Persuasive Writing
What is persuasive writing?
• You take a position on a particular topic/issue
and try to persuade your reader to agree with
your point of view.
i.e.
You try to convince your reader that your
position is more legitimate than others.
Persuasive Techniques
• Address the audience directly throughout.
-Speak in the first person. (“I would suggest
that...”).
-Also use pronouns like “you” and “we”.
e.g. “You might not think that...”
e.g. “We often hear in the news...”
• Make sure that you convey your own opinion
on the subject.
• Use emotive language
Strong adjectives or adverbs which have an
emotional impact or appeal to the emotions
of the reader.
See handout.
•
-
Use evidence to support your argument.
Use of examples.
Use of facts and statistics.
Quotes from reliable experts.
This will give your argument credibility and will
make your audience much more likely to
agree with you.
• The tone of the article should be designed to
persuade your audience to agree with you.
e.g. Sarcasm, cynicism, anger, enthusiasm,
optimism etc etc
Your word choice is very important in this
regard.
• The use of rhetorical questions throughout.
- Involves the reader in your argument.
- Encourages them to think about what you are
saying.
- Emphasises the point you are trying to make.
What kind of person would allow a family
member to have an abortion?
Question and answer.
• Pose a question and then answer it.
How do we know that prison doesn’t work?
Well, it has been shown that 25% of people
released from prison go on to reoffend.
• The occasional use of humour and
exaggeration. (Don’t go overboard).
• Use a mixture of formal and informal
language.
• Intelligent use of technical jargon.
• Try to use linking words and phrases to
connect your sentences and paragraphs.
See handout.
• Use of triples.
Repeating an idea or image three times, usually
in a slightly different way.
Hunting is evil, cruel and outdated.
• Opinion as fact
Presenting your own personal beliefs about a
subject as though they are factual truths.
Boxing is a vicious and degrading sport that noone enjoys.
• Use topic sentences at the start of each
paragraph. This will ensure that your essay has
developed a strong line of thought.
Make a statement that puts across your argument.
You must then develop this statement in the rest
of the paragraph.
Another reason why children should be allowed to
watch only a limited amount of t.v is that it has
been shown to contribute towards health
problems. Studies have found that excessive
television viewing can increases the likelihood of
developing conditions such as autism and...
• Acknowledge the opposing viewpoint and
then undermining it and showing why it is
wrong.
The supporters of euthanasia argue that it gives
people control over their own destiny, but, in
actual fact, it is taking away the right of
people to live as long as they wish as those
with terminal illnesses will be pressured into
volunteering to be “put-down”.
Your Persuasive Essay
Choosing a topic
• Are you interested in the topic?
• Do you have strong opinions about it?
• Can you find reliable information about it?
• Avoid some of the most commonly used
topics:
Capital punishment, abortion, animal testing
etc.
Choose a topic that is a current issue and that
will make you stand out.
2. Next, you must choose a side that you totally
agree with. What is your stance with regards
to the topic?
You can’t convince someone you are right if you
are not sure yourself.
3. Decide what your main argument is.
What exactly are you trying to convince your
readers to believe?
This is called the “thesis statement”.
NB
• Your thesis statement must be debatable.
There must be an opposing viewpoint.
• It is important that you understand this
opposing viewpoint.
Structure of the Essay
• Introduction
• Main Body- four or five paragraphs.
• Conclusion.
Introduction
• A statement that informs the reader what the
subject of the essay is.
• Your thesis statement which clearly sets out
your own position on the matter.
• The main reasons why you believe in your
point of view. (3 or 4).
• Also, try to include a great “hook” to get the
readers immediate attention and make her
want to read more.
• A “hook” in the first paragraph that grabs the
reader’s attention.
• Examples of “hooks”??
• A quotation.
• An anecdote (a very short interesting or
amusing story).
• An interesting fact.
• An unusual piece of trivia.
• A rhetorical question.
• An exaggeration or outrageous statement.
Main Body
One paragraph for each of the main
reasons you outlined in your
introduction.
In each paragraph you should expand
on each of the main reasons.
Conclusion
• This is where you sum up and emphasise your
argument.
• Remind the reader of your thesis statement.
• Recap your main reasons for taking your
position on the matter.
• Try to finish with a great closing line that the
reader will remember.
Important
• Be careful with your spelling, grammar and
punctuation.
• Strike a balance between formality and
informality.
• Try to use as many persuasive techniques as
you can.
• Try to use linking sentences.
Linking sentences
• Try to make sure that the paragraphs in the
main body of your essay have linking
sentences at the start.
• A linking sentence makes a reference back to
the previous paragraph and makes a link to
what is to come in the current paragraph.
• Keeps the essay well organised and coherent.