A persuasive essay is written in an attempt to sway an audience for or against a certain thing or idea through facts and the development of an argument or arguments. For your first assignment in the Essay Series, create a persuasive essay. In 1-2 pages, create an essay that challenges the following claim:

"Freedom of speech is one thing, but when it is damaging to society something can and should be done
Can someone help me on this thank you

A persuasive essay is written in an attempt to sway an audience for or against a certain thing or idea through facts and the development of an argument or arguments. For your first assignment in the Essay Series, create a persuasive essay. In 1-2 pages, create an essay that challenges the following claim:

"Freedom of speech is one thing, but when it is damaging to society something can and should be done
can someone help me on this thank you

Hi Winna,

It's very difficult to explain this in a few sentences or paragraphs.

Firstly, you need to isolate your target audience. In other words, the group you are trying to persuade, e.g. class mates, your teacher, academics? The target group will decide on the type of language you will use.

Secondly, you need to consider the structure of the text. Very basically it should have an Introduction, Body and Conclusion.

Thirdly, Keeping in mind this is persuasive writing you need to implement a number strategies that will appeal to your target audience. Emotive words and phrases that you know that will, 'strike a cord' with your audience.

Depending on the level you are writing at you might also need to consider such things a paragraphing and sentence structure to help get your message across. Again, depending on the level you are at punctuation and spelling would also come into it.

Tut

1 - 2 pages isn't a lot for a topic that could take a whole book.
So why not pick 2 - 3 examples of when free speech (which includes 'expression') might be damaging to society?
A recurring one is what can or cannot be done with an American flag. What do you think?
A protest crowd blocks entrance to a draft center during a war. Is that free speech or disruption and trespass?
Someone in a town near me painted a huge marijuana leaf on his house. The town told him to get rid of it because he was displaying something illegal. He claimed freedom of expression. What do you think?
Back in the 60s I remember someone wrote 'puke on the president' on the back of an envelope of a letter he mailed. A bunch of helicopters and a SWAT team showed up at his home. The Secret Service said 'what if enough people did puke on the president; he could be smothered and die.' What do you think? Stupid or serious?
On a serious note there's the Patriot Act. Google some of the freedoms of expression lost in the name of defending the US against terrorism.
Actually all the above are serious, despite finding humor in them. But for reading out loud in class they can generate interest. Just make sure you defend your position well.