Course: Persuasive Writing - MS ELA

Using an Online Forum to Present Persuasive Arguments

In class you have been learning about the use of arguments and supporting evidence to persuade others to agree with your position or thesis statement on a particular topic. In this lesson you are going to practice using a forum to make a thesis statement, supported by arguments and evidence, about a recent controversial decision relating to an athlete who used steroids.

Read the following articles about Marion Jones, an Olympic athlete who won 5 medals at the 2000 summer Olympics in Syndney, Australia. In October 2007, Marion admitted that she took steroids, a performance enhancing drug that is not allowed under Olympics rules. The Olympic Committee ordered Marion to return her 5 medals. One of the 5 medals she won was in the 400 Meter relay event. She had 3 other teammates that ran in this event and won medals. Marion has already returned all 5 of her Olympic medals. Should her three teammates from the 400 Meter relay have to return their medals also? Why or why not?

Marion Jones had all of the medals she won at the 2000 Olympics taken away because of illegal drug use. Should her teammates in the relay race also lose their medals?
Post a thesis statement about this issue to the forum. Back it up with arguments and evidence from the articles. Respond to one or more postings made by your classmates.