1. PERSUASIVE WRITING
How well can you organize and express your ideas in written text to convince the reader of your position?

2. The Writer’s Checklist
Persuasive Writing
The Writer’s Checklist

3. Content/Organization
Focus on purpose and audience
State your position clearly and simply
Use specific details and evidence for support
Place ideas in order of importance
Structure your argument from weakest to strongest points – leave them with the strongest argument
End with a call to action

4. Sentence Construction
Vary sentence structure
Edit for fragments
Edit for run-on sentences

5. Usage
Choose words whose meaning you are sure of and use them properly.
Verify the context for your 50¢ words.

6. Mechanics WRITE NEATLY! Check capitalization Verify spelling
Edit punctuation
WRITE NEATLY!

7. What are you being asked to do?
PERSUASIVE WRITING
What are you being asked to do?

8. The Writing Assignment
A persuasive essay is a formal expository writing, not creative writing. Use a standard writing structure, transitions, and formal English grammar.

9. Persuasive Writing
Thinking It Through

10. How to read a persuasive writing task
1. Underline the parts of the writing situation that are most important.
2. Use this information as a framework to your response.
3. It is easiest to persuade the reader if you believe in what you are writing. Think about an issue before you begin formal planning of your response.

11. How to respond to a persuasive writing task
FREE-WRITE
MAKE A LIST
USE THE QUESTION METHOD

12. FREE-WRITE 1. Free-write for 1 or 2 minutes.
Freewriting is thinking on paper without formal sentence structure or grammar.
2. Reread what you have written and underline anything that is interesting to you as you read.
3. Locate your position on the topic as revealed in your freewriting.
4. Use this position to frame your thesis.

13. MAKE A LIST
1. Make a fast list of thoughts you have concerning the topic.
2. Review your list to locate your position on the topic.
3. Use this position to frame your thesis.

14. QUESTION METHOD Ask yourself the following questions:
1. What would be the benefits for the individual involved in this topic?
2. What would be the hardships incurred by the individual if this topic was to happen?
3. What benefits are given in the writing situation?
4. What negatives are given in the writing situation?
5. Do the benefits outweigh the negatives? Why?
6. Use the answer to number 5 to determine your position and thesis.

15. PREWRITING: TEN MINUTES THAT CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
Persuasive Writing
PREWRITING: TEN MINUTES THAT CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

16. Prewriting
You do not have time to change your opinion once you have begun to write ~ therefore it is important that you know what you are going to say and the details that will be used in support of your ideas before beginning the actual process of writing.

17. Method 1 ~ Informal Outline
Methods of Organizing
Method 1 ~
Informal Outline

18. Informal Outline 1. Introduction ~ Thesis statement
a. supporting idea 1
b. supporting idea 2
c. supporting idea 3

19. Informal Outline (Con’t.)
2. Body paragraph 1 – supporting idea 1
a. reasons
b. example
c. example
d. transition
3. Body paragraph 2 – supporting idea 2
a. reasons
b. example
c. reason or example
d. transition

20. Informal Outline (Con’t.)
4. Body paragraph 3 – supporting idea 3
a. reasons
b. example
c. reason or example
d. transition
5. Conclusion
a. quick summary of your reasoning process
b. restatement of your thesis

21. Methods of Organizing
Method 2 ~
A Flowchart

22. A Flowchart: A flowchart looks something like this:

23. A less formal flowchart: Thesis Statement
Supporting Idea 1
reasons
details
examples
Supporting Idea 3
reasons
details
examples
Supporting Idea 2
reasons
details
examples

24. Methods of Organizing
Method 3 ~
Webbing

25. Webbing

26. Writing the Thesis Statement
The difference between a thesis statement in a persuasive writing from a thesis statement in a paper is its emphasis. When writing to persuade, it is imperative that you take a position for or against an idea. Do not “sit on a fence.” Take a position, and then defend it. The strongest support for a position is based upon the conviction of the writer.

27. Writing the Thesis Statement (Con’t.)
However, avoid statements that include words that are absolutes such as:
all always
best every
never none
worst

28. Writing the Thesis Statement (Con’t.)
These words limit your argument by not allowing for exceptions, therefore if the reader can locate a single argument against your reasoning, you can lose your case.
Keep the thesis simple! Use the important information from the question to shape your thesis. Do not feel compelled to write a complex sentence unless you can do it perfectly. Use the line in the text as the basis for the thesis and add your opinion.

29. Paragraph Organization
Start with the strongest argument and work to the weaker one OR
Start with the weaker argument and work to the stronger one

30. Paragraph Organization (Con’t.)
Coherence in every paragraph
Every sentence adds to the one before
Every sentence flows smoothly to the next
New ideas go in new paragraphs

31. Paragraph Organization (Con’t.)
Topic sentence at the beginning of the paragraph
Arrange the rest of your sentences after it either by order of importance or logic.
Most good arguments are based on research
Reason (i.e. your opinion) supported by example can also persuade

32. Paragraph Organization (Con’t.)
Nouns and pronouns that refer to their antecedents can help smooth transitions between sentences
Ex. 1
Cats make wonderful pets. They are easy to care for and they are inexpensive to maintain. (Clear reference – they refers to cats)

33. Paragraph Organization (Con’t.)
Ex. 2 Be careful to use pronouns clearly
Cats can be trained almost as easily as dogs. The tricks they do can impress many people. (Unclear who they is – dogs is the closest noun, the reader may become confused)

34. Paragraph Organization ~ Another way to flow smoothly through your paragraph is to use “connectives”
accordingly
again
for example
although
beyond
conversely
first
as a result
secondly
finally
simultaneously
also
for instance
hence
then
additionally
next
nevertheless
on the contrary
otherwise
consequently
thus
in addition
second
at the same time

35. Paragraph Organization (Con’t.)
Transitions smooth the flow between paragraphs
“Connectives” can be used
A word or phrase from the preceding paragraph can be used in the topic sentence of the next paragraph

36. Supporting Your Ideas~ The major ways to support an argument
Statistics
Facts
Evidence
Expert testimony
Prediction
Observation
Comparison
Experience
Analogies
Analysis

37. Writing the Essay
Once the essay is planned, the prewriting done, the majority of the thinking is finished.
Opening paragraph
Interesting sentence – rhetorical question or example or an appropriate quote
Thesis sentence
Each of the main reasons noted in your prewriting
Think of this paragraph as an outline of key points

38. Writing the Essay (Con’t.)
Body Paragraphs
Clear topic sentences that link to the thesis statement
Should include benefits or disadvantages that relate to the topic sentence
Give at least one developed example of a benefit or disadvantage
Include facts, if you know them (not made up)

39. Writing the Essay (Con’t.)
Conclusion
Last, but not least
Wording and logic is important
No contradictions
No new ideas – this is not the time to come up with an argument that has not already been discussed
Restate the original thesis

40. Revise and Edit Look for obvious errors in grammar Sentence fragments
Run-on sentences
Spelling
Punctuation
Capitalization
Transitions
Sentence variety
If you followed the plan, organization and structure is done!