Organizing and Writing a Persuasive Essay

A successful persuasive essay often follows a specific pattern of organization. As in many other kinds of essays, the first paragraph is an introduction. It identifies the topic of the essay. It may or may not also include a definition of the issue. The introductory paragraph should always include a clear statement of the major proposition of the essay.

The second paragraph in a persuasive essay organized according to this pattern may seem unusual. It does not present a main idea in sup­port of the major proposition. Instead, it briefly states the main argu­ment in opposition to the major proposition. Then it presents a refuta­tion of that argument, a sound reason for not accepting it. This section of the persuasive essay shows the reader that both sides of the issue have been considered and that the writer has good reason not only for supporting one point of view but for rejecting the other.

In the next paragraphs of a persuasive essay, the supporting prop­ositions are presented and developed with evidence. Usually, the most important or effective supporting proposition is presented last, so it can create the strongest impression in the reader's mind.

The concluding paragraph of a persuasive essay usually summarizes the supporting propositions and then presents a restatement of the major proposition.

WORKING WITH THE MODEL

Read the following persuasive essay.

A new kind of program to prevent teenage crime takes young people into prisons, where they spend several hours behind bars with criminals. In the past few years, at least two dozen states have adopted forms of this program. The specific programs are known by different names in differ­ent states, but most people know such programs by the name “Scared Straight”. That is the title of the award-winning TV film made at Rahway State Prison in 1978 and nationally televised in the spring of 1979. The Scared Straight program has grown rapidly and achieved a measure of fame; it cannot, however, be considered an effective deterrent to teenage crime.

The people who have been most impressed by the Scared Straight program maintain that it shocks and frightens young people away from lives of crime. But a few frightening hours are not enough to change a teenager’s life. Today's young people need guidance and assistance in developing successful lives apart from criminal activities. Without such guidance and assistance, society cannot hope that teenagers will gain any long-lasting benefits from the “shock treatment” offered by Scared Straight.

Furthermore, evaluators of the Scared Straight program must consider this question: can a short visit give anyone a true sense of prison life?

During their brief prison visits, young people are exposed to hard language. They see the harsh conditions of prison life. But they cannot possibly sense the crushing boredom and the overwhelming feeling of isolation that are the worst parts of a prison term. A visitor to a prison is necessarily unable to understand or even fully imagine the worst aspects of being an inmate. In fact, some teenagers may find a short prison visit exciting - or even glamorous.

The “Scared Straight” film claimed an 80 to 90 percent success rate for the program; many informed people consider that claim is based more on guesswork and hearsay than on detailed research. A study of the Rahway program was conducted by the Rutgers University School of Criminal justice. This study revealed that 41 percent of the teenagers in the program committed serious crimes within six months after being “scared straight”. That means that after only half a year, the success rate had fallen below 60 percent. Worse yet, the study found that some teens who had no criminal records when they went through the program broke the law later.

The Scared Straight program, then, ignores the causes of teenage crime, fails to give young people an accurate impression of prison life, and has been shown in at least one scientific study to fail in achieving its claimed success rate. The effectiveness of this program as a deterrent to teenage crime remains, at best, questionable.

Scott R. Benarde

Adapted from “Scared Straight - Does It Work?”

A. Think about the organization and development of this persuasive essay:

1. What is the topic of the essay? How is that topic introduced in the first paragraph?

2. What major proposition is presented in the first paragraph?

3. What main opposing argument is presented in the second paragraph? How is that argument refuted?

4. What two supporting propositions are presented in the third and fourth paragraphs of the essay? What evidence develops the supporting proposition in each of those paragraphs?

5. Which supporting proposition is considered more important? What position does it have in the essay?

6. What is included in the conclusion of the essay?

SUMMARY

· The introductory paragraph of a persuasive essay presents the major proposition.

· The second paragraph presents and refutes the most important argu­ment in opposition to the major proposition.

· The next paragraphs present the supporting propositions and de­velop them with evidence.

· The concluding paragraph summarizes the supporting propositions and restates the major proposition.

DRAFTING

1). Reread the major proposition & supporting propositions you write for the previous lesson. Put a check mark beside the supporting proposition that you consider most important.

2). List the facts & details you will use as evidence to develop each of your supporting propositions.

3). Think about the arguments in opposition to your major proposition. Write a phrase that identifies the most important opposing argument. Then write another phrase that identifies your refutation argument.

COMPOSING

Using your notes from the Drafting activities, write a persuasive essay. In the 1^st paragraph of your essay, identify your topic & present your major proposition. In the 2^nd paragraph, present & refute the most important argument against your major proposition. In the next paragraphs, present & develop your supporting propositions; the most important supporting proposition should be presented last. In the concluding paragraph, summarize your supporting propositions & restate your major proposition.

REVISING

Read your persuasive essay carefully, & ask yourself the following questions:

· What changes, if any, are needed to make the introductory paragraph clearer & more convincing?

· How has the major opposing argument been refuted? What changes, if any are needed in that refutation?

· What evidence develops each of the supporting propositions? What other facts & details, if any, should be added?

· Which supporting proposition is the most convincing? Where is it developed?

· What final impression does the conclusion make? What changes, if any, are needed to make that paragraph clearer?

Revise your essay so that it is clear & convincing. After you have made any necessary changes you may need to recopy your essay.

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