Student Writing Handbook Fifth+Edition

Persuasion / 117

of big business caused Kinsingtonne to fight for the common man’s pocketbook. Do Eighth Dis-

trict voters want to continue paying increased taxes to provide outsiders with employment?

Little doubt remains, then, who will make the best representative for the Eighth District. Kins-

ingtonne has shown his concern for individual rights and will be aggressive enough to take a

stand that may initially appear to be unpopular. He has an uncanny understanding, however,

of what is best for the most, and he is willing to take risks to fight for the most. So the issues

boil down to three simple questions: Do you want on-the-job harassment? Do you want a

“yes” man in Congress? Do you want increased personal property taxes? If your answer is

a resounding “no” to those questions, you will vote a resounding “yes” for Kinsingtonne next

Tuesday. Vote for a better life for all of us in the Eighth District.

ANALYSIS of THE SAMPLE foR SoCIAL SCIENCES

The preceding five-paragraph theme illustrates most of the characteristics of a good
persuasive paper. Note these specifics:

• The general title omits any reference to the writer’s point of view, thus enticing
  proponents of both sides to read on.


• Beginning on common ground, the writer makes positive comments about
  both candidates. The objective approach in the opening paragraph does not
  antagonize the reader. On the other hand, most political battles are just that—
  battles. So the writer correctly assumes antagonism from at least half of the
  audience.


• The thesis sentence, the last in the introductory paragraph, makes a purposely
  vague reference to one man, thus avoiding the potential of turning off the
  reader before the writer has an opportunity to persuade.


• The organization, following an order of importance, begins with the opposition’s
  strongest argument, the strong stance against illegal drugs. After refuting
  that argument, the following points move to the strongest argument for
  Kinsingtonne. [See order of importance in the Glossary.]


• Using a comparison-and-contrast approach [see Chapter 8, Comparison and
  Contrast], the writer uses only positive comments, never slandering or name-
  calling. She merely establishes the relative strengths of Kinsingtonne.


• By the time she reaches her final argument, the writer has appealed to the
  voter’s sense of self-worth, pocketbook, sense of justice, sense of morality, and
  fear of the future.


• A number of words suggest underlying issues: air and water pollution, increased
  taxes, civil rights, unemployment, economic depression.


• A topic sentence may be either implied or held until the end of a paragraph.
  Both techniques allow the writer subtlety in approaching an antagonistic
  reader.