Open the John Muir Essays document in your Google drive folder and create a new heading.
A Place to Preserve
Purpose – Argument & Persuasion
- To argue for the preservation of a special place
- To persuade the audience of the importance of preserving this place so that they will fight for it too
Audience – Your classmates and myself who may not know why your place is special and important to preserve.
Format – 5 paragraph essay
| Paragraph 1 – Introduction |
Introduce your special place by providing brief background information about where it is, who uses or visits it, what it looks like, how it is reached, etc. Write a thesis statement listing three reasons why readers should help you in preserving this place.
| Paragraph 2 – Reason 1 |
Create a topic sentence that states your first reason for why the place should be preserved. Explain your reason in detail, providing at least two examples or facts or pieces of supporting evidence. Make sure that your sentences include some type of rhetorical appeal (ethos, pathos, and/or logos). End with a concluding statement that summarizes how your examples/facts/evidence support your reason.
| Paragraph 3 – Reason 2 |
Create a topic sentence that states your second reason for why the place should be preserved. Explain your reason in detail, providing at least two examples or facts or pieces of supporting evidence. Make sure that your sentences include some type of rhetorical appeal (ethos, pathos, and/or logos). End with a concluding statement that summarizes how your examples/facts/evidence support your reason.
| Paragraph 4 – Reason 3 |
Create a topic sentence that states your third reason for why the place should be preserved. Explain your reason in detail, providing at least two examples or facts or pieces of supporting evidence. Make sure that your sentences include some type of rhetorical appeal (ethos, pathos, and/or logos). End with a concluding statement that summarizes how your examples/facts/evidence support your reason.
| Paragraph 5 - Conclusion |
Restate your reasons for why your place should be preserved. Make a concession or counterargument that refutes why someone might not think that your place deserves preservation. End with a memorable rhetorical appeal that emphasizes the importance of preserving the place.
Evaluation –
- Organization – you followed directions and have at least 5 paragraphs that are well developed with a topic sentence and details.
- Focus – your thesis is clear and your essay does not stray from it. You wrote persuasively.
- Support – you used appropriate rhetorical appeals & descriptive details to persuade the reader of your place’s importance. You included many specific examples.
- MLA style – internal citation, proper heading, double spaced, etc.
- You have at least 500 words.
- See the rubric for more specific evaluation criteria.