WALT Understand which techniques
we can use to structure a good
persuasive essay.
Techniques used to persuade
Expressions to help structure your
argument.
Persuasion is when you want to convince
someone of your side of the argument.
You must be absolutely clear of what
you want them to believe.
You must argue your points in a
passionate and emotive manner.
Techniques of persuasion:
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Address the reader directly
A rhetorical question
Repetition of words/phrases
The three pack trick/rule of three
An anecdote
Facts and statistics
Over exaggerated language
Emotive language
Use facts and statistics
The Obama bluff (a type of rule of 3)
How can I be persuasive in writing?
Task:
Discuss these questions in your groups:
1. What was the last thing you tried to
persuade someone to do?
2. What was the last thing one of your parents
tried to persuade you to do? What words did
they use?
3. What is the most persuasive advert that you
have last seen on TV? How did the writing or
pictures persuade you?
Rhetorical Questions - HOOK
Persuasive writing can use rhetorical
questions to involve the reader and
make them think about the
argument. This is A HOOK
Is it not terrible that so many people
in the world are starving?
Task :
For each of these issues come up with a
rhetorical question that would make a
reader think about the issue:
• Give money to the blind
• School Uniforms look smart
• Watching TV is damaging.
“The true strength of our nation comes
not from the mite of our arms or the scale
of our wealth but from the enduring
power of our ideals: democracy. Liberty
and unyielding hope!”
Presidential Victory Speech 2008
Using anecdotes
An anecdote is an interesting or amusing
story and these are often used in
persuasive writing.
Here is an anecdote about a bad
experience with a dog: Recently I met
one of my neighbours in the street and
he had a big bandage on his hand. He
told me that he had been bitten by
another neighbour’s dog..’
Task
Come up with your own anecdote for a
bad experience with school dinners. This
could have happened to you or to
someone you know.
Over exaggerated Language
Persuasive writing can use exaggeration to
help convince a reader.
Task: Come up with some exaggerated
words that you could use to describe
school lunches in
• A good way
• A negative way
Address the reader directly HOOK
Uses words like YOU and WE , SURELY
YOU MUST AGREE THAT…to involve
the reader and make them feel like you
are talking directly to them.
Write these sentences using the word
“you” to be more persuasive
Not drop litter
McDonald’s is very unhealthy
The x factor is boring.
Our examples
You cant just going round dropping litter
right?
You would have to agree that dropping litter
makes the place untidy?
You must be blind McDonald supporters
because McDonalds is a main source of
obesity?
We all realise dropping litter has a damaging
effect on our environment!
Using Facts and Statistics
Using facts and statistics help make your
argument more believable as you have
research to prove that what you say is
true.
For example:
• nine out of ten owners said their cats
preferred it
• Kills 90% of all known germs
Task:
Use a fact, figure or statistic to write
something that might persuade your
parents to buy you something new
A bike, a pair of shoes, a CD etc…
The three pack trick
Listing things in threes can be used to
emphasise a point.
e.g. smoking is very bad for you; it’s not
healthy, it’s not cheap and it’s not cool.
Plastic surgery
We should be careful when considering
plastic surgery, it’s expensive, easily
addictive and extremely invasive
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You can use the repetition of the
same words,
• or use words that begin with the
same letter (alliteration).
This can help make your three pack
trick more memorable and have better
impact
Task
Come up with three pack tricks for the
following topics
Against drinking alcohol
In favour of going paint balling
Success Criteria for persuasive techniques
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Address the reader directly – ‘you’ , ‘we’..
Rhetorical questions to involve them
Facts and statistics
Hyperbole (over exaggerated language )
Language that shows that you are SURE you
are right
Anecdotes
Three pack trick
Obama bluff
Emotive language (language that moves the
reader’s emotions.)
Imagery
Walt: Identify persuasive
techniques in good pieces of
writing.
Looking at model essays
Essay title:
Argument :
Two Stars:
Wish:
WALT Understand which expressions
you can use to help structure your
persuasive argument.
Task: Split your jotter into 5 sections.
Head each box with one of the following headings:
These expressions:
 Move the argument forwards
 Allow the writer to show other side of the
argument
 Introduce a source or piece of evidence
 Show the writer is sure he/she is right.
 Allow the writer to sum up
• However it could be argued that
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moreover
unquestionably
• According to a recent newspaper article
• In conclusion
significantly
• Firstly what is more
One example of this is
• Therefore on the whole
undeniably
• Another important point in favour
• without doubt Yet it could be
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argued that
Absolutely
on the other hand
Secondly definitely
in addition
One
extremely
important
point
that
supports this
Next I’d like to deal with the issue
conversely
Task 2
• You should now come up with your own
expressions for each heading in your
jotter.
• Come up with two new expressions for
each point – you can’t use any that have
been suggested on the previous slide!!!
Task 3
Each group will be given one of
the 5 headings and a piece of
poster paper.
You should write down your
given heading and all of the
expressions that fit under that
heading (including the new ones
that the class came up with.)
These will be displayed on the
wall to help you with your
persuasive essays.
Essay – Draft 1
Monday 8th October.
No late submissions!
No excuses!
Any problems…ASK!!!!