A presentation to guide students through the components of persuasive writing and prepare them to write a persuasive paper.

1. Persuasive Writing
Review
SUMMER SCHOOL
MS. BLUE

2. Persuasion: convincing people to adopt an
opinion, perform an action, or to do both
Argumentative Writing: students will
investigate a topic; collect, generate and
evaluate evidence; and establish a position on
the topic

3. Claim: a statement that asserts a belief or truth. In arguments,
most claims require supporting evidence.
Reason: In writing, a statement that expands the claim by
offering evidence to support it.The reason may be a statement
of fact or another claim.
Warrant: The statement establishes a logical connection
between a claim and its supporting reason.
Claim: Don’t eat that mushroom.
Reason: It’s poisonous.
Warrant: What is poisonous should not be eaten
since it will either make someone sick or kill him or her.

4. Position statement: writer’s opinion and position on the
issue
Counterargument: an alternative position different from
and possibly opposed to a claim.These are the objections that
might be raised by someone who disagrees with an argument.
Rebuttal: an answer that challenges or refutes a specific claim.
A rebuttal may also be used by writers anticipating objections
(counterarguments) to the claims or evidence they offer.

5. — logical appeals (logos): requests based on rational
arguments that support a set of assumptions already
accepted by the audience
— emotional appeals (pathos): requests based on
specific examples of suffering or potential threats and tap
an audience’s emotions
— ethical appeals (ethos): requests that are based on
shared moral values and call upon an audience’s sense of
right, justice, and virtue
— parallel structure: using the same pattern of words to
show that two or more ideas have the same level of
importance

6. Logical/Ethical
Appeals
Emotional
Appeals
Supported by:
— Reasons & Evidence
— Facts & Statistics
— Expert Testimony
— Strong Opinions
Supported by:
— Loaded Language
— Slogans
— Immediacy
— Big Names

7. State your
argument.
"
Example: Children
should not be allowed to
watch horrifying or
violent television
programming
(King 482).

8. Using important people
or experts can make
your argument seem
more convincing.
Example: Stephen King believes that parents should
monitor what their children watch on television, creating a
high shelf for programs that are inappropriate for young,
impressionable viewers.

9. Facts, numbers, and
statistical information
can be convincing.
Example: “More than 217 studies that were done
between 1957 and 1990 reveal a positive and significant
correlation between television violence and aggressive
behavior” (King 483).

10. Getting your audience
to have an emotional
response, happiness,
sadness, or anger, can
help your argument.
Example: “A previous TV Guide article about children and
frightening programs mentioned a three-year-old who
watched [Salem’s] Lot and consequently suffered night
terrors” (King 483).

11. — Usually contains
words with strong
positive or negative
contexts
— Words should make
plain the truth of a
situation, not
misdirect your
audience

12. Attempt to convince
your audience that
the issue is so
important that they
must act immediately.
Example: “The pressure groups who want to see all the horror
(and anything smacking of sex, for that matter) arbitrarily removed
from television make me both uneasy and angry. . . the idea of a
bunch of people I don’t even know presuming to dictate what is
best for my children causes the anger” (King 484).

13. Your argument will be
more convincing when
you use reliable
research.
Example: “Harvard Professor Ron Slaby describes four
different ways that media violence can affect children’s
personalities: aggressor effect, victim effect, bystander effect,
[and] appetite effect” (King 483).

14. — Listen to the sound of the
items in a list or the
items being compared.
Do you hear the same
kinds of sounds?
— For example, is there a
series of “-ing” words
beginning each item? Or
do you hear a rhythm
being repeated?

15. 1. Position Statement
(Thesis)"
2. First Claim (TS)"
A. Reason #1 (CD)"
a. Warrant (CM)"
B. Reason #2 (CD)"
a. Warrant (CM)"
3. Second Claim (TS)"
A. Reason #1 (CD)"
a. Warrant (CM)"
A. Reason #2 (CD)"
a. Warrant (CM)"
4. Third Claim (TS)"
A. Reason #1 (CD)"
a. Warrant (CM)"
B. Reason #2 (CD)"
a. Warrant (CM)"
5. Counterargument (CD)"
A. Rebuttal (CM)"
6. Conclusion (Restate Thesis)"
"

16. Prompt #1
— Many of us spend hours in front of our computers, cell
phones and iPods, communicating more by email or
texts than in person. Some people believe that this is
good because it helps shy people communicate more
openly with others. Others believe that computer
communication prevents us from developing
interpersonal skills and limits our ability to have
meaningful relationships with others.
— How do you feel about this issue? Use specific reasons
and examples to support your position.

17. Prompt #2
— The Internet includes many websites with images and
content that is inappropriate.
— Should parents and schools censor websites like these?
Why or why not?
— State your position and support it with specific reasons
and examples.

18. Prompt #3
— Today’s top professional athletes often have salaries and
bonuses in the tens of millions of dollars.
— Do you think these athletes deserve such high
compensation? Why or why not?
— Explain your position and use specific reasons and
examples.

19. Prompt #4
— Many science fiction stories deal with the possibility of
being able to “design” our children by choosing the
specific physical and personality traits we would like them
to have.
— Do you think this is a good idea? Why or why not?
— Use specific reasons and examples to support your
position.

20. Prompt #5
— Funding has been provided for an experimental online school.All
the classes will take place on the Internet, using email, online
chat, and the World Wide Web.The students enrolled in the
online school will only interact online with each other and with
their teachers.
— ACHS is hoping this program will provide fairer educational
access to students. Opponents of the program argue that
because of their lack of interaction with other students in a
traditional classroom, the students who attend this online school
will not develop necessary social skills.
— What is your position on this issue? State your position on this
issue and supporting it with convincing reasons.