Read the Sample Student Essay and answer the following questions as thoroughly and
accurately as you can. Before beginning this activity, please read or listen to all of the instructional
material on writing the Persuasive Essay as well as on APA documentation style.
1. What method does the author use to grab our attention and draw us into the topic? Do you
think it is effective? Why or why not?
2. What types of background material is used to establish the problem and overview the
background on the issue? Do you feel the background is effective and necessary? Explain.
3. What is the author’s position? Write it here:
4. List each major reason the author provides to prove her position and bullet her sub-points under
each major reason.
5. List the counterarguments (objections) to her position does the author brings up. For each
counterargument, explain the rebuttal she offers.
6. What purpose do the counterarguments and rebuttals seem to serve in the overall essay?
7. How well does this article support each point and integrate sources? How could the use of
sources and support be improved to make the argument more persuasive?
8. How effective do you find the conclusion? Why?
9. What does the author do to make the essay’s tone to make the essay persuasive rather than
informative?
10. How effective do you find the overall argument of the essay? How could it be improved?
Explain.