OBJECTIVE I will demonstrate some familiarity with the features of Persuasive and Discursive Writing LEARNING OUTCOME I have used some features of Persuasion in my own writing

DISCUSSION & PERSUASION  In your close reading exam you might be asked to pick out persuasive features from a text.  It is easy to learn the features of persuasion and to spot them in text.  If you also practise writing to persuade you will become more familiar with what is expected of you in the exam.

Persuasion is easy – you do it all the time! We all use persuasive techniques at one time or another. We do it to get our own way. Persuasion is part of our everyday language – can you think of areas where you have seen or experienced Persuasive Techniques.

The Art of Persuasion  Some texts are written to persuade the reader to think or do something.  The aim is to make the reader think or act in a particular way.  For example:  Advertisements  buy now!  Health posters  look after yourself / make changes  To persuade in words, writers can use a range of techniques.

Identifying the Task Argue, PERSUADE, Advise You are writing to Persuade … Under what circumstances would you try to persuade someone to do something? Think about the last time you tried to persuade your parents to let you go somewhere – or let you have something. What did you say?

And what about the last time your parents tried to persuade you to do something? What was it and what did they say? Now think about the TONE you both used. What was successful and what failed?

The key to being a successful Persuader is remembering… Purpose Audience Language What is the reason for the text Who is meant to read it What language has been used – formal, informal etc?

Persuasive Techniques involve being A PERSUADER

The Persuader P E R S U A D E R Personal Pronouns Emotive language Rhetorical Questions Statistics and Facts Use of an authority figure Alliteration and Anecdotes Description and Imagery Exaggeration Repetition and group of 3

Exercise 1 Read the text you have been given and analyse it carefully, identifying and annotating the persuasive techniques used. Take each technique you have identified and comment on its effect on the reader.

The Persuader Spot the Persuasive features in the text.

WRITING AN OPENING PARAGRAPH WITH PERSUASION Engage or 'grab your reader's attention straight away - involve and interest them at the outset. State why you are writing Involve your reader by using 'you', 'we - if appropriate! State why you have the authority to write on this topic and that you are reasonable and trustworthy. Forge common ground between you and your reader - mention an outcome both of you would endorse. Use a rhetorical question. Choose your words with precision and care.