(How to get what you want!) PERSUASIVE WRITING

 “Persuade” is a verb or action word  It means “to cause someone to do something or believe something by reasoning or argument.”  Synonyms include: convince cajole coax brainwash induce incite (Hmmm … do all those words have positive connotations?) WHAT DOES “PERSUADE” MEAN?

Persuasive writing is around us all the time. Consider:  Advertisements on TV, in magazines and elsewhere to make us buy things  Letters that convince us to take a stand on an issue  Phone calls from people who seek our votes or donations  Asking your parents for new clothes, iPhone, etc … PERSUASIVE WRITING

EXAMPLES

 Focus on a specific problem/issue/need/belief No: “We need your donation to fix our school.” Yes: “We need your donation to fix the leaky roof at our school.”  Provide clear, logical reasons No: “The money will help us be a better school.” Yes: “Fixing the leaky roof will keep our basketball court from being ruined the next time it rains.” HOW TO PERSUADE

 Have strong facts to support your claims  Your facts should: - Make you sound credible, believable, respectful. (This is why companies use famous people to sell their stuff.) - Appeal to people’s emotions. (Ever see the sad commercial about saving dogs and cats?) - Be logical and clear. (Use statistics, poll results, etc …) HOW TO PERSUADE, PART 2

 Timing can be important to successful persuasion. Example: You want to persuade citizens to donate food to help feed poor and homeless people in your community. When should you ask for donations? Why? A) During the summer B) A few weeks before Thanksgiving C) In late April after everyone pays their income taxes HOW TO PERSUADE, PART 3

This sign doesn’t ask us to do anything, does it? … But is it persuading us anyway? PERSUASION CAN BE SNEAKY!

It’s time to practice what you’ve learned about persuasion. To begin, you need to find an example of “persuasion” and bring it in to show the class tomorrow. Examples * can include:  Advertisements from newspapers, magazines, junk mail or the Web  Letters to the editor and other opinions that someone wrote  Video clips of commercials or other persuasion * Examples MUST be appropriate for the classroom HOMEWORK!

 Choose a topic from the list below.  Research your topic.  Form an opinion.  Gather four great facts to support your opinion.  Be prepared to persuade the class on Wednesday! TIME TO PAIR UP AND PRACTICE! Topics: -Is cheating in school getting worse? -Should students be able to grade their teachers? -Is it getting too easy to get an “A” in every class? -Is the school day too short (or long)? -Are school class sizes too big (or small?) -Should the school year stay the same or be year-round? -Do laptops help students? -Should cell phones be allowed in classrooms as learning tools? -Are video games too violent? -Are professional athletes overpaid (or underpaid)?

When crafting your letter to a Major League Baseball team, you will be asking them for a “fan pack.” This is a general term that refers to small, free team-related materials that all MLB teams make and distribute to baseball fans. It’s not recommended that you ask for something specific, such as an autographed team photo. Why? Well, what if they don’t have photos to give out? What would then send you instead? Just ask for a “fan pack,” and they will send you what they have. WRITING “BASEBALL LETTERS”

When writing your letter …  Be specific but don’t be demanding!  Be polite and humble  Be truthful  Be clear: Your letter must be easy to read and understand! What should you say?  Ask for a “fan pack”  Tell them about yourself  Tell them why you chose their team  Tell them it’s for a school project  Tell them why you are seeking a fan pack  Tell them what you would do with mementoes from their team THE SUCCESSFUL LETTER

There are many reasons why you might ask for a fan pack:  “My Dad is a big fan and I want to share his love of baseball.”  “I hope to decorate my bedroom with baseball stuff.”  “We are practicing persuasive writing and if you send me something it will help me know that I’ve been successful.”  “I am interested in baseball and I think a souvenir from your team would help me stay interested this season.”  “My brother loves (an opposing team) and I want to see who’s team does better this year.” POSSIBLE REASONS YOU COULD USE