Persuasive Writing It’s Fun

Aristotle: 3 Methods of Convincing

Reason, Ethics, and Emotion Reason: (Logos) Support your claims with concrete specific data. Ethics: (Ethos) Convince your readers that you are fair, honest, and well informed. Emotion: (Pathos) A carefully reasoned argument will be strengthened by an emotional appeal.

Reason (logos) Reason which begins with specifics and moves toward a generalization is inductive.  Example:  Several clubs have reported difficulty completing their business during lunch period.  This proves that lunch periods should be longer. Reason which starts with a general observation and moves to specifics is deductive.  Example:  When people hurry, inefficiency and poor communication are the results.  Under current conditions clubs must hurry at lunch time meetings.  Therefore, lunch period should be lengthened to allow for better club meetings.

Types of Reason: Facts - can be proven. Expert opinions or quotations Definitions - statement of meaning of word or phrase Statistics - offer scientific support Examples - powerful illustrations Anecdote - incident, often based on writer's personal experiences Emotional appeals - to provide support for reasons, carefully chosen loaded words, carrying positive or negative connotations, sway readers' emotions Present opposition - and give reasons and evidence to prove the opposition wrong Conclude with call to action - urge the reader to do something

Ethics (Ethos) Convince your readers that you are fair, honest, and well informed.  They will then trust your values and intentions.

Emotion (pathos) A carefully reasoned argument will be strengthened by an emotional appeal. Use description or narrate an example, often from your own experience. Your point of view is demonstrated in an emotional appeal, and is important to the reader. Careful word choice presents your position accurately. See Mark Antony's speech from Julius Caesar as an example of emotional appeal.

R.A.F.T.S. R = Role:     What is my role as the writer?  Who am I ? Example: Suggested Roles: expert, parent, an object, enemy, a character from history or literature, critic, etc. A = Audience:   To whom am I writing?  Should I write formally? Informally? Example: self, peers, protester, company, a character from literature or history F = Format:  Which format should I use while writing? essay, narrative, letter, speech, editorial, script, memo, dialogue T = Topic:   What is the topic? Is it sufficiently focused? S = Strong Verb:   What am I trying to do in this piece of writing? convince, share, assess, prove, persuade, translate, evaluate

Persuasive Writing has a clear position and is focused on that position. has more than one argument to support a position. anticipates and refutes the opposing position. Ends with a “Call to Action”.

Persuasion is Powerful Use it to: Draft Persuasion is Powerful Use it to: Urge people to action

Persuasion is Powerful Use it to: Draft Persuasion is Powerful Use it to: Support a cause

Persuasion is Powerful Use it to: Draft Persuasion is Powerful Use it to: Stir up sympathy

Persuasion is Powerful Use it to: Draft Persuasion is Powerful Use it to: Prove something wrong

Persuasion is Powerful Use it to: Draft Persuasion is Powerful Use it to: Make a change

Persuasion is Powerful Use it to: Draft Persuasion is Powerful Use it to: Get people to agree with you

Persuasion is Powerful Use it to: Draft Persuasion is Powerful Use it to: Create interest

What Persuades You? Why do you decide to go along with something? Draft What Persuades You? Why do you decide to go along with something? How do you convince others to go along with you? How persuasive are you? This slide is meant to set the stage for the next activity where students access their prior knowledge and ability to persuade. This is a class discussion or think /pair/ share activity. Slides 22-24 provide a group activity, and you will need to decide how to form groups.

Persuasive Writing Essentials Draft Persuasive Writing Essentials Audience Awareness Firm Position Persuasive Language Organizational Structure These items are essential to persuasion.

Persuasive Writing Position Assessment Draft Persuasive Writing Position Persuasive Language Assessment Awareness Audience Structures Organizational Persuasive writing is recursive in nature. All of the essential elements are constantly working together to make the best case for the position. It is important to note that while each component is defined separately, they cannot be separated. They all work together recursively. We have even made this diagram as an out-of-shape circle to represent the give and take nature of this particular kind of writing.