INFORMAL, PERSUASIVE ESSAY

PART 1 - Topic Selection
• Choose a topic or current event that you feel strongly about (FOR or AGAINST) and submit it for approval
• Engage in the research process before settling on one topic and make sure you will be able to find credible sources

PART 2 - Research
• Your essay must reference AT LEAST THREE different kinds of sources and at least FOUR SOURCES TOTAL:
❖ ONE source must be Canadian in some way (author, content, or publisher)
❖ ONE source must be from an academic journal
❖ Other types of acceptable sources include: magazine articles, newspaper articles, editorials, essays, published books, webpages, etc.
Be sure to take your time with this stage, and make use of the school’s resources, both online and in the library.

PART 3 - Writing the Essay
• After conducting research, write an informal, persuasive essay based on your topic. Informal means you do not have to follow the writing guidelines you normally do for formal, literary essays (it can sound more conversational and feature first person point of view, cliches, idioms, figurative language etc.) You should support your argument with your own ideas as well as with textual support from your research. Keep in mind the three types of appeals and how they may help to sell your argument. Be sure to begin the writing process with some planning and brainstorming before moving into the drafting stages. Keep any and all process work (including a mandatory peer-edited rough copy) and submit it with your good copy.
• Your essay must include a strong thesis (What is it that you are trying to prove? Make sure you are clearly on one side of the argument. The thesis could be implicit or explicit)
• Your essay must include a minimum of five (5) rhetorical devices or methods of development (labeled in square brackets)
E.g: [ANALOGY].
• Your essay must also consider and respond to at least two potential counter/opposing arguments
• There is no set structure or paragraph limit, but there should be some kind of an introduction, body paragraphs and a conclusion with a call to action (what response or action do you want from your audience?)
• Length: 5-7 pages max.
• Format: 7th edition MLA (page setup, in-text citations, properly formatted Works Cited page etc.)
• See rubric for further guidelines and assessment criteria.

PART 4 - Metacognition
• This will be completed in-class on the assigned due date and submitted with the essay
Rough Copy Due Date: ______________________
Good Copy Due Date: ______________________
Name: _____
Self-Assessment Essay Checklist
• Complete the following checklist and self-evaluation and submit it with the final draft of your essay
Does the essay include a complete works cited page (at end of essay) in proper format? Yes No

Does the essay give a clear and powerful statement of the writer’s opinion of the topic? In other words, does the thesis express your opinion clearly and strongly?
Yes No

Are counterarguments considered/acknowledged? Have you adequately addressed them? Yes No

Have you used and labeled five effective rhetorical devices / MODs to develop your argument? Yes No

Is there quoted and/or paraphrased material included to support the argument being made? Is the Yes No supporting material properly cited?

Does the opening of the essay catch the reader’s attention? Yes No

Does the conclusion provide closure? Is there a clear call to action? Yes No

Does the essay use a firm and assertive style and tone? Does the opinion/point of view seem strong? Yes No

Have you carefully proofread the essay for errors in spelling, grammar, and mechanics? Yes No

After reviewing the requirements for this assignment, evaluate your own work here:
Knowledge and Understanding / 10
Thinking and Investigation / 10
Communication / 10
Application