose the orphanages fill forced to work less, finds
public's trust up
longer hours creative ways
to save

men
emasculated
by job loss
patriotism
declines

Student sample
The Desired Look: Nothing But Bones
by Rebecca Patton
It seems like every little girl dreams of becoming a model. They want to be thin
and pretty like the models they see on television and in magazines. Often the
desire becomes an obsession and young girls see thinness as being a needed
characteristic. For most girls, the teenage years are spent trying to acquire this
look. Females are trying diets and are exercising like it is a competition to see
who can lose the most weight the quickest. The obsession of many young girls
over their appearance or weight has led to a growing number of people who
have developed an eating disorder to try to deal with their lack of self-esteem or
other related problems.
Eating disorders are a serious health problem. Personal Counseling & Resources
says that eating disorders are characterized by a focus on body shape, weight,
fat, food, and perfectionism and by feelings of powerlessness and low selfesteem. Three of the most common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa,
bulimia nervosa, and binge eating or compulsive eating disorder. According to
Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders, a person with anorexia
refuses to maintain normal body weight for age and height and weighs 85
percent or less than what is what is expected for age and height. A person
diagnosed with bulimia has several ways of getting rid of the calories such as
binge eating, vomiting, laxative misuse, exercising, or fasting. The person might
3

have a normal weight for their age and height unless anorexia is present. The
signs of a compulsive eater include eating meals frequently, rapidly, and
secretly. This person might also snack and nibble all day long. The compulsive
eater tends to have a history of diet failures and may be depressed or obese
(Anred.com).
There are many reasons that can contribute to the cause of eating disorders. One
of the main reasons seems to be the obsession over every little pound a person is
wearing. Sometimes low self-esteem or depression from any number of causes
can usher in the eating disorder. Other times compulsive exercising can help
shed the pounds but leave the enthused unhealthy looking.
There are other possible causes to this widely known health problem. The media
bestows a great deal of beauty and thinness on television and magazines that are
viewed by many people daily. Everyone has the desire to look like the actors and
actresses do but, in reality, it just will not happen for most of us. Abuse, whether
it be physical, emotional, or sexual, can also contribute to the development of an
eating disorder (Something-Fishy.com). Such abuse to victims can leave them
with a lack of trust and low self-esteem. An unfavorable relationship a person
has with others is also a contributing factor to disordered eating habits. The
world is so competitive that any mention from parents, siblings, peers,
significant others, or co-workers about a persons weight or appearance can lead
to the onset of an eating disorder.
There really is no single reason that a person acquires an eating disorder. Many
factors are considered when making a diagnosis for a person with this problem.
Causes like the ones mentioned above play such an important role in eating
disorders. Is it really so important that in order to look like the super models
people are willing to give up food and starve themselves to death for a little
satisfaction on the outside? The look of a person on the inside is what really
matters.
Works Cited
Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders, Inc. Definitions. Welcome.
17 Sept. 2000.
<http://anred.com/defs.html> 19 Sept. 2000.
Personal Counseling and Resources. Eating Disorders. Personal Counseling
and Resources.
22 Nov. 1997. <http://www.coun.uvic.ca/personal/eating.html> 13 Sept. 2000.
Something Fishy. Abuse. Website on Eating Disorders. 5
Sept.2000.<http://www.
something-fishy.org/prevention/abuse.php> 13 Sept. 2000.
Something Fishy. Anorexia Nervosa. Website on Eating Disorders. 5 Sept.
2000. <http://www. something-fishy.org/whatarethey/anorexia.php> 13 Sept.
2000.
Compare/Contrast
4

To write a compare/contrast essay, youll need to make NEW connections and/or

express NEW differences between two things. The key word hereis NEW!
1. Choose 2 things that could go in the same category, but are also quite
different. Good choices might be:
o Basketball & Football (both sports)
o Horses & Cats (both animals, but different in many ways)
o Writing & Singing (both art forms, but different in many ways)
2. Gather your ideas by writing down characteristics of each
thing. Note the differences and similarities between them.
3. Ask yourself these important questions before you begin writing your
draft:
o Does my instructor want me to compare AND contrast, or am I only
being asked to do one of those things?
o Are these 2 things similar and/or different, in at least
one meaningful way?
o Do I know enough about my topic to write an effective
compare/contrast essay about it?
Does my instructor want me to compare AND contrast, or am I only being
asked to do one of those things?
Some instructors prefer that you only write about the differences between two
things, while others want you to focus on explaining the similarities as well.
Either way, you'll need to make sure that your thesis statement reflects your
instructor's expectations. For example, if I wanted to write about Social
Networking sites, I'd need to write different thesis statements depending on my
compare/contrast assignment.
Sample thesis statement for contrast paper: In terms of social networking
sites, Facebook focuses on presenting your daily life to others, whereas
MySpace allows you to focus more on demonstrating your personal style.
Sample thesis statement for compare/contrast paper: While both Facebook
and MySpace allow you to meet other users who have similar interests, only
MySpace allows you to demonstrate your personal style.
Are these 2 things similar and/or different, in at least one meaningful way?
If you want to write a successful compare/contrast essay, you'll need to avoid
writing about really obvious differences and similarities. For example:
We all know that horses are larger than cats.
We also know that basketball teams contain less players than football
teams.
Tell us something we don't know (or might not notice)!
It would be better to write about how sensitive both horses and cats are to
human needs and emotions. You could also suggest that though both basketball

