Lesson Introduction

Lesson Overview

Rhetoric is "the art of persuasion" (CSU Ohio). For our class, we are studying and practicing how to write a rhetorical essay, or an argumentative paper.

Persuasive essays, or argumentative essays, are one of the most common genres you will utilize when doing academic writing (or academic assignments in general). You must use logic, reason, and other elements to show that your point of view (your thesis) is more legitimate than any other's.

Just like with any academic essay, a persuasive essay has:

• An introduction paragraph

• Body paragraph(s)

• A conclusion paragraph

When you are writing with persuasion, there are different elements you can use to help convince the reader of your arguments:

• Carefully-chosen evidence

• Relationship phrases (transitions and patterns of organization) to help guide the reader easily through your arguments and evidence

• Counterarguments

• Rhetorical appeals

• Synthesizing sources

The first two elements have already been discussed in various parts of our OER textbook, and links to those parts of our OER are included in the list above. The last three elements will be taught within this lesson of our OER.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

1. Learn more about how to write a purpose-driven essay

2. Learn more about how to effectively appeal to your essay's audience

3. Understand the different rhetorical appeals and their usefulness for creating a well-rounded persuasive essay

4. Learn why the use of counterarguments in persuasive writing is an effective way to address all sides of an issue while making your stance look best

5. Learn about the tool of synthesizing sources within a body paragraph to elevate your arguments

Lesson Sections

This lesson about about stand-alone paragraphs is divided-up into four sections, which are listed below. You may access these sections in the menu on the left (or the top-left by clicking the three lines if viewing on a mobile devices).

1. Purpose & Audience

2. Rhetorical Appeals

3. Counterarguments

4. Synthesizing Sources in a Body Paragraph

Please, work-through each of these informational sections to learn the concepts of this lesson before checking your understanding of the material through the "comprehension quiz" provided in our class's Canvas shell.

While progressing through the sections above, if you find yourself confused or need additional clarity, please feel free to reach-out through any communication option available to our class (listed in the Home and Syllabus tabs in our class's Canvas shell) that best suits your needs and comfort.