The Persuasive Essay

1. The Persuasive Essay Visiting Fellows Program Spring 2006 Presented by Lisa Donohoe ELAN Academic Coordinator

2. Persuasive Essay: IntroductionParagraph One WHILE THE end of the Cold War transformed the political landscape of Europe, it did little to ameliorate India's security concerns. The rise of China and continued strains with Pakistan made the 1980s and 1990s a greatly troubling period for India. At the global level, the nuclear weapons states showed no signs of moving decisively toward a world free of atomic danger. Instead, the nuclear nonproliferation treaty (NPT) was extended indefinitely and unconditionally in .1995, perpetuating the existence of nuclear weapons in the hands of five countries busily modernizing their nuclear arsenals. In 1996, after they had conducted over 2000 tests, a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) was opened for signature, following two and a half years of negotiations in which India participated actively. This treaty, alas, was neither comprehensive nor related to disarmament but rather devoted to ratifying the nuclear status quo. India's options had narrowed critically.

3. Persuasive Essay: First Paragraph WHILE THE end of the Cold War transformed the political landscape of Europe, it did little to ameliorate India's security concerns. The rise of China and continued strains with Pakistan made the 1980s and 1990s a greatly troubling period for India. At the global level, the nuclear weapons states showed no signs of moving decisively toward a world free of atomic danger. Instead, the nuclear nonproliferation treaty (NPT) was extended indefinitely and unconditionally in .1995, perpetuating the existence of nuclear weapons in the hands of five countries busily modernizing their nuclear arsenals. In 1996, after they had conducted over 2000 tests, a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) was opened for signature, following two and a half years of negotiations in which India participated actively. This treaty, alas, was neither comprehensive nor related to disarmament but rather devoted to ratifying the nuclear status quo. India's options had narrowed critically. Topic Sentence/”Hook”

4. Persuasive Essay: First Paragraph WHILE THE end of the Cold War transformed the political land-scape of Europe, it did little to ameliorate India's security concerns.The rise of China and continued strains with Pakistan made the 1980s and 1990s a greatly troubling period for India. At the global level, the nuclear weapons states showed no signs of moving decisively toward a world free of atomic danger. Instead, the nuclear nonproliferation treaty (NPT) was extended indefinitely and unconditionally in .1995, perpetuating the existence of nuclear weapons in the hands of five countries busily modernizing their nuclear arsenals. In 1996, after they had conducted over 2000 tests, a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) was opened for signature, following two and a half years of negotiations in which India participated actively. This treaty, alas, was neither comprehensive nor related to disarmament but rather devoted to ratifying the nuclear status quo. India's options had narrowed critically. Topic Sentence/”Hook” Supporting Argument #1

5. Persuasive Essay: First Paragraph WHILE THE end of the Cold War transformed the political land-scape of Europe, it did little to ameliorate India's security concerns.The rise of China and continued strains with Pakistan made the 1980s and 1990s a greatly troubling period for India.At the global level, the nuclear weapons states showed no signs of moving decisively toward a world free of atomic danger. Instead, the nuclear nonproliferation treaty (NPT) was extended indefinitely and unconditionally in .1995, perpetuating the existence of nuclear weapons in the hands of five countries busily modernizing their nuclear arsenals. In 1996, after they had conducted over 2000 tests, a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) was opened for signature, following two and a half years of negotiations in which India participated actively. This treaty, alas, was neither comprehensive nor related to disarmament but rather devoted to ratifying the nuclear status quo. India's options had narrowed critically. Topic Sentence/”Hook” Supporting Argument #1 Supporting Argument #2

6. Persuasive Essay: First Paragraph WHILE THE end of the Cold War transformed the political land-scape of Europe, it did little to ameliorate India's security concerns.The rise of China and continued strains with Pakistan made the 1980s and 1990s a greatly troubling period for India.At the global level, the nuclear weapons states showed no signs of moving decisively toward a world free of atomic danger. Instead, the nuclear nonproliferation treaty (NPT) was extended indefinitely and unconditionally in 1995, perpetuating the existence of nuclear weapons in the hands of five countries busily modernizing their nuclear arsenals.In 1996, after they had conducted over 2000 tests, a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) was opened for signature, following two and a half years of negotiations in which India participated actively.This treaty, alas, was neither comprehensive nor related to disarmament but rather devoted to ratifying the nuclear status quo. India's options had narrowed critically. Topic Sentence/”Hook” Supporting Argument #1 Supporting Argument #2 Supporting Argument #3 Conclusion

