Persuasive Writing

Copyright © 2007 Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. All rights reserved. What is Persuasive Writing? In persuasive writing, a writer takes a position FOR or AGAINST an issue and writes to convince the reader to believe or do something.

PERSUASION Persuasive writing ▫has a clear position and is focused on that position. ▫has more than one argument to support a position. ▫is elaborated by using reasons, well-chosen and specific details, examples, anecdotes, facts, and/or statistics as evidence to support arguments.

PERSUASION ▫anticipates and refutes the opposing position. ▫shows commitment to position by writing in a voice appropriate for audience and purpose. ▫uses words, phrases, and persuasive strategies that urge or compel the reader to support a position

Copyright © 2007 Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. All rights reserved. WHY DO PEOPLE USE PERSUASION? ▫Support a cause ▫Urge people to action ▫Promote change ▫Refute a theory ▫Arouse sympathy ▫Stimulate interest ▫Win agreement ▫Solve a problem

Copyright © 2007 Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. All rights reserved. Clear Position The writer must have a clear position and stay focused on that position. Generally, the position is stated in the opening paragraph or introduction.

Copyright © 2007 Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. All rights reserved. Audience Awareness Know your audience before you start writing. ▫The audience is who will read your writing. ▫The audience may include your teacher, your parents, your friends, or the President of the United States. Think about the needs of your reader (audience) so you can give reasons that will persuade him/her.

Copyright © 2007 Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. All rights reserved. Organizational Structures The persuasive structures you select depend on the ideas in your paper and your audience. Persuasive organization frequently is very different from expository organization. As we look at different structures, we will see how they effect the organization of the paper.

Copyright © 2007 Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. All rights reserved. Organizational Structure – Order of Importance Support for a position prioritized from most to least or least to most important

Copyright © 2007 Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. All rights reserved. Organizational Structure – Causal Chain ▫ A culminating chain of events where one action leads to the next (snowball or domino effect)

Copyright © 2007 Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. All rights reserved. Causal Chain – Definition This is about a ballooning cause and effect. Event A causes event B, which in turn causes event C, etc. This organizational structure may be used for an entire essay or just a portion of it.

Copyright © 2007 Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. All rights reserved. Organizational Structure – Concession/Rebuttal ▫ Recognizing the opposing viewpoint ▫ Conceding something may have some merit ▫ Then countering with another argument

Copyright © 2007 Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. All rights reserved. Organizational Structure – Cause/Effect ▫Explain why something happened and what came about as a result.

Copyright © 2007 Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. All rights reserved. Organizational Structure – Problem/Solution ▫Explain the problem or issue, and suggest how it can be solved.

Copyright © 2007 Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. All rights reserved. Organizational Structure – Definition ▫Define the elements of a concept, and explain how, or whether or not, your definition fits or does not fit.

Copyright © 2007 Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. All rights reserved. Persuasive Language Persuasive language is choosing just the right words or phrases to use at just the right time with just the right audience. ▫Strong words trigger strong feelings.  Seizes  Snarls  Dumbstruck ▫Effective choice of connotations  Mean or strict  Late fee or extended-viewing fee  Used or pre-owned  Surge or escalate ▫Repeated words or phrases for emphasis  I have a dream…(Martin Luther King, Jr.)

Copyright © 2007 Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. All rights reserved. Persuasive Language – Find Words that Could Be More Effective You are a high school student. Essay in one hand, you go to class. “I’m done!” You smile. The teacher takes the essay out of your hands and throws it away. She says, “It’s a day late!” You look at your hard work. The teacher didn’t look at it! The No Late Homework Rule is bad.

Copyright © 2007 Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. All rights reserved. Persuasive Language Imagine yourself as a high school student. Five page essay in one hand, you rush into the classroom. “I’m done! I’m done!” you pant, beaming proudly. The teacher seizes the essay out of your grasp and tears it to pieces before your eyes. She snarls, “It’s a day late!” On your knees, you stare dumbstruck at your hard work, ripped to shreds. The teacher didn’t even glance at it! The No Late Homework Rule is a cruel, horrible rule.