Writing to Persuade

Personal Pronouns Using words like “we”, “us”, “our” to make your audience think you are talking to only them.

Cause & Effect If …. Then Use if…then connectives, it gives your argument a sense of logic at work Example: if 45% of students are happy with the amount of homework they receive, then 55% of the pupils must be unhappy.

Present tense Using the present tense gives the writing a sense of urgency/ immediacy.

Groups of three Groups of three adjectives or phrases used together to make details stand out

Emotive language Use vocabulary that drives the argument in a particular way Example: Sutherland’s population is declining Sutherland’s population is hemorrhaging.

Repetition Words and rhymes are repeated so they stick in the reader’s mind

hyperbole When information is given that is over the top or slightly untrue.

Technical language Use the lexicon appropriate for the subject EXAMPLE: The man’s heart went wrong and he died The man’s pulmonary aorta collapsed, causing a fatal cardiac arrest.

Dare the reader to disagree You can only do this if your argument is a strong one

Powerful verbs strong adjectives A simple change in vocabulary can make a big difference Example: The man ran to the car. The man sprinted to the car. The water was cold. The water was freezing.

Facts & stats Truthful info is given to back up a point.

Rhetorical questions Using questions that don’t require an answer to cause your audience to think. example: Could you live with yourself if you missed out on this opportunity? CAUTION – use sparingly. Too many questions make it look like you don’t know anything.

Alliteration Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words to make them stand out.