The document provides guidance on using emotion, urgency, and research to effectively persuade others. It explains that pathos appeals to emotion, urgency creates a sense that action must be taken immediately, and research uses reliable facts and citations to support an argument. Examples are given for how to incorporate these persuasive techniques when writing about topics such as homework, puppies, and saving rainforests.

1. Persuasive Writing using
Emotion, Urgency, &
Research
ISNP Intermediate Writing

2. Using Emotion to Persuade
“Pathos”
ISNP
2011-2012
Created by Dana Taylor

3. Pathos
• Pathos is a persuasive strategy that
plays on the audience’s emotions to
influence the acceptance of your
argument.
• When using this strategy, you want
your audience to feel a certain way.

4. Pathos
• “I need you all to help clean this room right
now because it’s filthy!”
• OR
• “I really need your help today. I have to get
my dog to the vet because he’s really sick. I
have to leave right away to get there on time.
If you could help me clean the room, that
would be a great help.”

5. Pathos
• See the difference??
• You probably felt a little sorry for me after the
second example because my dog was sick. Did
that make you want to help out more than me
telling you what to do?
• Now you try!

6. Pathos
• Topic: The amount of homework given.
• Focus on persuading your readers by appealing to
their feelings. (Make them feel bad for you because
you get too much homework!)
• Rather than using facts, use anecdotes (remember
one-time-whens?) to SHOW why you shouldn’t have
homework.
• Write a paragraph persuading your teachers to give
less homework by making them feel a certain way.

7. Pathos
• Pathos is a persuasive strategy that
plays on the audience’s emotions to
influence the acceptance of your
argument.
• When using this strategy, you want
your audience to feel a certain way.

8. Pathos
• “I need you all to help clean this room right
now because it’s filthy!”
• OR
• “I really need your help today. I have to get
my dog to the vet because he’s really sick. I
have to leave right away to get there on time.
If you could help me clean the room, that
would be a great help.”

9. Pathos
• See the difference??
• You probably felt a little sorry for me after the
second example because my dog was sick. Did
that make you want to help out more than me
telling you what to do?
• Now you try!

10. Pathos
• Topic: The amount of homework given.
• Focus on persuading your readers by appealing to
their feelings. (Make them feel bad for you because
you get too much homework!)
• Rather than using facts, use anecdotes (remember
one-time-whens?) to SHOW why you shouldn’t have
homework.
• Write a paragraph persuading your teachers to give
less homework by making them feel a certain way.

11. Using Urgency to Persuade By Jeremy Thompson
ISNP Intermediate Writing
2011-2012

12. Another strategy that can be used
to persuade others is to create a
sense of urgency.
This means that you need make your audience believe
that they must act or make a decision right away.

13. Here’s an example:
Pollution of the world’s oceans is threatening
wildlife at an alarming rate. In the Indian
Ocean alone, over 90% of all coral reefs have
been lost. If something isn’t done to reduce
the amount of pollution in our oceans soon
what few reefs that are left will be lost forever.
(Before) (After)

14. If you don’t act now by writing a complaint to the
school board recess time will be reduced to three
minutes a day! Only you can prevent this
unspeakable tragedy from occurring by expressing
your opinion today!

15. Our turn. . .
Imagine that you are writing to convince your
parents to buy you a new puppy. Brainstorm
some ways to make them feel as though this is the
best possible time to get a puppy if they act now.
Example: There’s a puppy sale at Pets-Mart but it
only lasts until tomorrow morning.

16. Your turn. . .
Use this persuasive strategy to write a
paragraph for the following writing prompt.
Remember, you need to make your audience
think that they must act or decide right
away!

18. Persuading Using Research
ISNP
2011-2012

19. Research is a great strategy to use
when trying to persuade others.
1. Research must be reliable; making up information isn’t
considered actual research.
2. Facts, graphs, and charts can be used to encourage others
to sway to your side of an argument.
3. Don’t forget to keep track of where you find information. If
you are borrowing information to persuade, you MUST be
able to cite your sources!
4. Facts must stay on topic. Don’t forget what you are trying to
persuade readers to believe/think.

20. Here’s an example:
Rain forests are at risk, and we must all act to save them! “In the
past 30 years, deforestation has destroyed nearly 80% of the orangutan’s
habitat.” (Time for Kids, Vol.1 No.22) As companies continue to cut down
trees, there is barely any room for the animals to continue to live!
Forestry experts found that palm-oil companies are using the rain forests
to remove this oil for things such as soap, cleaners, and even cookies.
Environmentalists say that these companies clear so much of the rain
forest, that it begins to look and feel like the desert instead. People need
to become aware of this problem, and take a stand. We should limit the
use of products that contain palm oil, and write letters to the companies
that are doing this explaining the damage that they are causing!
The facts in the above paragraph
were found in a Time for Kids
article called “Rain Forests at
Risk.”

21. Our turn. . .
While I read the article “Elephant Camp,” listen
and look for facts that might help us in trying to
persuade others to help preserve the elephant
community.

22. Your turn. . .
Using that facts that we pulled out of the
article, write a paragraph persuading your
reader to take part in helping to save the
elephants!