In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: smoking. Smoking can cause a large amount of plaque to attach to your teeth. This can, in turn, cause your gums to begin receding. To eliminate this problem, make a plan to quit smoking and put that plan into action. There are a variety of routes you can take to stop smoking. When you are making your plan to quit, remember that most people have more success quitting smoking if they are engaged in a smoking cessation program and if they use aids to ease their withdrawal. If you have a lip or tongue piercing, it may rub on your gums. The rubbing, over time, can cause your gums to recede. To minimize this and allow your gums to recover, you should take out any piercings that are rubbing on the gums. If you are unwilling to remove a piercing permanently, at least take it out when you can. Sleeping without it or taking it out for a few hours a day will reduce the wear and tear on your gums. There are some medical problems that can cause the gums to recede. For example, untreated diabetes can cause an increase in the glucose in your saliva. This can then cause an increase in the risk of gingivitis and periodontitis.  There are also cases in which the treatment for certain diseases can impact your gum health. If you are receiving treatment for HIV, AIDS, or cancer, your gums could be impacted. Talk to your doctor about how best to control these diseases and the impact their treatment can have on your gums. There are some things that can cause your gums to recede that you cannot prevent or eliminate. However, you can be aware of them and understand that you need to be especially vigilant about your personal dental care if you have them. Factors that should prompt you to give your gums extra care include:  A family history of gum problems Old age Pregnancy Puberty Menopause
Summary: Quit Take out piercings that are rubbing on your gums. Get professional treatment for health problems. Be aware of other contributing factors.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: Before you start your letter, brainstorm. Make sure it states what you want, why you want it, reasons why it should be granted, and any arguments against you. Is this really the topic you want? Getting your ideas down can help you clearly draft your letter and fully understand your position on the topic.  Start by using this: I want to persuade my audience to my purpose. Exchange my audience with who you want to persuade and my purpose with what it is you want to persuade them to do. After you have established that, ask yourself: Why? List the reasons why you want your audience to do what you want them to do. After you brainstorm reasons, sort them by importance. Place all the important details into a column, then place all the less important details in another column. This step helps  you narrow your reasoning so you emphasize the relevant, salient points. Make sure you know exactly what you want or need. What are you trying to accomplish? What do you want to happen? When you are figuring out your purpose, think about any solutions that you can offer. Analyzing and understanding your audience will help you decide how you should frame your letter. If possible, determine if your reader agrees with you, disagrees with you, or is neutral. This will help you decide how much weight should be placed on each side of your argument.  Try to find a real person to address your letter to. Who are they, and what power do they really have to help you? How are they going to change your mind? Will they just pass along your complaint? How should you address them? Are they in a senior or functionary position? Talk to them according to their position. Try to discover what beliefs and biases the reader has about your topic. What disagreements might arise between you and your reader? How can you present a counterargument respectfully? Figure out what concerns your reader might have with the topic. Do they have limited funds to distribute? Are they directly affected by the topic? How much time do they have to consider your document?  Think about the kind of evidence your reader will need in your argument to be persuaded. Effective persuasive letters contain factual evidence and information that supports the position. Make sure to consider multiple points-of-view. Don't just research your side; mention the contrary opinion and facts surrounded it.  Use facts, logic, statistics, and anecdotal evidence to support your claim.  Don't come out and say the other side is wrong; instead, be respectful as you explain why your position is stronger and deserves notice.
Summary:
Brainstorm your ideas. Know your purpose. Know your reader. Research the topic.