Introductory essay
Complete the activity, write a 600-900 word essay that explores a situation in which you either were or were not successful in persuading an audience to act upon, agree with, or believe a particular idea. Or perhaps you convinced someone to simply consider the validity of a viewpoint that they’ve generally resisted.
You should think of your essay as an argument, too: you’re making and supporting a claim that you were or not successful in the situation you describe. Remember to include clear evidence that illustrates your main claim.
Here are some invention ideas to help you get started:
• What formal and informal groups/organizations/communities do you belong to?
• What controversies/disagreements/issues exist within these groups?
• What were/are your ideas about these issues? Did you participate in any discussions
about them? What opinions, facts, and/or other reasons did you offer in those
discussions?
• Whom did you try to persuade?
• Were these attempts formal or informal, addressed to family, friends, or colleagues?
• Were you successful in your argument? Why or why not?
