Comparing the convincing and persuading papers

As students get further into portfolio 2, they often have questions about how best to divide material into their convincing and persuading papers. I provide two kinds of comparisons below depending on whether your papers tackle an issue or a problem and solution. ALWAYS KEEP IN MIND YOUR OVERALL GOAL AND YOUR SPECIFIC TARGET AUDIENCE FOR EACH PAPER.
Paired papers on an issue

Convincing Aims for readers to agree with your point of view Readers are typically slightly opposed, uninformed, or ambivalent about your point of view at the beginning of your paper. Development will include the key objections opponents would have to your point of view and rebuttal of those objections.

Persuading Aims to move readers to act on the issue Readers are typically still neutral or slightly leaning toward your point of view. (Usually, you will be much less successful convincing an audience of the unequivocally opposed or the uninformed because you have to convince them before you can persuade them. Don't write to the wildly enthusiastic because then you're preaching to the choir.) Development will include appropriate appeals based on your detailed audience analysis as well as some of the logical arguments you use in the convincing paper.

Paired papers on a problem/solution

Convincing Aims for readers to see the problem as you see it Readers are typically slightly opposed, uninformed, or ambivalent about your view of the problem at the beginning of your paper. Development will include the key objections opponents would have to your view of the problem and rebuttal of those objections as well as your reasons for stating the problem as you do.

PersuadingAims to move readers to act on your proposed solution Readers are willing to accept your statement of the problem but have not yet settled on the best solution as they begin your paper. Development will include · a sketch of the problem (just to set the context) · appropriate appeals based on your detailed audience analysis · logical arguments for your solution · key objections opponents would have to your solution and rebuttal of those objections OR key arguments in favor of alternative solutions and your argument about why your solution is better

Students often have more trouble seeing how to divide material for an issue topic. For instance, suppose you want to focus on this issue-should states be able to sue handgun manufacturers to recover health care costs related to gunshot wounds? The convincing paper will argue for readers to agree with the writer’s position. The persuading paper could be targeted to legislators (to write new law allowing/disallowing the suits), to citizens (to lobby for or against such suits), or to the appellate courts (to decide the suits in a specific way).
Some crime and punishment topics students have written on in the past
Problem/solution papers (localized for CSU or Larimer County)

campus crime
date rape
binge drinking
underage possession of cigarettes
spousal abuse
Issue papers

hate crime legislation
maintaining penalties under the Endangered Species Act