The aim of this 5-6 page sourced essay is to draw on all the rhetorical skills you have been building in this course so far in order to write a persuasive essay. For this paper, you’ll need to choose an issue you care about, and take a stance on the issue. (Note that the next assignment in this unit—the advocacy assignment—encourages you to draw on the research for this persuasive assignment. You might consider using your civic issue blog topic as a starting point here.)

When considering sources, think about not only book/journal article/academic studies/Internet-type sources, but also first-hand research like interviews, surveys, testimonials, observation, experiments, etc.

It’s important that this paper have a well defined audience, which might include a specific venue—will the paper take the form of a Sunday Times Op-ed piece? A short article in your favorite music magazine? A piece in a local mainstream or alternative paper? When thinking about the audience, ask yourself “who cares about this issue?” And perhaps more importantly, “who should care about this issue?” And “who can help change the shape of the issue?”

For this paper you’ll not only want to pay attention to the rhetorical situation and what appeals (ethos, logos) might work with the audience, but you’ll also need to attend to arrangement (order of arguments and sources) and style and how these rhetorical concerns overlap. You should also consider others’ views on the topic—how might you address those (without just attacking them)?

The goals of this assignment are as follows:

1. To demonstrate cumulative rhetorical skills, including an awareness of rhetorical situation, including the ability to identify the “stasis” or the place where an issue is ready for persuasive argument.
2. To draw on appropriate outside sources and to deploy rhetorical strategies when necessary in support of a persuasive case.
3. To attend to matters of rhetorical style, arrangement (order of arguments), and tone in order to connect appropriately and effectively with the audience.
4. To convey a sense of commitment to the issue by offering inventive and compelling arguments—e.g., not just going through argumentative motions.