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COMPOSITION WORKSHOP
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Writing a Persuasive Argument COMPOSITION WORKSHOP

All around us, we witness things in our lives that we wish to change. This may be
something within our homes, our schools, our communities, or our world. When
you desire to effect change, you must strategically select reasoning, evidence, and
language that will resonate with and influence your intended audience. KEY POINT
In this workshop, you will have the opportunity to develop a persuasive
argument that provides logical reasons supported by evidence to convince your Persuasive
arguments seek
audience to take action about an issue or cause of importance to you. to motivate or
persuade their
audiences through
logic, emotion, and
Phones Create Barriers between Peers credibility.

Kalindi Desai

The following student example is an editorial published in the College Station High
School newspaper the Catamount in 2016. With the help of the marginal notations,
discuss the writer’s use of evidence, rhetorical strategies, line of reasoning, and call
to action to persuade her audience.

The ability to communicate with people through cell phones and writer includes
social media is a technological discovery that has made it easier context for the
than ever to interact with people from many areas of the world. We argument
can talk to our friends that live miles away at any time, see what our
favorite celebrities are up to, or keep up with whatever news is going
around. But with this advance comes a downfall. People have become introduces problem:
too afraid to talk to others about issues in person because confronta- people are afraid
tion scares them since our generation is so used to confronting oth- of face-to-face
conversation
ers behind their thumbs through a cell phone screen.
It’s the easier option. You don’t feel bad calling someone names reason: (opposing
if you can’t see their face or allow them to retaliate in person. We viewpoints) online
seem to always be taking the easier route. The one that won’t make communication is
us feel like horrible people for spreading rumors and forming lies easier
about people that are based on assumptions.
Friend issues are highly common in high school due to changing reason: friend
personalities. With these friend issues comes confrontation. Our gen- issues arise
eration has somehow been brainwashed into thinking that it’s okay with online
communication
to communicate over text about serious problems that could possibly
hurt someone’s feelings.

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