B161

WRITING COMPETENCY PRACTICE Third Edition

Revised & Expanded

By Andrea Levinson Kane, M.S., and Barbara Martorana, Ed. D.

WRITING COMPETENCY PRACTICE Third Edition

Revised & Expanded
By Andrea Levinson Kane, M.S. and Barbara Martorana, Ed. D.

Editors: Carol Harris Stern/Rosalie Dow Graphic Design: Timothy Homkow

Credits:

Cover Design: Timothy Homkow/Ray Ringston Cartoons: Charles Berger

ISBN-13: 978-0-79255-735-7 ISBN-10: 0-79255-735-2

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or any means without permission in writing from the publisher. Printed in the U.S.A.

EAProdux, Ltd.

MMVII

P.O. Box 87 Baldwin, NY 11510 800.797.3223 www.edact.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS
WRITING THE BUSINESS LETTER

The Business Letter Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 The Parts of the Business Letter Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Writing a Letter of Order Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-4 Correcting a Business Letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Recommended State Abbreviations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Business Letter of Order Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-16 Sample Business Letter of Complaint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17-18 Business Letter of Complaint Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19-28

ORGANIZING AND WRITING A REPORT

Arranging Ideas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29-30 Categorizing by Main Idea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Practice in Categorizing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Keeping Main Ideas in Your Paragraphs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 Step-by-Step: Organizing and Writing a Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34-35 Writing a Report Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36-51

WRITING TO EXPLAIN YOUR OPINION

Knowing Your Audience: Using Appropriate Vocabulary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52 Developing a Sense of Audience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53 Identifying the Topic Sentence and Supporting Details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 Supplying Supporting Details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 Writing to Explain Your Opinion: Sample Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Writing to Explain Your Opinion Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57-64

WRITING TO PERSUADE OTHERS

Knowing Your Audience: Choosing Suitable Arguments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 Appealing to Your Audience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Using the Proper Tone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 Sample Persuasive Essay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 Writing to Persuade Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69-76

TABLE OF CONTENTS
WRITING A NARRATIVE

Sequencing Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77 Using Transitional Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78-79 Maintaining a Point of View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80 Telling a Story - Mix and Match . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81 Preliminary Narrative Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82 Narrative Warm-up Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83-84 Writing a Narrative Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85-95

WRITING A DESCRIPTION
Putting Yourself in the Readers Place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96 Supplying Specific Details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97 Using Concrete Language and Specific Details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98 Description Checklists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99 Writing a Description Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100-107

INTERPRETING LITERATURE
Commonly Used English Idioms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108 Practice with Idioms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109-112 Identifying Literary Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113 Literary Techniques Frequently Used by Authors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114 Writing the Critical Lens Essay with Sample . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115-117 Practice in Paraphrasing Quotations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118-119 Writing the Critical Lens Essay Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120-123 Additional Topics for the Critical Lens Essay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .124

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THE BUSINESS LETTER FORM

(1) HEADING This tells the company where to send your order or their reply to your letter. (1) Your Street Number City, State Zip Code Date (2) Persons Name (if known) Company Name Street Address City, State Zip Code (3) Dear Madam or Sir: (or give persons name, if known) (3) SALUTATION OR GREETING (4) (4) BODY Briefly and clearly state your business. DO NOT repeat your address since it is in the heading.

(2) INSIDE ADDRESS Name and address of person/company to whom you are writing.

(5) CLOSING (5)Yours truly, (6)

(6) SIGNATURE DO NOT print your name. DO NOT use a nickname.

Your Signature

(7)Typed or Printed Name (7) TYPED OR PRINTED NAME Helps the company answer your letter if your signature is not clear.

THE PARTS OF THE BUSINESS LETTER EXERCISE

The following parts of the business letter are written correctly. Study them carefully, noting particularly the capitalization and punctuation. Use them for reference in answering the questions.

