Persuasion Technique and Format

Activity I am in a very good and generous mood today. So I have decided to give away A’s for all the assignments this week. I haven’t decided who will get this reward yet, so I am leaving it up to you. I will give you 10 minutes to write me a letter on why should I choose you.

Activity Now that you have completed your letter, pass it to the person left of you. You will read each letter and decide, based on what you know about the Aristotelian Triad and good writing skills, which letter deserves to win in your group. Keep in mind I will ask for your reasoning.

Activity On the back of the selected letter, list the reasons why it was selected. Now select one member of the group who will argue why their candidate’s letter should be the one selected.

Debriefing Discuss with your pod the following: What was the purpose of this activity? What did you learn that you didn't already know? Any 'Aha Moments'?

Persuasion Technique and Format

Definition A persuasive or argumentative paper is used to convince. It may attempt to convince the reader to follow a certain course of action or accept a belief or position.

Daily Use It appears in every facet of our lives: convincing a potential employer to hire us a neighbor to keep his dog from ruining our shrubbery the electric company that the house meter is faulty the appliance store that we did pay the bill on time.

Daily Use Others use persuasion to convince us to vote for them to bug or use their products to invest in their schemes to follow their religious beliefs or to accept their points of view.

Characteristics deals with an appropriately debatable subject begins on some common ground so that reader and writer have a point of agreement anticipates the readers concerns and opposing point of view presents supporting details, including statistics, examples, cause—effect relationships, etc. follows an organizational plan which anticipates objections by the reader

Characteristics relies on logical reasoning uses subtle emotional or psychological appeals avoids a first—person point of view to help the reader focus on the subject, rather than on the writer uses effective transitions to move the reader smoothly through the evidence concludes with a logically reasonable statement of what the reader should do or think

Format

Activity What type(s) of format did you apply when: Writing your letter? Reviewing letters? Identifying good writing? Arguing selection?

Did the letter? Provide evidence to support the opinion. Provide various points in your opinion. Provide a solid reason to back your opinions. Anticipate opposing viewpoints and provide counter-arguments along with the main points.

Did the letter? Use statistics or research, real-life experiences, or examples. Generate hypothetical instance: Used particularly when creating an argument and you want the reader to see a different point of view. Use cues for the reader. (eg.: suppose that, what if...) Clarifying a position: Think about what needs to be explained and what can be assumed.

Did the letter? Illustrate thinking through a process: Think through the procedure from start to finish. Most often the sentence will begin with a verb. Provide background information a reader may need. Illustrate whenever appropriate. Define special terms used. Use cues for the reader. (e.g..: first, second, next, then etc.) Draw comparisons: Choose something similar to what is being explained. Use one of two patterns: Opposing or Alternating. End with a conclusion. Use cues for the reader.

Did the letter? Make an analysis: You can analyze a problem by looking at the parts and therefore help the reader to understand. Draw an analogy: Use an analogy to explain or elaborate and idea by identifying significant likenesses between two objects or ideas when otherwise they are quite different. This is helpful when the comparison is made to something that is familiar to the reader.

Did the letter?  Generate hypothetical instance: Used particularly when creating an argument and you want the reader to see a different point of view. Use cues for the reader. (e.g..: suppose that, what if...)

Did the letter? Summarize the most important details of the argument and stating once again what the reader is to believe or do.

Was the letter formatted this way?

Activity Based on this presentation and your argument which is the winning letter?

Editing Activity Based on what you know about the Aristotelian Triad and good writing skills, you will read and edit a writing sample entitle Did Shakespeare write his own plays? Must Haves: Annotations Comments for improvement Once the editing is completed choose one part of the paper and rewrite it (one paragraph minimum). If you feel there is no need for a rewrite, explain in 2- 3 paragraphs why not. Support your argument with samples from the paper.

QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, AND WHAT NOTS?