and football require a lot of teamwork, basketball players are expected to be a

lot more versatile than football players.
You don't have to be a genius to write an interesting compare/contrast essay-you just have to look at ordinary things in a new way!
Do I know enough about my topic to write an effective compare/contrast
essay?
Unless you're being asked to do some research as part of your compare/contrast
project, make sure that you choose 2 things that you feel comfortable discussing,
at length.
Your instructor may ask for multiple similarities and differences--make sure
you're prepared to write a well-developed, meaningful essay on a topic that you
know well before you get started!
Organizing Your Compare and Contrast Paper
There are two primary ways to organize your compare and contrast paper.
Chunking: placing all of the information for each individual subject in one
place (chunk), and then using similarities as transitions.
Heres a sample outline:
I. Jane is distinct because
II. Jane is similar to Alice in these ways
III. Alice is distinct because
Piecing: giving pieces of the information for each individual subject in each
paragrapharranging the information by topic rather than by subject.
Heres a sample outline:
I. Differences and Similarities in Jane and Alices appearances
II. Differences and Similarities in Jane and Alices backgrounds
III. Differences and Similarities in Jane and Alices interests
Shades of Being Human
by Ella Berven
Student Sample: Comparison/Contrast, Alternating Pattern
Alice Walker and Maya Angelou are two contemporary African-American
writers. Although almost a generation apart in age, both women display a
remarkable similarity in their lives. Each has written about her experiences
growing up in the rural South, Ms. Walker through her essays and Ms. Angelou
in her autobiographies. Though they share similar backgrounds, each has a
unique style which gives to us, the readers, the gift of their exquisite humanity,
with all of its frailties and strengths, joys and sorrows.
Tragedy struck both of these women at the age of eight. Ms. Walker lost her
sight in one eye. Ms. Angelou was raped. Each described the incident as part of
a larger work. Ms. Walker related her experience in the body of an essay
published in her book, In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens. Ms. Angelou told
her story as a chapter in her autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.
6

Although both wrote about their traumatic experience, the way each depicted the
incident was distinct and seemed to be told for very different purposes.
Alice Walker reports the facts to the reader with short sentences written in the
present tense. She chooses words which elicit a forceful emotional response
from her audience. For example, in telling how her brothers were given BB
guns and she was not, Ms. Walker writes, "Because I am a girl, I do not get a
gun. Instantly, I am relegated to the position of Indian." The word "relegated"
causes the reader to be irate and indignant. Most people do not like being
"relegated" to anything. Another illustration of Ms. Walker's use of dynamic
words can be found in her description of the encounter with her parents
following the accident. She speaks of being "confronted" by her parents.
"Confronted" is a combative word. When people are confronted by others, they
want to launch an attack. Her style and choice of words make the reader aware
that she is alone and fearful. She is left to fight her battles by herself.
Maya Angelou narrates her account in a conversational tone. She uses the past
tense which tells her audience "it's over" for her. Her words are free from
severity. They encourage the reader to see hope in the midst of sadness. Instead
of trying to elicit a particular emotional response, Angelou invites her audience
to share in her thoughts and feelings. For instance, having given an account of
the rape, she writes, "I thought I had died--I woke up in a white-walled world,
and it had to be heaven." The reader feels a connection with her pain, yet
realizes redemption lies close at hand. Whereas Walker tells how she was
confronted by her parents, Angelou explains,"she [mother] picked me up in her
arms and the terror abated for a while." There is no impression of
combativeness. There is only tenderness and care. Once again, she invites the
reader in. Walker wants the reader to feel for her; Angelou wants her audience
to feel with her. They achieve their objectives by directing the reader's attention
to specific emotions.
The emotional focus of Alice Walker's story is rage, red-hot and isolating. As I
read this piece, I became livid, not only at the thought of her devastating injury
and her family's apparent disassociation, but also at Ms. Walker herself. It
appeared to me that she never let go of it. Instead, she seemed to embrace her
anger.
On the other hand, Ms. Angelou's anger is subtle and short-lived. Though I was
incensed by what happened to her, she quietly insisted that I leave it behind.
She concentrated less on her anger and more on the warmth and support of her
family.
It would be impossible not to address the ways in which both women refer to the
intense physical pain each of them suffered as little girls. Ms. Walker gives little
description of her anguish, but I clearly felt it. When I read, ". . . I feel an
incredible blow in my right eye . . ." and, "my eye stings, and I cover it with my
hand," my immediate response was to quickly cover my eye with my hand. My
body reacted to her pain.
7

