1. Writing to Persuade

2. Personal Pronouns
Using words like “we”, “us”, “our” to make your audience think you are talking to only them.

3. Cause & Effect
If …. Then
Use if…then connectives, it gives your argument a sense of logic at work
Example: if 45% of students are happy with the amount of homework they receive, then 55% of the pupils must be unhappy.

4. Present tense
Using the present tense gives the writing a sense of urgency/ immediacy.

5. Groups of three
Groups of three adjectives or phrases used together to make details stand out

6. Emotive language
Use vocabulary that drives the argument in a particular way
Example:
Sutherland’s population is declining
Sutherland’s population is hemorrhaging.

7. Repetition
Words and rhymes are repeated so they stick in the reader’s mind

8. hyperbole
When information is given that is over the top or slightly untrue.

9. Technical language Use the lexicon appropriate for the subject
EXAMPLE:
The man’s heart went wrong and he died
The man’s pulmonary aorta collapsed, causing a fatal cardiac arrest.

10. Dare the reader to disagree
You can only do this if your argument is a strong one

11. Powerful verbs strong adjectives
A simple change in vocabulary can make a big difference
Example:
The man ran to the car.
The man sprinted to the car.
The water was cold.
The water was freezing.

12. Facts & stats
Truthful info is given to back up a point.

13. Rhetorical questions
Using questions that don’t require an answer to cause your audience to think.
example:
Could you live with yourself if you missed out on this opportunity?
CAUTION – use sparingly. Too many questions make it look like you don’t know anything.

14. Alliteration
Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words to make them stand out.