formal persuasive essay arguing a thesis 3 pages double spaced

Here are the sections and suggested length for a Solution or Proposal-oriented essay. However, depending on your topic and your thesis, you might modify this structure, changing the length or even eliminating or combining certain headings, if this is appropriate. Headings may be used in the essay or not but must be in the outline. Section lengths are suggestions. (See CC 338-339, and example on 357-366, though your essay will be shorter):

1. Statement of Purpose (1 paragraph or, optionally, combined with #2 below) Use first person (“I”); introd. the topic, identify your purpose and audience. The thesis statement itself need not appear yet.

Example: A par. stating that I intend to explore the problems of the poultry farming industry and practices and offer solutions; my audience, American meat eaters (and voters) who are unaware of where their food comes from.

2. The Central Problem, Issue, or Question. (1-2 paragraphs) Give us all the background and context of this issue, including the “conversation” going on about it. Define and explain the nature, background, and extent of the problem; explain the issue; or ask and explain the question that you intend to answer. Notice, this is only part of intro. section; no need for extensive, lengthy support.

Example: Just state the problems here; not supporting yet. The numbers slaughtered, the factory system that’s been constructed, with millions on some farms, the specific cruel methods used to house, feed and breed them, filthy conditions of the factories. Few laws protect animals, which are generally not looked at by the courts as having rights. Lack of awareness of most people. Yet the issue is heating up, with industry and right wing politicians defending the industry, and political action groups, including PETA and Farm Sanctuary, are fighting for change.

3. Thesis, Solution, or Proposal. (1 paragraph; includes Thesis Statement) States the position you will defend, which might be the solution or recommendation you propose (whether that is a government policy or and individual choice).

Ex.: Because of the widespread cruelty throughout the U.S. poultry industry, American voters should take both individual steps and massive collective action to bring about policy changes that would help lessen animal suffering.

4. Opposing Views. (1-2 paragraphs) Counter-perspective and your counter-arguments, or what “They say.” Show understanding of other points of view; establish common ground. Concede some points and refute others. (*Important: Keep this brief. Any counter-argument refutations that are key to your argument should be treated in the body.)

Ex.: Americans love meat [true]; important source of nutrients [true, but also avail elsewhere]; economically efficient, as it provides affordable meat [sure, but not as important a consideration as moral crime]; if done right, the slaughter minimizes pain [no; should be focused on human problems [yes, human problems are serious, but we can work on both]. Fake meats are poor [getting better]

5. Body (appr. 3 pages) Body paragraphs which offer support for your thesis with supporting details such as logical arguments, facts, examples, statistics, expert testimony, etc. (Body paragraphs may have such subtopics as How your solution would work, if it cannot all be explained in Thesis par.; Why your solution is the right one. As you go, point by point, try to show how your solution will accommodate those of the opposing camp, and will benefit them also. Remember, each paragraph should make a specific claim in the topic sentence, and then support that with details and evidence in the following sentences.

In this example, 6 paragraphs: Body par. 1: [1st major supp. Point] describing several kinds of animal rights laws, and another (Par. 2) on why they would work; Par. 3 on how well this is working in Sweden; Par. 4 [2nd major supp. Point] on proposal for schools, and another on why that would be a long-range solution; a par. (Par. 5) [3rd major supp. point] on repealing the anti-photography/whistleblower laws, and how that would help enforce existing law and educate; Par.6 [4th major supp. point] on how these 3 goals can be reached: one way: citizen action like calling state reps and joining and volunteering for animal groups, and how this can work. Another way (Par. 7), pocketbook activism: buy fake meat or non-factory farm poultry products.

6. Conclusion (1 paragraph) Should include a restatement of thesis statement in forceful language, and ­­might include prediction. Also, try to show how your solution accommodates the needs of those in the opposing camp.

Alternative (Focusing on Problem) If your thesis is to primarily focus on the problem, persuading us that a situation is a problem, leaving the solution to others, your structure might be a bit different:

1. Statement of Purpose Explain that you intend to explore the hidden reality of poultry farming in the U.S. and whether there are problems with the practices. Audience, American meat eaters who are unaware of where their food comes from.

2. Central Problem, Issue or Question would focus on the issue, or question, of poultry farming as an ethical and health problem. (Each year Americans eats on average 54 pounds of chicken; 8 billion are slaughtered in U.S./yr; to meet the demand; factory farms have grown to housing x no. of chickens on large factory farms, slaughtering 8 million per year, and practicing techniques both cruel to chickens and unhealthful for consumers to keep production up.)

3. Thesis The poultry industry as it is practiced in the U.S. has a number of problems, but the most important is the cruelty that it inflicts on billions of innocent creatures each year. [Notice: no solution is offered.]

4. Opposing Views and Counterarguments Probably the same as 4 above.

5. Body Does NOT offer a solution; rather proves the thesis claim that it IS a problem: point by point in each paragraph that the practices are unacceptably cruel, that chickens are innocent living beings susceptible to great pain. That Americans wouldn’t accept it if they knew, but muzzle laws prevent that. Maybe a paragraph on the unhealthy product that results.

6. Conclusion Brief overview of suggested approaches to solving this problem—suggested, because proving these claims is outside the scope of this essay. Try to show how seeing this as a problem and addressing it is also in the interest of those who hold the opposing point of view. You could also touch on the additional problem of the effect on human health of chickens raised and treated the way they are-noting that is not the present topic.

Another alternative: I could imagine an essay in which the Body paragraphs (#5) are mostly refutations, if these will make your case better. For example, if you were to argue that government should not meddle in the poultry industry and let them do their thing. You could have some positive paragraphs about the jobs, the cheap, nutritious food, but a good number of negative par. refuting the Animal Rights Movement claims.