Ms. Angelou's description produced another effect. She wrote, "Then there was
the pain. A breaking and entering when even the senses are torn apart." Instead
of a physical reaction, I felt a wrenching of the heart. Ms. Walker focused my
attention on the injury to her body, while Ms. Angelou focused on her emotional
scars.
My most powerful emotional response throughout both stories was one of
incredible sorrow. I felt the tremendous weight that sadness and despair can fold
around a heart, not only for a child's trauma, but also for the devastating
repercussions that tragedy can produce--loss of dignity, self-esteem, and
childhood itself. I wanted to comfort them both. However, by the end of Ms.
Walker's account of the incident, I not only wanted to comfort her, I wanted to
shield her as well. Her wounds were still open. At the end of her narrative, she
wrote, "Now when I stare at people--a favorite pastime up to now--they will
stare back. Not at the 'cute' little girl, but at her scar. For six years, I do not
stare at anyone, because I do not raise my head." I wanted to intervene and help
her.
Although in Ms. Angelou's story I yearned to comfort the child, it was obvious
that the adult Maya Angelou did not need my protection. She ended her account
with these words:
I would have liked to stay in the hospital the rest of my life. Mother
brought flowers and candy. Grandmother came with fruit and my
uncles clumped around and around my bed, snorting like wild horses.
When they were able to sneak Bailey in, he read to me for hours.
Her family loved her all the way through her trauma, and she moved from
despair to hope with their help.
Alice Walker and Maya Angelou are both extremely courageous writers. From
each we receive a rare and poignant gift. As her book suggests, Alice Walker
challenges us to search for resolution in the face of loneliness and despair.
Maya Angelou, who "knows why the caged bird sings," reminds us that
loneliness and despair never have the last word. She gently points us to a
window of hope. Both women bless us with shades of being human.
McDonald's and Fox's Diner
by William Gipson
Student Sample: Comparison/Contrast, Divided Pattern
McDonald's and Fox's Diner are two of the restaurants in Lake City, Tennessee.
But even though they both sell hamburgers in the same town, they don't have
anything else in common. They cater to different types of customers, there is a
noticeable difference in service speed, and every facet of doing business is
handled differently. Even the atmosphere of these two places is in contrast.
These two restaurants do not compete for the same customers. McDonald's is
located just off the interstate, so many of their patrons are not local residents.
8

Another reason is that they are universally known. Fox's is further away from
the interstate. Aside from the over-the-road truck drivers who know the area,
most of the Diner's customers are local residents. As well as targeting different
customers from Fox's Diner, McDonald's also places more emphasis on speed.
McDonald's makes job specialization an integral part of their operation. They
crank meals out on an assembly line. They use computers to take orders,
automatic timers to assist in cooking, and radio headsets to communicate. Even
the color scheme used by McDonald's promotes speed. Studies show that loud
colors like red and yellow increase customer turnover. With the exception of
handling money, tasks are shared by the staff at the diner and there isn't anything
high-tech about the operation.
Fox's Diner is a world away from the bland, impersonal McDonald's just a few
miles north. It sits on the right side of a two-lane highway leading into town.
The Diner serves both as a truck stop and as the restaurant for a small motel next
door. The parking lot looks vacant until about five in the morning because it is
large enough to accommodate a dozen tractor trailers. Years of use have left
potholes and a patchwork of asphalt that resembles a moth-eaten quilt.
The diner itself is a doublewide trailer set high on a five foot, cinderblock
foundation. An aluminum awning extends outward about six feet along the front
of the building. Underneath the awning, yellow fluorescent lights, which
theoretically do not attract bugs, glow at night. They are mounted over a row of
metal framed, screened-in windows. To reduce heating and air-conditioning
costs, as well as keep the interior floor clean, an entrance was built about
fourteen years ago outside the original entrance. Concrete steps covered with
brown patio turf lead to the front door. Walking inside is like traveling back in
time twenty years.
Trans Ams, Lucky Strikes, and eight-track tape players are some of the things
that come to mind when walking in. The white tile floor is always clean;
however, it has yellowed with age and feels rough under your shoes because it
has never been waxed. A counter runs half the length of the diner. Even though
the stools that sit in front of it aren't permanently attached to the floor, they still
sit in the same places they were in thirty-five years ago. So over the years, the
counter has been worn smooth by countless elbows. Four booths are at one end
of the diner. The benches are covered in green and brown plastic, and they
surround yellow formica tables. A jukebox also sits there, usually playing an old
song by George Jones or Willie Nelson. A blue haze of smoke hangs around the
lights.
A room has been added to the far end of the diner. It holds a cigarette machine
and an old Donkey Kong Junior video game that hasn't been played in so long
that the words "game over" are permanently etched into the picture tube. There
are also two pinball machines that see slightly more use than the video game.
Four machines labeled "for entertainment only" are where the money is made.
They are video poker machines, and they draw truck drivers, housewives, and
9