HEADING:
1066 Hastings Place Collins, Iowa 50055-1234 October 18, 2008

INSIDE ADDRESS:
Les Jeans 1475 Broadway New York, NY 10017-3235

GREETING OR SALUTATION:
Dear Ms. Jones: Ladies and Gentlemen: Dear Madam or Sir:

CLOSING:
Yours truly, Very truly yours, Some of the parts of the letter given below are correct; some are not. If a form is correct, put a C on the line to the right. If the form is not correct, write the proper form on the line to the right. The first one has been done for you. 1. 44 caesar street Cleveland Ohio 44135 March 15, 2008 2. Great Gifts, Inc. P. O. Box, 1492 Peck Kansas, 67120 3. Yours Truely, 4. Dear: Madam or Sir 5. Joans Loans 726 Cactus Gulch Dulce, NM 87528 6. 17, Lakewood Drive Ogden, utah 84401 June 24 2008 7. Sincerely, yours 8. Lady 9. Fiesta Fast Foods, 18 Dave Lane Houston texas 77008 10. Dear Mr. Smith,
2

44 Caesar Street Cleveland, Ohio 44135 C

WRITING A LETTER OF ORDER PRACTICE

Using the space below, arrange the following information into a business letter. Use your own address and todays date as the heading. To: Good Health Insurance Co.; 555 Welfare Boulevard; Hartford, Connecticut 06109-6548. Ladies and Gentlemen: Please send me a copy of your booklet, Exercise for Health, which was advertised in todays edition of The Record. I am enclosing a check for $5.00 to cover the cost of postage and handling. Yours truly, Your Signature, Your Name Typed or Printed. (1) _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ (2) _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ (3) _________________________________: (4)_________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________. ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________. (5) _______________________________________ (6) _______________________________________ (7) _______________________________________

Now compare your letter with the sample on the next page. Be sure to check your capitalization and punctuation carefully against the model.
3

SAMPLE BUSINESS LETTER OF ORDER

Compare the letter you wrote on the previous page with the one below. Note and correct your mistakes. Be especially careful in checking your capitalization, punctuation, and spelling. You may wish to keep this model letter for future reference.

123 Fourth Street Freeport, New York 11520-5648 September 18, 2008

Good Health Insurance Co. 555 Welfare Boulevard Hartford, Connecticut 06109-4720 Ladies and Gentlemen: Please send me a copy of your booklet, Exercise for Health, which was advertised in todays edition of The Record. I am enclosing a check for $5.00 to cover the cost of postage and handling. Yours truly,

Your Signature
Your Name Typed or Printed

CORRECTING A BUSINESS LETTER

Play teacher by reviewing and correcting the business letter below:

2778 East Juniper drive phoenix, arizona, 85025-9878 March 4, 2008

superintendent of Documents government printing office Washington, dc 20402-4730

Dear: Madam Or Sir,

please send me one copy of The national parks of the united states: map and guide. I am enclosing a check for $4.95 to cover the cost of the publication.

Yours, Turley

Duane Miller
Duane Miller

RECOMMENDED STATE ABBREVIATIONS

In order to increase the speed, accuracy, and quality of mail delivery, the United States Postal Service recommends the use of the special state abbreviations followed by the nine-digit ZIP code. ZIP coded mail can be processed quickly by automatic equipment; however, mail without ZIP codes must be sorted by hand at every distribution point. The special state abbreviation and the ZIP code should be placed as follows: Ms. Kathryn G. Milton 1492 Columbus Avenue Houston, TX 77008-7320

U.S.P.S. STATE ABBREVIATIONS:

Alabama . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arizona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arkansas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Colorado . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Connecticut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Delaware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Florida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Georgia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Guam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Idaho . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Illinois . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Indiana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Iowa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kansas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kentucky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Louisiana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maryland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Massachusetts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michigan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Minnesota . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mississippi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Missouri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE FL GA GU HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO
6

Montana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nebraska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nevada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New Hampshire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New Jersey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New York . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . North Dakota . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ohio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oklahoma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oregon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pennsylvania . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Puerto Rico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rhode Island . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . South Carolina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . South Dakota . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tennessee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Utah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vermont . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Virginia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Virgin Islands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Washington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . West Virginia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wisconsin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wyoming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY ND OH OK OR PA PR RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA VI WA WV WI WY

BUSINESS LETTER OF ORDER EXERCISE NO. 1

Read the advertisement below:

RAINBOWRITERS TEN PENS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE!

