After carefully considering the visual argument below, write an argument either condoning or refuting this idea. Add support of your own to
strengthen your argument: evidence, emotional appeals, and so on. Conclude your brief argument with a convincing statement.
Persuasion is an Argument for a Intelligent but Uninformed audience.
Makes a ClaimSound
Arguments
Reasons and
Evidence
Appeal to Emotional
and Logical
Incarcerations due to MarijuanaProfitability of a potential industry
- More jobs
Violence due to prohibition
Medical Marijuana
Hemp
Health Effects
Narrow the Issue:The intelligent audience
probably knows the overview of the topic.
Your job is to teach them something new!
Thesis
Make a Clear and Specific Claim
Tell your position on the issue.
Make your thesis the last statement of the first paragraph
What is a Specific Thesis?
• General:– Marijuana should be
legalized in the United States.
– Marijuana should remain a banned substance.
• Specific:– Marijuana’s prohibition is
costing the U.S. billions of dollars in incarcerations, and therefore, should become a regulated substance like alcohol, so the state can profit from it instead.
– Marijuana has been shown to cause significant health risks, especially to children, and must be remain banned in the United States.
Agreeing Audience
Focus on:• Urging readers to a specific action• Concentrate on reinforcing a shared viewpoint• Build emotional ties
Neutral or Wavering Audience
Emphasize:• Importance of the issue• Offer Explanations that clear up
misunderstandings• Establish yourself as knowledgeable• Engender trust• Present solid evidence
Disagreeing Audience
Goal: Get the Reader to Consider your Point of View
How: • Logical line of Reasoning• Establish Common Ground• Basis of trust
• Lots of evidence• Recognize the opposition’s ideas as valid
Logical Lines of Reason- Inductive Reasoning
Reason 1
Reason 2
Reason 3
Reason 4
Conclusion
Uses specifics to make a general conclusion
Logical Lines of Reason- Deductive Reasoning
Chain of reasoning
Uses generally accepted principles to draw conclusions about the
specifics
Reader’s Needs and ValuesEmotional Appeals