Name:

Christin Hale

Persuasive Essay: Topic and Audience Worksheet

If you did not take UNV 104 or if you would like to review the writing concepts introduced in
UNV 104, it is suggested that you view a media piece entitled, The Writing Process, which is
available to support the development of your writing skills. For this Topic, focus on the
Planning and Getting Started? section of the media piece.

Part 1: Select a Topic

Choose a topic for your Persuasive Essay from the list below. If you would like to write about a
topic that is not on the list, contact your instructor via email to request approval.

Gun control Charter schools
Legalization of marijuana Same-sex marriage
Abortion Flag burning (Does someone have
Euthanasia
the right to burn the flag of the
country? Who gives them that right?)
Banning books (censorship) Death penalty
Mandatory military service War
Separation of church and state
Prostitution

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1) What is the topic you have chosen for your persuasive essay?
Abortion is the topic that I chose to write on.
2) Begin thinking about the different issues associated with the topic you have selected, narrow
your focus, and take a pro or con position for the subject of your essay. Present a simple
statement of your position here.

I am against abortion, when a baby is conceived it is alive. It has a heartbeat from day one.

Section II: Identify your Audience

Answer the following questions regarding the audience for your essay.
1) Who do you intend to read your essay?
I would intend for lawmakers or maybe someone thinking of having an abortion.

2) Are there clues in this particular assignment about who your audience is?

When writing about pros and cons you are trying to change someones mind. So, I would
want to change the mind of lawmakers and someone thinking of having an abortion.

3) Do you have more than one audience? If so, how many do you have? List them.
Yes, I think I would have more than one audience.
1. Lawmakers
2. Someone thinking of having an abortion.
3. Young teenagers

4) What is the appropriate way to address this audience (professional, familial, friendly)? Why?

The appropriate way to address the audience would be professional. The reason I think this is
I am trying to change their mind. Then I would be trying to convince lawmakers to change a
law.
5) What about your topic is important to your audience? What about your topic is not important
to your audience?

I do not think that there is nothing not important about this topic. This is something very dear
to me. The main thing that is important about my topic is that from the day of the first
heartbeat it is a living being.