position argument essay – why we should recycle

Topic – Everyone should be required to recycle
Part 1 formulation draft (this is a draft to help with part 2 and does not need to be in MLA
format and can be 1 page or less)
• Describe how you interact with the problem or issue on which you’ll be taking a stance.
Perhaps tell a personal story. How does this problem or issue affect you?
• Think about who needs to accept your point of view, or at least understand that your position
is a valid and acceptable point of view. This will be your audience.
• Describe how your audience interacts with this problem or issue. How does it affect your
audience in a slightly different or similar way?
• Think about what kind of rhetorical appeal—ethos, pathos, logos—might move your
audience to accept your point of view. Using the appeal that might resonate best with your
audience, tell them why they should accept your point of view.
• Craft a thesis statement. This is your central claim—your position. Think of your best reason
for your position. It might be helpful if you use this skeleton for your thesis statement:
“(Position) because (good reason).”
Part 2 (essay)
Using the part 1 information, write a position argument essay supporting recycling.
Use research to connect the issue to the larger conversation surrounding the topic, target a
specific audience, and establish common ground with your audience. Support your claims with
strong evidence and use the available means of persuasion to appeal to an audience’s values and
emotions. Use statistics to show benefits.
Your role is that of an advocate, presenting a convincing argument in favor of your position to an
audience that does not already agree with you. In order to accomplish this goal, you must
demonstrate that you understand the reasons why people believe differently than you and
practice respectful engagement with the various perspectives on your topic.