anyone else easily addicted to gambling the same way an Indian reservation
casino does. People come in with rolls of quarters and grab a stool. They get that
dull look in their eyes. Some smoke like a freight train while others light up and
the cigarette never touches their lips again. It just rests between their fingers and
burns down to the filter. The winners don't get excited. They just walk to the
register and collect their money. But they are few and far between.
The same people have worked here since before I was born. A lady named
Millie runs the place. She has a poodle name Midnight. Originally, Midnight
was black. But at almost twenty years old, he's as white as a snow drift. Even
when he was young, he could be found curled up behind the candy-bar counter.
Maybe that is the key to his longevity. Once a year, Millie goes to the beach for
a week's vacation. This year she went to Myrtle Beach while it rained. Last year,
a motel in Daytona put a five-dollar charge on all the long distance credit calls
she made. Her vacations are a big topic of conversation.
The McDonald's in Lake City could be one of a million other franchises across
the continent. Like many others, it is located just off the interstate. And like all
the others, it has the same famous sign on two seventy-five foot, brown, steel
poles that are in clear view for miles before encountering the interstate exit. The
parking lot is well-thought-out and easy to navigate. There are no potholes here
that could swallow a Minta. The asphalt gets an annual coat of sealant and large
white arrows direct the flow of traffic. Concrete curving borders the pavement to
prevent anyone from parking on the grass or the mulch where durable
evergreens have been planted.
Like thousands of other McDonald's across the country, this one has a
playground to attract people with kids. It is surrounded by a wrought-iron fence
to keep kidnappers out and children penned in. A two-story, plastic structure
stands in the middle of the playground resembling some sort of alien
architecture. It is made out of the same 50 percent consumer, recycled plastic
that the roof tiles, trays, and happy meal toys are made of. This is "green
marketing," designed to appeal to environmentally conscious customers.
An automatic teller machine has been installed in the parking lot beside the
playground. It belongs to Nation's Bank--a big multinational conglomerate just
like Ronald McDonald. Not only does this machine make it easier to pay for a
meal, it also gives a big bank the opportunity to charge one dollar for a service
that is performed by a computer for less money than it could be performed by a
bank employee.
This McDonald's is as stereotypical on the interior as it is on the exterior. Instead
of a jukebox, they have a television that is always tuned to the Country Music
Channel. This gives the customers something to watch as well as listen to, so
they aren't put into the awkward position of having to speak to one another. The
Country Music Channel always features a new star, such as Ricky Lynn Gregg
or Rick Travino. They sound like they are trying to have a hick accent. They
10

don't sound like Johnny Cash or Willie Nelson; they sound like dime-store
cowboys. They are like formica countertops that attempt to look like wood.
The latest video games are constantly stuffed through the arcade in the front of
the restaurant. Instead of paying with cash, these pay off with tickets that can be
traded for a coke or a box of cookies. Just keep feed the machines quarters, and
eventually enough tickets will come out. The noise can be nerve-wracking, but
very profitable.
Like all their other restaurants, this one is redecorated every few years. Nothing
is permanent here, what looks good today will be dated and trendy in three
years. Consumption on this scale is conspicuous and gaudy, especially when
McDonald's never fails to advertise their recycling program.
But McDonald's can't be condemned for being successful. They have done a lot
of things right. Since they're a franchise, everyone follows the same business
plan. This lets the customer know exactly what to expect whenever he pulls into
McDonald's. That is an advantage independent restaurants will have to live with.
But Americans do not support small businesses the same way they once did. The
famous arches that identify McDonald's are a catalyst that people respond to like
dumb animals in a laboratory experiment. Instead, we should give the little guy
a chance whenever possible. Even though we cannot always support small
business, we should try if the produce is comparable and the price is
competitive. A car or personal computer made by a small business wouldn't be a
good investment. But a house built by an independent contractor would certainly
compare favorably to a particle board house built by Clayton Homes. And Fox's
Diner makes a better hamburger than the soybean sandwich McDonald's
markets.
Instructor: Gerald Poulin

11