RED PINK

BLUE YELLOW

GREEN

BLACK SILVER

PURPLE GOLD

ORANGE

Change colors as you change your mood! A simple click gives you the color of your choice! A must for anyone who wants to get a message across colorfully! Order yours today. Only $9.99 each, postage and handling included

Send your check or money order to:

NOVELTY PENS, INC. 72 BLUEPOINT STREET CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60614-5647

Write a business letter ordering ONE of these pens for yourself. When you write your business letter, be sure to: Write your address and todays date at the top of your letter. Give the company all the information it will need to fill your order. Use an acceptable business letter form. Write complete sentences.

Check your spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and usage.

BUSINESS LETTER OF ORDER EXERCISE NO. 2

Read the advertisement below:

Make a personal statement with:

MEMOMAGIC

The personalized memo pad that allows you to choose the color & slogan you want. Pads are available in white, yellow, pink, or blue with choice of the slogans: School-dazed From the desk of _____________ Stolen from ______________ Quiet Zone... Student Sleeping ORDER TODAY! A package of three pads of one color and slogan is only $5.95, plus $4.50 for postage and handling.
MEMOREES Sterling Stationary Company 1218 Penfield Road Paterson, New Jersey 07513-5642

Write a business letter ordering one package of memo pads for yourself. Specify the slogan and the color you want. In addition, be sure to: Give the company all the information it will need to fill your order. Use an acceptable business letter form. Enclose a check or money order for the proper amount. Check your spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and usage.

SAMPLE BUSINESS LETTER OF COMPLAINT OR REQUEST FOR ADJUSTMENT

The Question:
The directions for writing the business letter of complaint typically take one of the two following forms. Review them carefully. (1) On September 19, 2008, you ordered a set of $17.95 budget stereo headphones, advertised in that days Record, from Music Masters, Inc. The set you ordered was Delta Model 40 with cushioned earcups and an adjustable headband. Today your order arrived in the mail, but instead of the Delta 40 stereo headphones, you received a set of Delta Model 30 headphones which are not stereo and which do not have an adjustable headband. Write a business letter concerning this situation to: Music Masters, Inc.; 1654 Balfour Drive; Evanston, Illinois 60211-4563. (2) Directions: Write a business letter about the situation described below. Read all the information carefully before you begin to write.

The situation:

Item ordered: one set of $17.95 budget stereo headphones, Delta Model 40 with cushioned earcups and adjustable headband Date ordered: September 19, 2008 Problem: You received Delta Model 30 which has no stereo capability and a non-adjustable headband.

Your task:

Write a business letter concerning this situation to: Music Masters, Inc.; 1654 Balfour Drive; Evanston, Illinois 60211-4563. In your letter, be sure to: Explain the situation. Explain what you want the company to do for you. Give complete and correct information. Use an acceptable business letter form.

The format:
Like the letter of order, the letter of complaint is brief and to the point. Generally, it is divided into two paragraphs: Paragraph One - describes the situation. Paragraph Two - explains the action you would like the company to take.
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THE SAMPLE LETTER

Review the following sample letter for requesting an adjustment. Note that the first paragraph describes what happened and the second explains what the writer wants the company to do.

2121 Brookview Court Blair, South Carolina 29015-6547 October 28, 2008 Music Masters, Inc. 1654 Balfour Drive Evanston, Illinois 60211-4563 Dear Music Masters: On September 19, 2008, I ordered one set of your $17.95 budget stereo headphones, as advertised in that days Record. Today, however, instead of the Delta Model 40 set, which has cushioned earcups and an adjustable headband, I received a Delta Model 30 set which is not stereo and which has a non-adjustable headband. I am returning the Model 30 set by parcel post today. I would appreciate your exchanging this Model 30 set for the Model 40 set as soon as possible. Yours truly,

Andrew Lynch
Andrew Lynch

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BUSINESS LETTER OF COMPLAINT EXERCISE NO. 1

Last week you bought a Tipsy bathroom scale for $19.95, tax included, at Rimbels Department Store. The scale, however, hasnt worked since you bought it. When you returned it to the store, the clerk in the Refund and Exchange Department informed you that it is company policy to give even exchanges only. Since you are sick of weighing either 14 or 292 pounds, and since you no longer have confidence in Tipsy scales and Rimbels, you would rather have your money back so you can apply it toward buying a better scale somewhere else. Write a polite, but firm, letter to Rimbels at 5678 Jason Street; Buffalo, New York 14212-4569. Be sure to state the problem clearly and ask them to return your money.

