Posted: April 14th, 2015

english

Order Description
Formal Essay One
This is a Two Part Assignment
Part One: Writing a letter is very much like writing an essay and will introduce you to the process of essay writing and moving away from a five paragraph essay. You will identify an issue that is important to you and write a letter to a specific identified reader about that issue. Think about how you will persuade the reader that your position is valid and reasonable. Below are the components that you should consider.
I will also post an example of a letter to guide you.
Part Two: You will write that letter in academic essay format. Use Modern Language Association (MLA) guidelines (12 point Time Roman font, double spaced, and a separate Works Cited page) There is not a page limit here because I want you to focus on making a clear point and think about not repeating yourself.
You are asked to research and incorporate Only One academic source from the Tacoma Community College Library Database into your letter to substantiate your stance (For example, use Proquest or Ebsco). You may not use a .com or a newspaper or popular media. Do not use more than one source.
PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS: Things to consider before you begin to write.
• Define the issue. What is the issue? What is your history with it? Relate personal experiences that show why you have a problem with this issue, why you feel so intensely.
• Describe the reader. What person are you trying to persuade? Describe the specific reader toward whom you will direct your letter and explain why you chose this reader. How can the reader bring about the change you are advocating?
• Define the purpose of the letter. What is your position? What are you advocating? In other words, what do you want reader to do? Is the action realistic/possible for this reader? Why will this reader want to help bring about this change? How would the world be a better place if we “did it your way”?
• Identify some of the information you may include and explain how you will use the evidence to support your position
• Identify benefits the reader will find convincing and decide how you can demonstrate those benefits.
• Identify potential objections of the reader/questions the reader may have and decide how you will refute objections/answer questions
THREE SECTIONS OF A PERSUASIVE LETTER:
• Capture reader’s attention/interest (introduction)
• Provide detail/support for your argument (body)
• Call for action—advocate a change (conclusion)
ATTENTION: Introduction
• Creative opening. Information to attract/keep reader’s attention/interest including an intro to the issue/brief history/necessary background information, etc. Entice the reader to read further.
• Include a clear thesis statement
• Establish ethos. Establish your credibility. Present yourself as someone to be trusted/believed. Who are you? Why should reader trust/believe you? Make it personal: Why is it important to you? Why does it matter? How does it affect you, your family, school, community, etc.? Why is it an issue to begin with?
DETAIL: Body
• Details of the letter using logos/pathos/ethos as needed. Make certain all the paragraphs are connected and have a relationship to one another. Think about how pathos would work to create empathy.
• Remember that you are presenting one problem and you want to present your solution to that one problem. If you have three separate paragraphs discussing three different ideas, then the danger is that you have written three separate essays instead of one cohesive essay.
• Reasons you will use to convince the reader that your position is worthwhile with relevant supporting information and evidence (logos) in the form of details, facts, etc.
• When you use statistics or other specifics from outside references, it is necessary in this instance to formally cite the information.
• Anticipate possible objections/provide refutations of objections.
• Anticipate possible questions/provide answers to questions.
ACTION: Conclusion
• Re-emphasize the specific action(s) expected from the reader—make a verbal “punch.”
• Why will it be a benefit? Make the sale–seal the deal!
• Why is the issue important and why does it demand attention?
• What will be the predicted result from following your course of action?