7. Persuasive Essay: IntroductionParagraph Two India had to ensure that its nuclear option, developed and safeguarded over decades, was not eroded by self-imposed restraint. Such a loss would place the country at risk. Faced with a difficult decision, New Delhi realized that its lone touchstone remained national security. The nuclear tests it conducted on May 11 and 13 were by then not only inevitable but a continuation of policies from almost the earliest years of independence. India's nuclear policy remains firmly committed to a basic tenet: that the country's national security in a world of nuclear proliferation lies either in global disarmament or in exercise of the principle of equal and legitimate security for all. TS: Stating the issue

8. Persuasive Essay: IntroductionParagraph Two India had to ensure that its nuclear option, developed and safeguarded over decades, was not eroded by self-imposed restraint. Such a loss would place the country at risk. Faced with a difficult decision, New Delhi realized that its lone touchstone remained national security. The nuclear tests it conducted on May 11 and 13 were by then not only inevitable but a continuation of policies from almost the earliest years of independence. India's nuclear policy remains firmly committed to a basic tenet: that the country's national security in a world of nuclear proliferation lies either in global disarmament or in exercise of the principle of equal and legitimate security for all. TS: Stating the issue Building the rationale for the position

9. Persuasive Essay: IntroductionParagraph Two India had to ensure that its nuclear option, developed and safeguarded over decades, was not eroded by self-imposed restraint. Such a loss would place the country at risk. Faced with a difficult decision, New Delhi realized that its lone touchstone remained national security. The nuclear tests it conducted on May 11 and 13 were by then not only inevitable but a continuation of policies from almost the earliest years of independence. India's nuclear policy remains firmly committed to a basic tenet: that the country's national security in a world of nuclear proliferation lies either in global disarmament or in exercise of the principle of equal and legitimate security for all. TS: Stating the issue Building the rationale for the position Position

10. Paragraph:Establishes a Controlling Idea • Topic Sentence = Main Idea • As the first sentence • Makes a generalization • Serves as a reference point for • rest of paragraph • As the third or fourth sentence • Focuses details • Directs attention to main idea • As the final sentence • Summarizes or draws conclusions from details Thesis of Paper

11. Provides the Building Blocks of the Essay/Paper Introductory Paragraph States Thesis Supporting Paragraph Support the thesis with detail Supporting Paragraph Supporting Paragraph Restates the thesis, summarizes the points in the previous paragraphs and draws a conclusion Concluding Paragraph

12. First Paragraph: Reflects Organization of the Essay WHILE THE end of the Cold War transformed the political land-scape of Europe, it did little to ameliorate India's security concerns.The rise of China and continued strains with Pakistan made the 1980s and 1990s a greatly troubling period for India.At the global level, the nuclear weapons states showed no signs of moving decisively toward a world free of atomic danger. Instead, the nuclear nonproliferation treaty (NPT) was extended indefinitely and unconditionally in .1995, perpetuating the existence of nuclear weapons in the hands of five countries busily modernizing their nuclear arsenals.In 1996, after they had conducted over 2000 tests, a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) was opened for signature, following two and a half years of negotiations in which India participated actively.This treaty, alas, was neither comprehensive nor related to disarmament but rather devoted to ratifying the nuclear status quo. India's options had narrowed critically. Topic Sentence/”Hook” Supporting Argument #1 Supporting Argument #2 Supporting Argument #3 Conclusion

13. Using examples Several examples or one extended example Telling a story or anecdote Providing facts and statistics Defining key terms, concepts Classifying, categorizing Comparing and contrasting Ways to Begin: A Hook

14. May Use Deductive Reasoning • Begin with a generalization (premise) • Apply to specific instance • Draw a conclusion Generalization Specific Conclusion

15. May Use Inductive Reasoning • Begin with specific facts or observations • Add supporting examples • Draw a general conclusion Specific Generalization

16. Arrange Ideas in Understandable Order • Chronological order • Narrate a series of events • Spatial order • North to south, near to distant, etc. • Order of importance • Description to make a point • General to specific; specific to general • Question-answer • Problem-solution • Cause-effect • Logical order (a process) • Provide a definition

17. Use Transitions • Transition: A link from one idea, sentence, or paragraph to another • Use of pronouns • Repeated words, phrases, or ideas • Conjunctions and other transitional expressions • Parallel structures

18. By late afternoon the nuclear fuel, containing sufficient highly enriched uranium (HEU) for several nuclear bombs, had been loaded onto a canvas-sided flatbed truck. The technicians and scientists were shepherded into a nearby building. For the next dozen hours, they waited under heavy security, with strict orders not to contact friends or family and perhaps accidentally leak information about the impending transport. Then, in the early morning hours of August 22, 2002, at a time kept secret even from participating American nuclear scientists, the transport operation began. Project Vinca, a multinational, public-private effort to remove nuclear material from a poorly secured Yugoslav research institute, was entering its final phase. Philipp C. Bleek, “Project Vinca: Lessons for Securing Civil Nuclear Material Stockpiles,” The Nonproliferation Review 10 (fall/winter 2003).

