Persuasive writing

Persuasion

What is persuasion?

Under what circumstances might a person need to employ persuasive techniques?

What text types tend to be used to persuade?

What makes a text persuasive?

Language (words) Structure (organisation & order of ideas) Form (techniques)

What techniques and word types do you already know that can be used to persuade another person or group?

Rhetoric 101 The art of eloquently convincing an audience of your opinion or viewpoint

Formality & flattery Adopt a formal and flattering tone – but don’t be effusive or sycophantic!

Personal pronouns Personalise the delivery by using ‘we’, ‘you’ and ‘your’

Appeal to the head Logic, common sense

Appeal to the heart Fear, guilt, empathy, altruism

Hard evidence Facts, statistics, research & surveys,

Soft evidence Expert opinion, anecdotes & examples

Incentives Rewards, offers, accentuate the positives

Humour A wry sense of humour whilst not seeming flippant about serious issues can win over an audience

The law of contrast All things are relative!

Hyperbole Credible exaggeration for effect

Emotive language Don’t shy away from strongly expressed opinion and dramatic vocabulary

Rule of 3 It’s simple, repeatable and very effective!

Poetic devices Alliteration, simile & metaphor to paint word pictures and create musicality

Rhetorical questions Can you think of a good reason why you wouldn’t include them in your writing?

Imperatives As you gain confidence that you have hooked your audience, don’t be afraid to use commands to drive home your point

Rhetoric revisited Formality & flattery Personal pronouns Appeal to the head Appeal to the heart Hard evidence Soft evidence Incentives Humour The law of contrast Hyperbole Emotive language The rule of 3 Poetic devices Rhetorical questions Imperatives

Rhetoric Bingo!

How to structure a persuasive text

Language (words) Structure (organisation & order of ideas) Form (techniques)

What kind of structure do you think is most likely to make your text memorable and persuasive?

A hard-hitting opening line

The first paragraph should offer an overview of your stance or opinion that you will be putting forward for consideration

The main body of your writing will be divided into clear paragraphs – each will present a new point or idea that supports your overarching premise

Make full use of the rhetorical techniques you are now familiar with in each of your paragraphs to ensure that the CONTENT and STRUCTURE complement one another

Your final paragraph should summarise your stance and reinforce the strength of the ideas you have presented

The last line should be memorable, punchy and an ‘applause cue’

Past paper questions GCSE

When teachers apply for a job at school, they receive a pack containing information about the school. Write a section of this pack in which you, as a student, try to persuade teachers to come to work at your school.

An open air concert has been planned for next summer but the farmer who owns the land where the concert is to be held has received objections from locals. He is now undecided about whether or not to allow the event to take place. Write a letter persuading him to allow the concert to go ahead.

‘ Killer drop’ is a popular ride in a local amusement park. A group of lobbyists are calling for it to be permanently shut down. There is a proposed meeting on the issue taking place tonight in the town hall and you have been asked to deliver a speech, arguing your opinion on the issue as a representative of young people in the area. Write the speech.

An action group called ‘Cut Road Deaths Now’ wants to change the age at which young people are allowed to drive (from 17 to 21). Write a letter to the leader of the group persuading them that the proposed change is unwise.

Your local council intends to allow a supermarket chain to build a new store on a piece of nearby green land. Write a letter for your local newspaper in which you try to persuade local people that this is unacceptable.

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Persuasive writing

by andyfisher on Apr 10, 2009

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