1. Persuasive writing 101
English 9

2. What does controversy mean to you?
Define it
Give three examples of controversial issues in the news recently
What makes something controversial?

3. What does it mean to “persuade”?
“to cause or convince someone to commit an act or change an opinion through reasoning and argument”
Discuss a time when you have been persuaded to do something?
Social persuasion vs moral persuasion
What does that look like?

4. What are the objectives of Persuasive Writing?
You are writing to change a person’s perspective on a given issue
Where do we see persuasive writing?
Advertising
Back cover “blurb” on a book
Letters
Petitions
Flyers and posters for a certain cause

5. Five key components to consider…
Audience
Purpose
Examples
Structure
Language

6. Audience Who are you trying to influence?
We are always going to write in the most formal ways
How do advertisers target certain groups?
Example: If I am writing a persuasive composition about the importance of relationships between children with special needs and service animals, I will likely be targeting parents, caregivers, and educators.

7. Why?
When we identify our target audience, we can tailor our examples to suit their interests better
Certain groups of people may be concerned regarding affordability, others may want to know about the scientific facts
You get to decide who your audience is!
“everyone” is not an appropriate audience

8. Purpose Why is this topic important?
Consider the way it could have an impact on people, the environment, the economy, our health, wellness, happiness… the possibilities are endless!
The overall purpose of persuasive writing is to promote a particular point of view (in a non-salesperson type of way… at least for class…) in order to sway the reader’s perspective on the issue at hand

9. Examples Can you back it up?
Persuasive writing is good with an opinion, great with general proof, and excellent with facts and statistics
Use information from documentaries, credible websites (websites that end in .edu, .org, .gov, or .gc.ca are your best options) or your own research

10. Structure
Use this graphic organizer to help organize your ideas!
If you do not have three different main points to support your argument, it is not a strong enough topic!

11. Language Abolish Aggravate Appalled Atrocious Awful Careless Confusing
Accurate
Advantage
Certainly
Confident
Convenient
Definitely
Delighted
Effective
Emphasise
Extremely
Expect
Freedom
Good
Guaranteed
Highly effective/ likely
Improvement
Interesting
Introducing
Magnificent
Miracle
Most Importantly
Popular
Profitable
Proven
Quick
Remarkable
Results
Revolutionary
Sensational
Should
Startling
Strongly agree/ recommend
Strongly suggest
Superior
Tremendous
Trustworthy
Abolish
Aggravate
Appalled
Atrocious
Awful
Careless
Confusing
Corrupting
Cruel
Damaging
Deplorable
Disadvantages
Disastrous
Disgusted
Dreadful
Eliminate
Harmful
Harsh
Horrible
Inconsiderate
Irritate
Never
Offend
Outrageousness
Produces disastrous results
Provoke
Repulsive
Severe
Shameful
Shocking
Terrible
Tragic

12. Interesting ways of saying…
“Creates a feeling of…”
conveys a sense of creates a sense of
emphasizes (makes stronger) her feeling of
engenders (brings about) a feeling of
evokes (brings up)a feeling of
generates a feeling of
highlights her feeling of
portrays (shows) a feeling of
suggests that

13. Interesting ways of saying…
Other words for ‘shows’
conveys
demonstrates
depicts
describes
displays
explores
expresses
indicates
means
presents
reflects
represents
reveals
suggests
symbolises

14. Interesting ways of saying…
Synonyms for “emphasizes”
accentuates
amplifies
focuses
highlights
reinforces
strengthens
supports

15. Interesting ways of saying…
To discuss something that is “cause and effect”
As a result
Consequently
For
For that reason
Hence So
Therefore
Thus

16. Recap What is the objective of persuasive writing?
Who uses persuasive writing?
What are the five elements of focus in persuasive writing?