1. PERSUASIVE WRITING
Convince me!

2. Basics…
You’re trying to convince your reader to take on your point of view.
You’re not just presenting arguments; you are persuading. This requires the use of various persuasive techniques.

3. Persuasive Techniques
REPEAT YOURSELF
This doesn’t mean writing the same sentence over and over again, but using different pieces of evidence to emphasise your main point. Every time you deliver a valid point to support your point of view, make sure you hammer home how it proves you’re right and that the reader should agree with you.

4. Persuasive Techniques
CONSISTENCY
Your first and strongest point is something that your reader can’t fail to agree with so you get them on your side right from the beginning.
‘Listening to certain types of music while working is proven to increase the attention span and work-rate of many people…’
From that point on, you should keep reminding the reader about your strongest point and make sure you remain consistent and don’t stray too far from this original statement.

5. Persuasive Techniques
OPPOSITE POINTS
Tackle opposite points head on, in a persuasive way. Lots of people will disagree with your p.o.v., and you need to shoot down their arguments.
Don’t do this TOO much. (70/30 split?)

6. Persuasive Techniques
GIVE THEM THE FACTS!
Give as many cold, hard facts as you can. Make sure you cite any resources to add more credence to your overall argument.
If necessary, manipulate those facts!
Is the glass half full or half empty?
Well, it’s both. It depends on how it’s presented.

7. Persuasive Techniques
RHETORICAL QUESTIONS
Ask questions that do not require an answer / that do not expect an answer
“And who, in their right mind, would want something as destructive as that?”

8. Persuasive Techniques
BUILD UP!
There’s nothing worse than when a really important point is just stated, then the writer moves on.
Build up to it! Think about Close Reading-related techniques to build up (sentence structure, tone, word choice).

9. Persuasive Techniques
CLOSE READING!
With every sentence, with every word, you should be thinking about the techniques we see in Close Reading. Try to make yours a worthy candidate for a CR assessment. Word choice! Imagery! Sentence structure! Tone!

10. Persuasive Techniques
TONE
Would creating an angry tone help put your opinion across?
Humourous? Sarcastic?

11. Persuasive Techniques
FLATTERY / EXCLUSIVITY
Don’t be afraid to flatter your reader OR to claim some sort of exclusivity.
“You, my dear reader, being an intelligent person, can obviously see the benefits of…”
“Only the most discerning of people are worthy of such brilliance...”

12. Persuasive Techniques
START STRONG!
FINISH STRONG!

13. Persuasive Topics
NO ABORTION!
NO ANIMAL RIGHTS!

14. Persuasive Topics Violence in films, TV, video games
Crime / punishment
Extra-curricular activities
Independence
Personal hobbies / interests
Driving/drinking/voting age
Banking / ethics
Politics
GM Foods
Climate change
Reality television
Ignorance is bliss
Bailouts
Reading fiction – a waste of time?
Canteen food
Honesty
A good education: a right or a privilege?
CCTV
Vegetarianism
Learning history
Music of your generation
War
Space exploration
Growing up