2. Evaluating Persuasive Writing Are the terms clearly defined, when necessary? Is the information fair & recent? Does the information represent what it is intended to represent?
3. Are there logical fallacies? Emotionally loaded terms: words that influence the reader (ex. horrible, bright) Ad Hominem argument: attacking the person (ex. sexist pig, idiot) Faulty cause & effect: the first event does not necessarily cause the second
4. Either/or reasoning: presenting only 2 options when, in reality, more exist Hasty generalization: drawing a conclusion without enough evidence False analogy: comparing two things that are not really comparable
5. Circular Reasoning: assuming your opinion to be fact; restating the opinion as a “reason” Non Sequitur: drawing a conclusion that is not necessarily true Oversimplification: offering an easy solution to a complicated problem
6. Step 1: Identify and evaluate the author’s purpose(reason for writing) a) Writing to INFORM... Is information accurate? Significant? Fair? b) Writing to PERSUADE... Are terms clearly defined? Is information used fairly? Are there logical fallacies?
7. Step 2: Identify the article’s strengths & weaknesses Is the writing clear or confusing & repetitive? Is the article well-organized or disorganized? Are the assumptions correct or incorrect? Are the examples solid or weak? Is the support useful or not? Is the article free of fallacies or not? Does the writer state his/her point well or weakly? In the end, do you agree with the point this article makes? Why or why not?
8. Step 3: Write the outline I. Intro—title, when & where published, author & credentials, author’s purpose and intended audience II. Summarize the article III. Body Paragraph 1—strengths (Where does the writer succeed in his/her purpose?) IV. Body Paragraph 2—weaknesses (Where does the writer fail in his/her purpose?) V. Body Paragraph 3—personal response (Do you agree with author’s point? Why or why not?) VI. Conclusion—restate author’s points and summarize your opinions
