Unit 4: writing to convince/writing to solve problems Scrying on yonder showcase Ranking the NOFOs

Unit 4: writing to convince/writing to solve problems

readings, exercises:
invention and arrangement: chapters 8 (, 11, 14 (appeals),
fit and finish: chapter 20 (synthesizing and documenting sources)

Can we have a template?
Proposals are the hallmark genre of persuasive and action-based writing.
a  case-specific ratio of problem/solution work
each section can harness all of the rhetorical strategies we have covered this semester.

Persuading others to take action: an essay in two parts

1) demonstrating:
a) present the issue or problem via definition and WTI: grab attention, give history, quote an authority, cite stats.

b) make ethical appeals: "something is wrong." Sometimes you have to show cause/effect: show undesirable consequences of the issue/problem (chapter 10).

2) supporting arguments:
a) present the good consequences that will follow from a proposed plan of action/bad consequences that will be avoided if the proposed plan is adopted (chapter 10)

b) make ethical appeals, again: "do the right thing."

c) feasibility of the plan (affordability, time frame, motivating people to participate in the plan of action, using counterargument to address trade-off and make necessary concessions, identifying the first step, citing precedent, identifying recent changes and circumstances that makes the timing just right for your plan of action)

important: present the whole problem, give the solution in clear steps


important: research is necessary for persuasive writing!
a) clearly define your problem

b)explore multiple perspectives and decide who is your primary audience

c) explore previous and ongoing efforts to respond to the problem, so that you can argue with authority for the solution/path you want to promote in your argument.

d) find, synthesize and present evidence that supports your argument

e) find the appropriate language for inspiring readers to take action

assignment: writing exercise for finding a topic/issue/problem for Unit 4

Find an argument on the wiki or elsewhere that focuses attention at the stasis of value (writing to evaluate). Find an audience that you think might be able to take action in response to the evaluative argument. For this audience, would you need to spend more time demonstrating the need for action, or would you need to spend more time supporting a particular plan of action? Blog until you find a thesis statement for Unit 4.

Scrying on yonder showcase

alternative ways of writing to convince/solve problems: selecting a genre for the showcase

chapter 16, 17, and 18 

assignment: complete mission statement and write yourself onto the Showcase Roster Form

Ranking the NOFOs

assignment: read all of the NOFOs we generated in Unit 3. List the 3 NOFOs that you feel or the 3 best NOFOs. Tap into your WTEval toolbox and write a brief rationale explaining why your top 3 are the best.