In Cold Blood:In Cold Blood: Persuasive EssayPersuasive Essay

What is an Opinion/Persuasive What is an Opinion/Persuasive Essay?Essay?

An opinion essay gives the writer's An opinion essay gives the writer's opinion, a view or belief that can't be opinion, a view or belief that can't be proven as a fact.proven as a fact.

The opinion appears as part of an The opinion appears as part of an opinion statement in the beginning opinion statement in the beginning paragraph.paragraph.

The opinion is supported by main The opinion is supported by main reasons, which appear in the topic reasons, which appear in the topic sentences of middle paragraphs.sentences of middle paragraphs.

FormatFormat

Question: Question: Television news shows many Television news shows many scenes of disasters and violence. What scenes of disasters and violence. What effect can this have on individuals and effect can this have on individuals and society?society?Paragraph 1: Paragraph 1:

IntroductionIntroduction Capture the Capture the

readers attention readers attention and introduce the and introduce the topic. topic.

GiveGive an opinion an opinion statement. In this statement. In this statement outline statement outline what it is you will what it is you will be discussing in be discussing in your essay.your essay.

““ It’s almost It’s almost impossible to avoid impossible to avoid seeing images of seeing images of famine, war, natural famine, war, natural disasters, and violence disasters, and violence on our screens. These on our screens. These graphic images can, graphic images can, encourage us to act , encourage us to act , or leave us cold, and or leave us cold, and in this essay I will in this essay I will discuss the effects of discuss the effects of these constant these constant powerful pictures.”powerful pictures.”

Paragraph 2: Body ParagraphParagraph 2: Body Paragraph Start each paragraph with a topic Start each paragraph with a topic

sentence that states one main sentence that states one main reason or side of the argument. reason or side of the argument.

Add supporting details. Add supporting details. Use transitions to connect ideas. Use transitions to connect ideas. Provide an ending sentence. Provide an ending sentence.

“ “ It is natural to respond to other people’s It is natural to respond to other people’s suffering. When we see hungry children or suffering. When we see hungry children or frightened refugees on our televisions, we want frightened refugees on our televisions, we want to send money or support. Huge relief efforts to send money or support. Huge relief efforts such as Live Aid or Action for Haiti have resulted such as Live Aid or Action for Haiti have resulted from ordinary people’s reactions (Mumford 3). from ordinary people’s reactions (Mumford 3). Another natural response is anger. We ask our Another natural response is anger. We ask our leaders to act to change the political or economic leaders to act to change the political or economic situation that causes the pain. Some people also situation that causes the pain. Some people also take action themselves. They volunteer time in take action themselves. They volunteer time in their home communities to raise funds, or even their home communities to raise funds, or even work or fight in the affected region.” work or fight in the affected region.”

Paragraph 3:Paragraph 3: Body Paragraph Body Paragraph State opposing views and give State opposing views and give

arguments against them.arguments against them.

““However, the frequency of these painful and However, the frequency of these painful and violent scenes can also have opposite effects. violent scenes can also have opposite effects. First of all, it doesn’t seem right to watch First of all, it doesn’t seem right to watch tsunamis or other disasters while we are eating tsunamis or other disasters while we are eating breakfast. Some people become obsessed with breakfast. Some people become obsessed with bad news on the television or internet. Second, bad news on the television or internet. Second, it’s also natural to protect yourself and those it’s also natural to protect yourself and those around you. To reduce the impact on ourselves or around you. To reduce the impact on ourselves or our families, we change the television channel or our families, we change the television channel or make a joke about the conflict or continent make a joke about the conflict or continent affected. Finally, because the images seem affected. Finally, because the images seem never-ending, we get fed up sending money, never-ending, we get fed up sending money, which does not seem to have any effect. Many which does not seem to have any effect. Many people feel powerless and therefore do nothing, people feel powerless and therefore do nothing, until an even more powerful image is forced on until an even more powerful image is forced on them.”them.”

Paragraph Paragraph 4:Conclusion4:Conclusion

Restate the Restate the opinion. opinion.

Summarize main Summarize main reasons. reasons.

Give a call to Give a call to action.action.

““In conclusion, In conclusion, these scenes on these scenes on television can television can motivate us to act motivate us to act and help others, or and help others, or they can discourage they can discourage and depress us . It’s and depress us . It’s probably better to probably better to think carefully about think carefully about what we watch and what we watch and our reasons for our reasons for watching.”watching.”

Essay Question: Dialectical Essay Question: Dialectical JournalJournal

Why is our society so fascinated by Why is our society so fascinated by crime? Use examples from both the crime? Use examples from both the article and text to support your article and text to support your argument. Also, use MLA format for argument. Also, use MLA format for bibliography and in-text citations.bibliography and in-text citations.

Mumford, Lewis. Mumford, Lewis. The Culture of CitiesThe Culture of Cities. . New York: Harcourt, 1938. Print.New York: Harcourt, 1938. Print.