114 / Methods of Development
decide to change the organization slightly as you write, but the outline will serve as a
reminder of where you have been and where you must go with the arguments.
STEP 7: Writing—Getting the Arguments on Paper
Use the prewriting notes and outline developed above to write your persuasive para-
graph or paper. Strive to include logical and emotional appeals in proper balance
and to maintain your own credibility.
STEP 8: Revising—Analyzing the Content
As you think through your first draft, ask yourself questions to pinpoint possible
weaknesses:
- Is my subject appropriately debatable and therefore suitable for a persuasive
paper? - Does the paper begin on some common ground so that the reader and I start
with a point of agreement? - Have I included a clear topic or thesis statement, either at the beginning or at
the end? - Have I followed an appropriate plan determined by the reader’s probable
antagonism? - Is the organization clear? In a multi-paragraph paper, have I developed a single
argument in each paragraph? Does each paragraph have a topic sentence,
supporting details, and a conclusion? Have I used suitable transitions both
within and between paragraphs to move from one argument to another
or from the opposing view to my own? [See Chapter 3, Revising, Checking
Structure and Sample Revision for Transition.] - Is the content easy to follow with clear, concise sentences? Are the sentences
developed with the main ideas in the main clauses and the subordinating
ideas in the subordinate clauses? [See Chapter 3, Revising, Sample Revision for
Emphasis and Sample Revision for Sentence Variety.] - Are the supporting arguments logical? Have I included facts, statistics,
examples, or other supporting details to develop the arguments? [See Chapter 3,
Revising, Sample Revision for Specific Detail.] - Have I refuted the major opposing arguments and responded with additional
supporting arguments? Have I dealt with the major arguments and eliminated
from my paper unimportant, even petty ones? - Is the tone appropriate to the subject? [See tone in the Glossary.]
- Have I carefully balanced the logical appeals with the more subtle emotional
appeals?