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how do i start a persuasive paper on highway mainenance

Susan Hansen asked in Books & Writing about 1 year ago | Report

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  • Skull_pumpkin_small
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    Study the situation, develop an opinion and articulate it. Then back it up with supporting facts. If you lack facts to support your opinion, then it's not defensible and you should study the situation further.

    The more specific your opinion, the more clear and interesting your paper will be. In "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance", it's pointed out that if you can't write about a city, you should write about a street. If you can't write about the street, write about a building. If you can't write about a building, write about a brick in the building. Too big=too vague=boring=not persuasive.

    Incidentally, you get a pass on what looks like a homework question because you have not asked for any facts, just an approach.

    CleverScreenName answered in Books & Writing about 1 year ago | Report
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    Start with a really grizzly anecdote about a highway fatality that could have been avoided with proper highway maintenance. Blood and gore hooks 'em every time, and then it will become REALLY persuasive.

    Penny Lane answered in Books & Writing about 1 year ago | Report
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  • Cthulhu-early_small
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    Abdul Alhazred

    Some additional context by you to accompany this question may help narrow down the subject and lead to better ideas.

    Your paper may start with a good purpose or declaration of what you will cover (or not discuss).

    For instance, you might identify the federal/state/local laws covering highway maintenance, as a way to show who must spend money. Example - WA state law says for towns above 10,000 population are required to maintain state roads within their city limits. So Seattle is somewhat on the hook to maintain the Viaduct.

    Another example - who owns the right of way may have to maintain it. When a city incorporates a portion of county land, by operation of law the right of way automatically transfers to the city and thus some maintenance responsibility accrues.

    Maintenance may imply treatment - for example, stormwater runoff from federal highways may have to meet state or local water quality & quantity treatment standards. This accounts for payment by the federal & state government to local cities such as Bellevue, based on the area of impervious surface.

    Take a look at the federal highway administration website for good ideas.

    Abdul Alhazred answered in Books & Writing about 1 year ago | Report
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