Writing Tutor: Persuasion Part A Think More... Write More Dr. Otto As I have emphasized before, we write essays to convince others... we try to persuade them. So, what strategies do we use to persuade them? Are all persuading strategies appropriate? Unfortunately, writers sometimes use false strategies... strategies which look right but are false arguments... where the conclusion does not follow from the premises. Sometimes these strategies are called crooked thinking. Let’s look at the following examples selected from an online encyclopedia.

Strategy 1 - Sweeping generalization Argument: It is illegal for a stranger to enter someone's home uninvited. Firefighters enter people's homes uninvited Therefore firefighters are breaking the law. Problem: The first premise is a sweeping generalization... it does not take into account what firefighters have to do.

Strategy 2 - Irrelevant conclusion Argument: Oliver believes that humans can fly, Therefore humans can fly. Problem: The conclusion is irrelevant because Oliver could be wrong.

Strategy 3 - draws a conclusion from premises that do not support that conclusion by confusing necessary and sufficient conditions. Argument: When people have the flu, they cough. Torres is coughing. Therefore, Torres has the flu. Problem: Other things, such as asthma, can also cause someone to cough.

Strategy 4 - Incorrectly assumes one thing is the cause of another. Argument: I hear the rain falling outside my window Therefore, the sun is not shining. Problem: The conclusion is false because the sun can shine while it is raining.

Strategy 5 - Temporal succession implies a causal relation Argument: It rained just before the car broke down. The rain caused the car to break down. Problem: There may be no connection between the two events. Two events co-occurring is not an indication of causation.

Strategy 6 - Group more than one question in the form of a single question. Argument: Have you stopped beating your wife? Problem: Both answers ‘yes’ and ‘no’ are an admission of guilt to beating your wife.

Strategy 7 - Employ the same word in two or more senses Argument: All heavy things have a great mass; Jim has a "heavy heart"; Therefore Jim's heart has a great mass. Problem: Heavy describes more than just weight. In Jim’s case ‘heavy’ describes his sadness.

Strategy 8 - From each to all Argument: All the musicians in a band (constituent parts) are highly skilled, Therefore the band itself (composite item) is highly skilled. Problem: The band members may be skilled musicians but may lack the ability to function properly as a group.

Strategy 9 - Arguing from a property of the whole, to each constituent part Argument: This liquid is part of a nutritious breakfast Therefore this liquid is nutritious. Problem: Just because the breakfast taken as a whole is nutritious does not necessarily mean that each part of that breakfast is nutritious. The liquid may or may not be nutritious.

As you can see from these examples, writers have to be careful when they try to persuade readers to a certain point of view because many commonly used persuading strategies are false. Whenever these, and many more strategies, are used to persuade readers, they react in one of three ways. a) they recognize the false argument and ignore or challenge it; b) they do not recognize the false argument and accept it; or c) they sense a problem with the argument but do not recognize it and therefore don’t know what to think. All three reactions create problems for the writer and readers. Whether you are a writer or reader, watch out for false arguments... they are misleading!

Are there appropriate persuading strategies that writers can use? Fortunately, the answer is YES! Try this … Look at the thinking strategies in Writing Tutorial 15. If you have any questions about the writing process, send them to Ask Dr. Otto at