Purposes and Patterns for Writing

Purposes - Persuasive Writing:

Persuasive writing has three characteristics: a thesis statement, evidence, and reader-oriented language.

1. Thesis	2. Valid Evidence	3. Reader-oriented language
The thesis statement makes a claim defending a position on an issue, proposing a solution, or evaluating a subject.	The claim is supported by reasons, and the reasons are developed with evidence that is sufficient, relevant, and credible. Evidence includes observations, consequences, common knowledge, statistics, examples, and authorities.	The writer uses language that is appropriate to his or her reader. “As a result, the writer may use everyday speech, slang, jargon, or Standard Edited American English, if that is what the reader expects and will accept” (Polnac 57). First, second, or third person may be used.
Girls in sixth grade should be vaccinated for HPV, a sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer.	Why does the writer believe this? What evidence will the writer use to support the stated reasons?
We can end the war [on drugs] and at the same time keep junkies off the streets by making drugs freely available—in pharmacies located in minimum-security prisons. –Tom Dworetzky, “What to Do with Our Addiction Problem: Waging Peace on Drugs”	Why does the writer believe this? What evidence will the writer use to support the stated reasons?
Chuy’s restaurant has the best Tex-Mex food in Austin.	Why does the writer believe this? What evidence will the writer use to support the stated reasons?

Memory Device: People should be good listeners if they want to persuade. By arranging the characteristics out of order—Evidence, A thesis, and Reader-oriented language— EAR can be the memory device. Just remember that in a written discussion of the characteristics you should discuss the thesis statement before the evidence.

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