1. The POWER of PERSUASION

2. WHAT IS PERSUASIVE WRITING?
Persuasive writing tries to convince the reader to accept an idea, adopt a point of view, or take action on an issue
The writer wants the reader to agree with what he/she believes
This kind of writing usually requires preparation and research

3. ELEMENTS OF PERSUASIVE WRITING
The topic must argue FOR (PRO) or
AGAINST (CON) a DEBATABLE point
The writer must support his/her position with strong EVIDENCE to convince the reader
The writer’s thesis sentence states a POSITION, not a fact
The writer addresses reader concerns and provides counterarguments

4. WHAT IS A COUNTERARGUMENT ?
In addition to providing evidence to support your position/opinion, you must also acknowledge and reply to reader objections
Counterarguments are the answers that you provide to an opposing argument

5. Know your audience
The audience is the person or group of people the writer is trying to convince
The language the writer uses will change depending on who the audience is
You might use one approach when trying to persuade your parents and a different approach with your friends

6. RHETORICAL DEVICES IN PERSUASIVE WRITING
THESE ARE WAYS FOR THE WRITER TO CONVINCE THE READER TO ACCEPT HIS/HER POINT OF VIEW ON A TOPIC
Appeal to logic through reasoning
Appeal to emotion
Ethical arguments/beliefs
Personal anecdotes (stories)
Case study (research)
Analogy (comparison) (remember the commercial “this is your brain, this is your brain on drugs”- eggs in frying pan)

7. SAMPLE RHETORICAL DEVICES
TOPIC=
Should animals be used for experimentation?
POSITION:
Animals should NOT be used for experimentation.

8. Appeal to logic
There are other methods to test products and achieve the same results.

9. Appeal to emotion
Have you ever seen pictures of suffering animals in the name of research?

10. Ethical arguments/beliefs
Animals also have souls; shouldn’t all living creatures be treated humanely?

11. Personal anecdotes
Can you imagine your pet dog being locked up in a cage and being poked and prodded with chemicals just so we could find out about a new shampoo?

12. Case study
Over 5,000 bunny rabbits were maimed or killed during the research process to develop Herbal Essence.

13. Analogy
Just because animals can’t verbalize their pain doesn’t mean they don’t have emotions. It’s like a hungry baby who wants food, but he can’t tell you.

14. PERSUASIVE ESSAY FORMAT (5 PARAGRAPH ESSAY)
Introduction-attention grabber, background, and position statement
Reason of Support #1 for Position and explanation
Reason of Support #2 for Position and explanation
Counterarguments and rebuttals
5. Conclusion- Restate your position and call the
audience to action.