Would your essay make the gallery?

Think about people who have convinced you or others to do something or to respond in a certain way just because of something they said or wrote.

“When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”

From The Declaration of Independence

And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!““I Have a Dream Speech”

They give you a reason why you should care.

They prove this reason with specific examples.

They use words that evoke your thoughts (logos) and your emotions (ethos).

Recycling? Diplomacy? The importance of a college education?

Because population and global consumerism continue to increase and because resources are limited, people should make a conscious effort to recycle.

Because preemptive wars are costly, extend the military beyond its limits, and cause residual conflicts, world leaders should carefully examine their reasons before deciding to declare or extend wars.

Because a college education offers a graduate a greater chance of opportunity, promotion, and lifelong salary than someone without a college education, all high school students should enroll in college track classes.

Because Should

Persuasive writers and speakers give you the reason (because) and tell you what you should do about it.

population and global consumerism continue to increase

preemptive wars are costly, extend the military beyond its limits, and cause residual conflicts

a college education offers a graduate a greater chance of opportunity, promotion, and lifelong salary than someone without a college education

All people should recycle World leaders should carefully consider

preemptive war High school students should consider a

college education

Have a passion Have an audience Give the audience a reason why they should

care

There really is a science to if after all

Of these great artists of persuasion

Inspire race relations

Start a new nation

Sell lots of shoes

Influence public opinion