Persuasive essay persuade your audience that your theory is one that promotes a healthy society

Natadecha-Sponsel in her article “Individualism as an American Cultural Values” critiques a number of cultural norms. Individualism and collectivism are theories of patterns of social and psychological behaviors that are seen to distinguish countries on many levels: social, familiar, intellectual, psychological, educational, artistic, political, economic, medical and business.

• Your assignment: now that you have been exposed to the two patterns of social behavior ‘individualism’ and ‘collectivism’,YOUR ASSIGNMENT: is to persuade your audience that your theory of choice is one that promotes a healthy society (in light of any three levels of your choice)

• The Rhetorical Situation:
? Your purpose is persuasive (obviously it must be informative too).
? Your audience is the educated adult public who holds an opposite view to yours.
? Your context is national sustenance and development.

• Resourcing: In addition to Natadecha-Sonsel’s article, you are expected to use at least four more resources. Your resources must be a combination of books and scholarly articles from the library database. Google articles are not allowed. A number of online articles have been provided on ilearn some of which might be useful. To avoid unintentional plagiarism, remember to keep track of your quotations, paraphrases, citations and references.

• Explore three premises in favor of your claim (position). Use any combination of rhetorical strategies ranging from definition, causal analysis, comparison, process and illustration, classification are relevant patterns for persuasion, in addition to other patterns you find necessary to develop your main ideas. The bottom line is to be effective in the use of these strategies.

• Each premise must then be backed up with a combination of 3 types of evidence and facts and pertinent examples.

• Some issues to note:
? Clearly defined terms
? Fair use of information
? Avoiding logical fallacies that weaken your position
? Avoiding emotionally charged language
? Depending primarily on Logos for persuasion
? Documentation

IMPORTANT:

• Do your research and keep track of your resources, but your paper must carry your voice and not be resource driven; resources are used only for the purpose of providing evidence; more paraphrasing than quotations.

• Examine the outline that is provided in the assignment folder as a guide for the structure and organization of your essay.

• Write your essay; be aware of audience and voice. As a controversial issue, it is possible that you will slip into emotionally charged language and ethical matters. Create a balance between logos, pathos and ethos. Pay attention that tone is not condescending, superior, or degrading to the reader. Words such ‘obviously’, ‘surely’, ‘without a doubt’, are almost always an indication of the irrational or unreasonable. Be sure to convince and not offend.

• Review your in-text citations and Reference LisT

• Browse the Review Sheet to get a sense of what is expected.

• Your first draft must be written whole heartedly as if it were your final essay, with lots of thought and care to format, organization, content and language. Pay close attention that your paper brings out your voice and is not sources driven

• YOUR THESIS STATEMENT must be clear, eloquent and underlined at the end of the introduction. Your main ideas must be clearly identified and your evidence must not be repetitive or a summary of the resources.

***OUTLINE:***

I. INTRODUCTION:

A. Background
1. Frame of reference
a. What is the issue???
b. What is the nature of the problem (cultural, political, educational, etc or even a combination of those)

B. Historical Background (you don’t want to get into the specifics but just general statements to help the reader understand the onset and development of the controversy)
1. Far past (beginnings: when did the issue start becoming a controversy)
2. Near past (development, generally and briefly)
a. Development/lack of development
b. Changes in the role/function
3 Presently
a. Clear statement of the current status of the issue (resolved/unresolved)
b. Division in attitude towards the claim (what are the existing ‘camps’)
c. Rationale for approaching the issue (why is it important to continue discussing this matter?)
4 Assumptions (while these are necessary in argumentation, it is good to know ahead of time on what basis are you making the claim?)
a. Assumption 1 (briefly)
b. Assumption 2 (briefly)

C. Claim : an eloquent statement that reflects your clear position on the controversy; avoid announcements and try to keep the personal pronouns out of it.
II. DEVELOPMENT:
A. Premise 1 (Reason why claim is worthy of trust)
1. Definition of terms (this does not have to be a section on its own; definitions may be incorporated where needed; this is being audience conscious)
a. Denotation
b. Connotation
2. Narrative research and/or empirical research (evidence)
a.
b.
c.
d.
3. Expert opinion / Case Studies and / or testimonials (another kind of evidence)
a.
b.
4. Illustration (one extended example)

B. Premise 2 (Reason why claim is worthy of trust)
1. Definition of terms (this does not have to be a section on its own; definitions may be incorporated where needed; this is being audience conscious)
a. Denotation
b. Connotation

2. Narrative research and/or empirical research (evidence)

a.
b.
c.
d.
3. Expert opinion / Case Studies and / or testimonials (another kind of evidence)
a.
b.
4. Illustration (one extended example)
C. Causal analysis chain
1. If claim is faulty ?effect 1?effect 2?ultimate effect
2. If claim is true ? effect 1?effect 2 ? ultimate effect (be creative and don’t just add the opposite)

D. Comparison as an illustration (a good strategy to make things clearer; the alternate form us simple to understand and more concise; use universal examples that the reader can relate to; choose to second i )

 
III. CONCLUSION :

A. Summary of main points

B. Confirmation of the claim/your position

C. Future prospect

1. Call for action (mental, emotional, behavioral or a combination)

2. A suggestion of a process to implement change

3. Limitations of the paper (no need to get into details but a general statement e.g while this paper has tried to cover as many aspects of the issue, it remains limited in its scope)

4. Suggested further subtopic (this is usually a very relevant issue which will take the issue further; general simple statement e.g. further exploration of the X can enhance the chances of Y)
Format:

1.Assignment conventions are met:

• Personal information
• Margins
• Spacing
• Font
• Continuous page numbers
• Printing
• Indentation
2. Draft submission:
• Safe assigned by due date (with review sheet as first page)
3. Final submission:
• Safe assigned by due date (with review sheet as first page)

Organization :

1. Essay follows the outline guide in organization.
2. Introduction includes the background and the thesis statement. The purpose is apparent to the reader.
3. Background includes:
• a historical context for the topic
• its development/or lack of development
• current status of the issue
• assumptions
• a clear claim of the position
4. Development includes:
• a minimum of two premises, each supported by definitions, a narrative research, case study/minimum of two major details
• 2 causal chains explored with major and minor details
• illustration in the form of a comparison
• one other relevant strategy
5. Ideas are arranged clearly and logically to advance the thesis:
• Smooth flowing for thematic unity
• Effective linking for organizational coherence
6. Conclusion includes:
• summary of main idea
• confirmation of thesis
• the future prospect (call for action, suggestion of a process, limitation of the paper, and suggestion for further work)