1. The POWER of PERSUASION

2. According to Wikipedia…
Persuasion is a form of social influence. It is the process of guiding oneself or another toward the adoption of an idea, attitude, or action by rational and symbolic (though not always logical) means.

3. The Persuasive Writer Takes a position for or against an
issue or topic which people
disagree
Convinces the opposition to
believe what the writer believes

4. Purpose…
Persuade readers to care about your issue and do something about it.

5. Persuasive Topics Easier Topics… Best restaurant? Best hobby?
Best sport?
Best television show?
Best book?
Best actor/actress?
Best radio station?
Trickier Topics…
Consequences for Cheating or Bullying
Passing students without passing grades
Healthier food at schools
Local community issues

6. Know your audience!
The audience is the person or group of people you are trying to convince.
Your word choice and approach will vary depending upon your audience.

7. Brainstorm both sides…
What is your position?
Why?
What is the opposing side’s position?

8. Plan the Counterarguments…
Identify the best reasoning that your opposition has for believing what they do. These are their arguments!
Brainstorm convincing arguments to change their thinking in these areas. These are your counterarguments!

9. Effective Reasoning Devices…
Appeal to logic through reasoning
Appeal to emotion
Ethical arguments/beliefs
Personal anecdotes (stories)
Case study (research)
Analogy (comparison)

10. Practice persuasion… TOPIC: Should animals be used for
experimentation?
POSITION:
Animals should NOT be used
for experimentation.

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

12. Appeal to emotion
Does any animal have to experience pain in order for us to have a better shampoo?

13. Ethical arguments/beliefs
Shouldn’t all living creatures be treated humanely?

14. Personal anecdotes
Can you imagine your own pet suffering? Animals of all sorts are tested in order for companies to develop better products? If you wouldn’t allow your animal to suffer, why should others?

15. Case study
Over 5,000 bunny rabbits were maimed or killed during the research process to develop a certain store brand shampoo.

16. Analogy
Just because animals can’t verbalize their pain doesn’t mean they don’t experience emotion. It’s like a baby who can’t tell you what is wrong but can still cry to express how she feels.

17. PERSUASIVE ESSAY: 5 PARAGRAPH FORMAT
Paragraph #1: Introduction-attention grabber,
background, and position statement
Paragraph #2: Position Support Reason #1
and explanation
Paragraph #3: Position Support Reason #2
Paragraph #4: Counterarguments and rebuttals
Paragraph #5. Conclusion- Restate your position
and call the audience to action.

18. 5 Paragraph Essay Format
Introduction
Supportive Reason # 1 and Explanation
Supportive Reason # 2 and Explanation
Counterarguments & Rebuttals
Conclusion

19. Introduction
Attention Grabber (question, anecdote, quotation, statistic, startling statement)
2) Background information
3) Position Statement

20. Paragraph 2 First reason of support for your position.
2) Explanation and support

21. Paragraph 3 Second reason of support for your position.
2) Explanation and support

22. Paragraph 4 List two counterarguments of the opposition.
2) Give logical rebuttals to address their concerns.

23. Conclusion Restate Position 2) Restate supportive reasons
3) Call the audience to action

24. Calls to Action Be reasonable and specific.
Don’t just tell audience to change mind or make a weak request.
Specifically tell the audience to do something.

25. Common Calls for Action
Possibilities:
Attend a meeting.
Write an important person of the cause.
Fill out a survey.
Volunteer to…
5) Do SOMETHING!