-^ avoids a second-person point of view so as to avoid antagonizing the reader,
-^ avoids a first-person point of view to help the reader focus on the subject,
rather than on the writer,
-^ uses effective transitions to move the reader smoothly through the evidence,
-^ concludes with a logically reasonable statement of what the reader should do
or think.
Process
Use the following steps to successfully plan, write, and revise a persuasive or argu-
mentative paper.
STEP 1: Prewriting—Focusing on the Subject
The subject for a persuasive paper must be debatable. There is little debate that we
should eat balanced meals, observe the law, pay taxes, or exercise regularly.
To focus on your subject, first write a sentence that indicates what you ultimately
want the reader to do or think. Consider the following examples:
Attend the Homecoming activities.
Vote for Jerrald Kingsingtonne for Eighth District Representative.
Write to the elected representatives to show opposition to relaxed air pollution
laws.
Attend a meeting to support a rezoning proposal.
Buy only U.S.-made products.
Invest in the stock market.
Use vitamin supplements with caution.Now write a sentence that indicates what you want your reader to do or think. This
sentence will direct your topic or thesis sentence. [See topic sentence and thesis sen-
tence in the Glossary, and see Writing a Paragraph and Writing a Multi-Paragraph
Paper in Chapter 2, Writing.]
STEP 2: Prewriting—Studying the Reader’s Positions
Because the persuasive or argumentative paper assumes an antagonistic reader, put
yourself in your reader’s place. Anticipate his or her needs by answering the follow-
ing questions:
- What^ is^ the^ reader’s^ current^ position?
- What^ information^ does^ the^ reader^ have^ or^ not^ have^ that^ is^ relevant^ to^ the^ issue?
110 / Methods of Development