Sullivan
ENG I Advanced
Persuasive Essay Assignment
Assignment: Write a persuasive essay.
Your paper must be typed in MLA format.
Two grades are associated with this paper:
Rough draft/Ratiocination & Peer Edit: Quiz grade due on ___________________
Final essay: Major grade – due on turnitin.com on or before _____________________
Your task is to choose a side, develop your argument by presenting reasons for your position, and write a welldeveloped essay persuading your audience to accept your side.
You must utilize ethos, pathos or logos, and at least one other example of a rhetorical device listed on the notes.
TOPIC CHOICE
Topics must be approved by Mrs. Sullivan before you begin writing your essay.
No cliché controversial topics will be allowed.
Suggested topics:
Should more pets be adopted than bought from a breeder?
Why all kids should have pets.
Why save endangered animals?
Should the public first learn how to drive a manual transmission before obtaining their license?
Should the driving age be 14?
The danger of texting and driving.
Buy products that are made in the USA.
The minimum wage should be increased.
Would it be better if high school students completed community service hours to graduate?
Art and music programs in public schools are an essential part of education.
Should schools have a mandatory life skills (balancing a check book, job applications, etc.) class?
Should state colleges be free?
Should notebook computers replace textbooks?
Would it be better if schools started later in the morning?
Everyone has the right to education.
Should children have homework?
Is the oxford comma necessary?
Should there be stricter laws for protecting endangered species?
Why we should use reusable bags.
Endangered oceans deserve protection.
Conserve our global resources.
Genetically modified foods should be labeled.
Should we donate unused food from supermarkets?
Why it’s wrong for the media to promote a certain beauty standard.
Why Pluto should still be considered a planet.
Embarrassing moments make you stronger.
Do you believe that cities should provide free wireless internet?
Celebrities should have more privacy rights.
Life is better now than it was 50 years ago.
The advantages of politeness.
Why everyone is equal.
Shop at local stores.
Should college athletes be paid?
Put down your phone and connect with people.
Example of MLA style:
1”
Type your
name, my
name, the
class and date
- starting on
first line of
paper – NOT
in the header!
1”
Stew Dent
Sullivan
ENG III Period 4
November 21, 2013
Original Title
There is NO additional space between the
header and the title. Your title is NOT
bold, italicized, a different size font, or
underlined. Include no additional space
after the title.
Body of first paragraph begins with ½” indention. Remainder of paragraph is
1” from left and right margins. Do not include any extra space between paragraphs.
Beginning on PAGE TWO – never on page one – you will
include a pager number. In “header” type your last name next to
the page number. Be sure to select “different first page” when
formatting your paper. The page number is ½” from top margin
and 1” from right margin. It should look like: Smith 2
Dent 2
The second page of the essay must completely fill the page. The
margins and spacing should continue to be size 12, double spaced, with a
1” margin on all four sides.