Writing to Argue and Persuade The presentation Writing to Argue and Persuade is from Year 7 and matches Key Objective Wr15 – Expressing a view. Writing to Argue and Persuade

Learning objectives In this unit you will learn how to express your opinions in writing. You will learn… To recognize different types of persuasive texts Which techniques to use to argue your point and persuade your readers that you are right How to structure a written argument How not to present your argument

Persuasive texts - techniques We are surrounded by persuasive texts all the time. Are you aware of the techniques they use – the tricks of the trade? You can use them in your own persuasive writing and arguments.

Personal Pronouns Writers often use personal pronouns such as ‘we’ and ‘you’ in the text. “Do you really want to be in the kitchen all evening? Well now you don’t have to. With new Quick Meals you can have home-cooked food on the table in minutes.” “Violence is an issue that affects all of us. We want to feel safe on our streets at night, secure in our own homes…” Why do you think writers do this? To build a relationship with the reader. To make the reader feel important or included. To make it harder for the reader to ignore the text.

Repetition Repeating the same idea, and even words and phrases, can be an effective technique when you are trying to persuade your reader. It helps to reinforce your point. “Millions of people around the world struggle to survive without fresh water. Millions of people struggle to survive without basic healthcare. Millions of people struggle to survive without enough to eat. Millions of people around the world die from starvation and disease every year.”

Using repetition In the full product a worksheet accompanies this slide.

Persuasive Words and Phrases Certain words and phrases can be used to make your reader think it would be silly not to agree with you. Obviously Manchester United will win the cup. Without a doubt that was one of the best books I’ve ever read. No one could deny that a tarantula makes the perfect pet. Four characters (three of which appear here) are used throughout KS3 English to introduce key points and examples. Can you think of any other words and phrases that work like this?

Using persuasive words and phrases In the full product a worksheet accompanies this slide.

Writing an argument When writing out an argument, you can use many of the persuasive techniques we’ve examined so far. After all, you want to persuade your reader that your point of view is right. First of all, though, you will need to gather and organize your information and points. You will also need to decide what side of the argument you are on. A firm decision is needed. If you can’t make up your mind, your essay will be rather ‘wishy-washy’ and unconvincing. In order to convince your reader, you will need to show that you are aware of both sides of the argument. The easiest method to deal with this at the planning stage is to fill in two columns: for and against.

For and against In the full product a worksheet accompanies this slide.