Writing a Position Paper, Exercises of English Literature

Download Writing a Position Paper and more Exercises English Literature in PDF only on Docsity! WRITING A POSITION PAPER Honors English 12 ORGANIZATION Include a thesis that clearly states your position on the topic. Below are examples. Hamilton encourages viewers to see beyond skin color in our perception of the past and the present. Hamilton reiterates traditional depictions of women’s roles and characters. ORGANIZATION Consider where it makes the most sense to address you opposition. Will it help you end with a powerful counterargument? Will it help you start your paper? Is there a place where you must address the opposition or lose your credibility? ORGANIZATION Use transitional phrases and words to help make clear connections. Although the musical depicts the female characters with energy and charisma . . . Furthermore, by choosing to . . . In contrast, British characters are played by . . . BALANCING APPEALS A strong position paper/argument incorporate all 3 persuasive appeals. The following slides will explain how you will incorporate each appeal in the process of writing your paper. BALANCING APPEALS PATHOS: • A hook that draws the reader in and establishes the importance of the topic • Use of rhetorical and figurative devices that draw attention to key ideas and help create meaning. • Rhetorical questions, parallel structure, repetition, word choice, metaphors, etc. • See the next slide for more ideas • A persuasive conclusion that helps us to see the value of the position PATHOS IS LIKE CINNAMON, OREGANO, AND OTHERS SPICES. USE PATHOS IN MODERATION TO ADD DEPTH OF FLAVOR BUT NOT TO OVERWHELM OR REPLACE LOGIC. BALANCING APPEALS RHETORICAL & FIGURATIVE DEVICES Rhetorical devices are stylistic devices the writer uses to draw attention to or clarify ideas. Hear the words: repetition, alliteration, parallelism Get the idea: word choice, analogy, imagery Audience ownership: rhetorical question Your writing style helps get the job done. Playing the piano v. playing music: technical writing v. persuasive writing Style should never overwhelm or replace logical, factual content. BALANCING APPEALS MORE RHETORICAL & FIGURATIVE DEVICES • Word choice: elevated/formal language, loaded/emotive language, rhetorical question, verbal irony, imagery • Sound devices: alliteration, consonance/assonance, repetition, parallelism, rule of 3 • Figurative comparisons: metaphor, simile, personification, hyperbole • Examples: anecdote, analogy, quotations from credible sources BIASED, UNETHICAL CLAIMS AND LANGUAGE This is persuasion gone wrong! Avoid using claims and language built on the following unethical choices. • Biased language • Sexist language • Attacking the opposition (rather than addressing or critiquing) • Inclusive and exclusive language (us v. them) Read through the following slides to practice distinguishing legitimate claims built on unbiased, ethical language, BIASED, UNETHICAL CLAIMS AND LANGUAGE Which is the legitimate claim? Which is the unethical generalization? Responsible parents protect their children from CTE, a serious brain condition, by refusing to enroll them in contact sports. Children fourteen and younger should not play contact sports because of the risk of developing CTE. BIASED, UNETHICAL CLAIMS AND LANGUAGE Which is the legitimate claim? Which is the unethical generalization? Most objections to the medical use of marijuana stem from misinformation and misrepresentation of the drug’s influence. Conservatives and older people tend to see marijuana as a dangerous recreational drug instead of tool for managing the pain and symptoms of serious illnesses. .