BUSINESS LETTER OF COMPLAINT EXERCISE NO. 2

You recently ordered four turtleneck sweaters (Catalog No. 60382-X) from Bettys Boutique; Store 37; The Sunset Mall; Phoenix, Arizona 85010-7896. You ordered four size 12 sweaters, one each in red, blue, black, and white. Instead, you received four sweaters that are all size 5 and purple. Since you paid $119.80 (postage and handling included) in advance for the sweaters, write a letter to Bettys and request that an adjustment be made as soon as possible. Write in acceptable business letter form and be sure to state that you are returning the four size 5 sweaters. Also, clearly restate your original order, so the store may again attempt to fill it.

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KNOWING YOUR AUDIENCE CHOOSING SUITABLE ARGUMENTS

Various audiences have different areas of interest. Just as you adapt topics, vocabulary, and style to suit particular groups, you must also adapt the arguments you use when trying to persuade others to accept your point of view. Adapting to different audiences doesnt mean changing your opinion; it means changing your approach or argument. For example, if trying to persuade a teacher not to assign weekend homework, you might say that there are other educational and cultural avenues you can explore by going to museums and concerts on weekends. However, in persuading your parents to take your no-homework position, you might say that you could use your free weekends to help with household chores.

Choose the argument that is more likely to persuade the given audience:
1. AUDIENCE: Person to whom you are applying for a part-time job (a) Although I have no actual work experience, I am willing to learn. Also, if you require references, I can supply letters of recommendation from several of my teachers. (b) I would like to work for your company because I have never had a job and would appreciate the opportunity to earn money. 2. AUDIENCE: Your classmates who will be voting for class president (a) If you elect Terrys opponent, youre asking for trouble. Robin is a known troublemaker who doesnt care about whats best for you and your school. (b) Terry has promised to bring all your complaints before the principal and the school board. Your priorities improving cafeteria service, providing more parking spaces for students, providing more elective courses are Terrys priorities.

Here is a persuasive argument. Choose the audience most suited to the given reason:
3. I am against wearing a school uniform because it will be both physically and mentally uncomfortable. Uniforms are usually made of stiff, long-lasting materials, so I know theyll be uncomfortable physically. In addition, kids from other schools will single us out and make fun of us. 2. AUDIENCE: (a) parents (b) classmates (c) principal

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APPEALING TO YOUR AUDIENCE

In the exercises below, combine your ability to support your opinion and your awareness of audience. Provide one argument you feel will appeal to each of the indicated audiences. Remember, when writing to different audiences you dont change the facts or your position, you just change your approach. 1. Defend your opinion that detention is not an effective punishment. (a) AUDIENCE: Your principal ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ (b) AUDIENCE: Your classmates ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ 2. Defend your right to share the family car. (a) AUDIENCE: Your parents ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ (b) AUDIENCE: Your older brother who uses the car for college ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ 3. Express your desire to keep your favorite program on the air. (a) AUDIENCE: TV program director ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ (b) AUDIENCE: Your best friend ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________

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USING THE PROPER TONE

Tone is the manner of speaking that you, the writer, adopt toward your audience, the reader. Like your conduct before others, your tone gives your audience an impression of you. Your tone reveals part of your personality and of your attitude toward the reader. Adapting your tone to the circumstances adds to your effectiveness as a writer. In each of the following, choose the message with the tone that is appropriate to the circumstances and to the audience. 1. SITUATION: A woman is offering advice to a friend who is about to make a major purchase. (a) While it is attractive in blue, you might find blue too much of a contrast to your pink sofa and yellow armchair. Why dont you check the color samples against your furniture before deciding? (b) Personally, if I were you, my dear, I would select a more compatible color. Those of us with discriminating taste find your choice of blue intolerable. 2. SITUATION: A high school junior is beginning an oral book report before his classmates. (a) Within the confines of the time granted me this morning, I shall endeavor to impart to you, my audience, my views on a work of literature I have recently completed reading, namely, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. (b) In the five minutes I have for my report, I would like to share with you the thoughts and feelings I experienced while reading Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. For each of the following passages, indicate the tone used by the writer. 1. That movie was wonderful! It was so exciting I could hardly stay awake. If you plan to go see it, dont forget to take along a pillow! (a) combative (b) conceited (c) sincere (d) sarcastic

