Persuasive letter to the editor

Persuasive Essay This writing assignment involves writing your persuasive essay. Once you draft your essay and

revise, you may submit it for feedback. The feedback will help you write the final draft; your

final draft will be graded.

Option #1: Fallacies in the Media’s Spotlight

Identify and research a person in the media's spotlight who has used a specific logical fallacy.

Please be sure the thesis statement includes the logical fallacy you discuss in your paper, the

person who used it, and a brief look at the examples from your paper showing how the fallacy

was used. Use a persuasive tone throughout to encourage your chosen audience to accept your

thesis statement. Detailing the fallacy examples and explaining how they relate to your chosen

fallacy is a strong persuasive method for the body paragraphs. Strive to provide at least three

examples (one for each body paragraph) where the person used the fallacy.

Sample Thesis Statement: “Kim Kardashian used the Post Hoc Fallacy when (add example 1),

(add example 2), and (add example 3).”

Option #2: Dear Editor:

Select a problem in your community or your school that you feel passionately about (students

talking on cell phones in the classroom, the need for more recreational centers in your city,

etc.) and write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. (For tips on writing a strong

opinion letter, visit http://www.ccmc.org/node/16090)

You do not need to format this assignment like a formal business letter, but do start your letter

with the phrase “Dear Editor:”

In the body of your letter, explain the problem (suggested for body paragraph 1), express your

views on it such as the potentially negative effects (suggested for body paragraph 2), and then

offer a solution to it (suggested for body paragraph 3). In order to effectively persuade your

audience—the newspaper’s readers—to agree with you and to act on your solution, you will

need to fully understand the problem and understand your audience. In addition, you will need

to be able to describe the problem detail, to clearly explain your position on it using a

persuasive tone, and to provide strong, concrete examples to back up your claims.

Sample Thesis Statement: “Valley Community College has (add problem), which (add your

stance/potentially negative impacts); therefore, (add solution).”

Formatting requirements are on the next page.

Header: Include a header in the upper left-hand corner of your writing assignment with the

following information:

• Your first and last name

• Course Title (Composition I)

• Assignment name (Persuasive Essay)

• Current Date

Length: This assignment should be at least 750 words.

Format:

• Double-spacing throughout

• Title, centered after heading

• Standard 12-point font (Arial, TimesNewRoman, Calibri)

• 1” margins on all sides

• Save the file using one of the following extensions: .docx, .doc, .rtf, or .txt

Underline your thesis statement.