PERSUASION

the claim The purpose of persuasive writing is to convince others to think the way we do or bring about some kind of action. Persuasive text must contain a claim, the author’s position or opinion on a topic that is debatable. As the reader, you should be able to identify the claim provide text evidence to prove that is the claim explain the author’s position on the topic

Supporting Evidence Once the author has established a claim, he must then give you reasons to believe the claim or take action. These reasons are called supporting evidence. Three types of supporting evidence are experts and research examples and stories facts and statistics

Supporting Evidence appeals Ethos – Greek root means “showing moral character.” Therefore an appeal to “ethos” is an appeal based on the credibility (moral character) of the presenter. Do you have reason to believe him? Do you trust him? ETHOS = ETHICS Logos – Greek root means “account or reason.” Therefore an appeal to “logos” is an appeal to our sense of logic. Does the idea make sense? Does it seem logical or intelligent? LOGOS = LOGIC Pathos - Greek root means “suffering or experience.” Therefore an appeal to “pathos” is an appeal to our emotion or compassion. Do we sympathize or emphathize? Do we feel something (joy, sorrow, anger, fear) about the subject? PATHOS = SYMPATHY, EMPATHY

Faulty Reasoning Authors sometimes use these appeals to create faulty reasoning. Faulty reasoning is supporting evidence that seems to support the argument but is actually misleading evidence. There are lots of types of faulty reasoning.

TYPES of Faulty Reasoning Bandwagon: I’m a Pepper. He’s a pepper. She’s a pepper. Wouldn’t you like to be a Pepper, too? Testimonial: Nike is the only shoe for me! Transfer: Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful.

TYPES of Faulty Reasoning Scare Tactics: persuading someone to do something by scaring them Plain Folks: speakers attempt that they, and their ideas, are of the common people

PERSUASIVE TECHNIQUES Repetition: Writers may repeat a word, a phrase, example, fact or the claim for emphasis. Parallelism: similarity of structure of words or phrases Delaying the claim: Writers may not present the claim in the beginning of the text in order to gain your support first.