2. Id like to thank all the little people who helped me win this award. First, my parents for having such a talented child. Next, Joe Dilch who first discovered my genius. Finally, Fifi Chambois who designs the clothes I look so marvelous in. (a) combative (b) enthusiastic (c) conceited (d) sincere

3. You cant tell me that they call that noise music. Youd have to be pretty dumb to enjoy its pounding beat which drowns out the melody, and only fools would attempt dancing to it. (a) combative (b) humorous (c) sarcastic (d) snobbish

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SAMPLE PERSUASIVE ESSAY

The situation: As a partial solution to the unemployment problem and as a means of raising the
standard of education in the United States, several senators are sponsoring a bill that would make two years of college compulsory for all students. This bill would have all future high school graduates go on directly to college. No students would be allowed to drop out of school (high school or college) before the third year of college, and no one would be permitted to hold a job unless he or she has completed two years of college.

Your task:
The essay:

In a 200-word essay, express your reaction to the proposed bill. Your purpose is to persuade your states senators to support your position. Follow the outline below and write your essay on a separate sheet of paper. Remember to indent each of the four paragraphs. Paragraph 1: (a) States the situation. (Summarize the main points in the Situation paragraph above.) (b) States the authors opinion. (The proposed bill should/should not be supported.) (c) Briefly mentions two reasons that support the opinion. (Just mention the reasons here; dont explain them.) Paragraph 2: (a) Repeats the first reason. (b) Explains the first reason by giving facts, details, or specific examples. Paragraph 3: (a) Repeats the second reason. (b) Explains the second reason by giving facts, details, or specific examples. Paragraph 4: (a) Repeats the authors opinion. (b) Restates the two reasons for that opinion. (The proposed bill should/should not be supported because ____________________________and because____________________________.)

DEPARTMENT OF BIG HINTS: If you experience trouble developing supporting reasons for your opinions about the topics presented here, remember that you can usually find a reason related to one of the three following areas: 1. MONEY 2. EDUCATIONAL VALUE 3. DEVELOPING A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY OR MATURITY
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WRITING TO PERSUADE EXERCISE NO. 1

Directions:
Write a composition in which you try to persuade your parents to accept your position in the situation described below. Before you start to write, read ALL the information carefully. license in the mail. Now all you need is a car, but your parents do not see why a high school student would need one.

The situation: Congratulations! You passed your road test and received your drivers

Your task:

Write a composition of about 200 words persuading your parents to allow you to purchase a car. State two reasons why you believe it is important for you to have a car at this time. In your composition, be sure to: Keep in mind the purpose of your composition is to persuade your parents to accept your viewpoint. Explain in detail your two reasons for needing a car. Organize what you write into cohesive paragraphs.

WRITING TO PERSUADE EXERCISE NO. 2

Directions:
Write a composition in which you try to persuade the school board to accept the suggestion you make in response to the situation described below. Before you start to write, read ALL the information carefully. first suggestion is to eliminate the school lunch program and have all students bring their own lunches to school. Their second suggestion is to eliminate all bus transportation and make all students responsible for getting to school on their own. They would like members of the community to respond to these suggestions.

The situation: The school board is considering two possible ways to save district money. Their

Your task:

Decide which of the two suggestions is more acceptable to you. In about 200 words, write to the school board and persuade them that your choice is the better solution to the problem. In your composition, be sure to: Keep in mind that you are trying to persuade the school board to accept your choice. Clearly state whether you are in favor of eliminating the lunch program or eliminating bus transportation. Support your choice with two fully-explained reasons. Organize your composition into cohesive paragraphs.
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