19. By late afternoon the nuclear fuel, containing sufficient highly enriched uranium (HEU) for several nuclear bombs, had been loaded onto a canvas-sided flatbed truck. The technicians and scientists were shepherded into a nearby building. For the next dozen hours, they waited under heavy security, with strict orders not to contact friends or family and perhaps accidentally leak information about the impending transport. Then, in the early morning hours of August 22, 2002, at a time kept secret even from participating American nuclear scientists, the transport operation began. Project Vinca, a multinational, public-private effort to remove nuclear material from a poorly secured Yugoslav research institute, was entering its final phase. Philipp C. Bleek, “Project Vinca: Lessons for Securing Civil Nuclear Material Stockpiles,” The Nonproliferation Review 10 (fall/winter 2003).

20. The lessons of Project Vinca fall into four broad categories: international politics, bureaucratic politics, required capabilities, and the role of nongovernmental actors. In the international context, the Vinca case highlights the extent to which dealing with vulnerable nuclear material stockpiles hinges on persuading countries to cooperate and hence requires occasional engagement from the most senior U.S. officials. Within the U.S. government, the inter- and intra-agency friction that hampered the operation highlights the need for a suitably equipped and empowered lead official and office. The case also makes clear the capabilities that office will require, including the flexibility to negotiate ad hoc compensation packages for countries willing to give up nuclear materials. Finally, Project Vinca illuminates the important role of nongovernmental actors in setting the policy agenda and prodding government to action. Philipp C. Bleek, “Project Vinca: Lessons for Securing Civil Nuclear Material Stockpiles,” The Nonproliferation Review 10 (fall/winter 2003).

21. The lessons of Project Vinca fall into four broad categories: international politics, bureaucratic politics, required capabilities, and the role of nongovernmental actors. In the international context, the Vinca case highlights the extent to which dealing with vulnerable nuclear material stockpiles hinges on persuading countries to cooperate and hence requires occasional engagement from the most senior U.S. officials. Within the U.S. government, the inter- and intra-agency friction that hampered the operation highlights the need for a suitably equipped and empowered lead official and office. The case also makes clear the capabilities that office will require, including the flexibility to negotiate ad hoc compensation packages for countries willing to give up nuclear materials. Finally, Project Vinca illuminates the important role of nongovernmental actors in setting the policy agenda and prodding government to action. Philipp C. Bleek, “Project Vinca: Lessons for Securing Civil Nuclear Material Stockpiles,” The Nonproliferation Review 10 (fall/winter 2003).

22. Jonathan is an articulate, intelligent, thirty-five-year-old man who has used a wheelchair since he became a paraplegic when he was twenty years old. He recalls taking an ablebodied woman out to dinner at a nice restaurant. When the waitress came to take their order, she patronizingly asked his date, “And what would he like to eat for dinner?” At the end of the meal, the waitress presented Jonathan’s date with the check and thanked her for her patronage. Although it may be hard to believe the insensitivity of the waitress, this incident is not an isolated one. Rather, such an experience is a common one for persons with disabilities. ―Dawn O. Braithwaite, “Viewing Persons with Disabilities as a Culture”

23. Ant queens, hidden in the fastness of well-built nests and protected by zealous daughters, enjoy exceptionally long lives. Barring accidents, those of most species last 5 years or longer. A few exceed in natural longevity anything known in the millions of species of other insects, including even the legendary 17-year-old cicadas. One mother queen of an Australian carpenter ant kept in a laboratory nest flourished for 23 years, producing thousands of offspring before she faltered in her reproduction and died, apparently of old age. Several queens of Lasius flavus, the little yellow mound-building ant of European meadows, have lived 18 to 22 years in captivity. The world record for ants, and hence for insects generally, is held by a queen of Lasius niger, the European black sidewalk ant, which also lives in forests. Lovingly attended in a laboratory nest by a Swiss entomologist, she lasted 29 years. ―Bert Hölldobler and Edward O. Wilson, Journey to the Ants