Pro/Con Format Essay #7

English 10

A pro/con essay is a special form of a persuasive essay. One of its key attributes is that it requires a fair and balanced argument - an important quality if one wishes to convince someone who holds an opposing view. Additionally, the language you use must also be respectful of the opposing side. The last thing you want to do is alienate your reader with biased words that make them look or feel bad.

The following ideas and suggestions are adapted from The Lively Art of Writing, by Lucile Vaughan Payne.

Start the writing process by writing your thesis and listing your pros and cons below it. For instance, if your topic is drag racing, it might look something like this:

Thesis A: Today’s drag-racing teenager is primarily an automotive engineer.

Con Pro

Dangers of drag racing Drivers become expert mechanics

Drivers irresponsible, merely Pride in workmanship

attracted by danger Respect for rules at dragstrips

Destructiveness (tire burning, etc) Most criticism uninformed

Noisy, dirty Safety important

OR

Thesis B: Today’s drag-racing teenager is all too often a public menace.

Con Pro

Drivers are good mechanics Wasteful, dirty, noisy

Pride in workmanship Reckless love of danger

Respect for dragstrip rules Emphasis on mechanical skill rather

than on responsibility

Racing instinct encouraged

After your prewriting, start drafting. Take care of your con arguments first. Then move on to your pro arguments that support your thesis. The pro list will always be longer than the con list, since it is the main body of your argument.

There are a few basic rules to follow:

1. Make all the necessary concessions to your opposition as soon as

possible.

2. Never develop a con point as fully as you develop a pro point.

3. Devote at least one paragraph to every major pro argument in your

full thesis statement.

4. Save your best pro argument for last.

NOTE: All of the above rules and suggestions apply to Pro/Con speeches as well as essays.

Pro/Con Essay Format/Organization

Your pro/con essay must include at least two objections readers are likely to have to your position and at least three arguments in favor of your position.

You can use the following as a guide.

1. Beginning paragraph. You do not necessarily have to directly state your thesis here. But for the purpose of consistency, it is best to continue to state the thesis early.

2. First body paragraph, stating and elaborating on your readers’ most likely objection to your position.

3. Second body paragraph, stating and elaborating on your readers’ second most likely objection to your position.

4. Transition paragraph, if you want one.

5. Third body paragraph, stating and elaborating on your third best argument for your position.

6. Fourth body paragraph, stating and elaborating on your second best argument for your position.

7. Fifth and longest body paragraph, stating and elaborating on your best argument for your position.

8. Concluding paragraph.