Persuasive Text

How do writers

persuade their audience?

What are various methods writers use to persuade their audience?

• Cause / effect• Fact / opinion• Main idea• Argument• Evidence• Opposition

When might each

of these methods

prove to be the most

persuasive?

Let’s look at a few …

Cause / effectEffective cause / effect

Clearly states claim or position on an issue

Supports it with good evidence / logical reasoningPresent the cause and present the effect

Argument An effective argument

Clearly states claim or position on an issueSupports it with good evidence / logical reasoningPresents opposing views /

explains their weaknesses

What are various forms of media that people use to

persuade the public? • Advertisements• Personal letters• Speeches• Editorials • Political cartoons

Let’s take a look …

How do these ads persuade people

to buy Coke?

Considered to be the first political cartoon in America, what was the

author, Benjamin Franklin, trying to persuade the readers?

Strategies for reading persuasive

writingLook for statement of main issue or problem & author’s positionEvaluate the evidence – facts, statistics, opinions – do they support the author’s position? Evaluate the evidence that

opposes the author’s position

Evaluating Reasoning

•In a persuasive argument, the author uses evidence and reasoning to support his/her position. •A good reader evaluates the evidence and reasoning to ensure the statements are true. •There are four types of faulty reasoning to watch out for:

~ overgeneralization~ either-or fallacy~ cause-and-effect fallacy~ circular reasoning

For more practice, refer to page R14.

Broad statement that says

something is true for every case

with no exceptions.

Overgeneralization

All princesses are beautiful, tiny

blonde-haired, blue-eyed girls that have

to be rescued by Prince Charming!

Excuse me?!

Author states that there are only two possible ways to view a

situation or only two options to choose from.

Either – or fallacy

People either like Mickey

Mouse or the strongly dislike

him!

Author makes the assumption that because one event follows another, the second event was caused by the first.

Cause – effect fallacy

President Theodore Roosevelt took office in September 1901 after President McKinley was assassinated. Therefore, San Francisco suffered a major earthquake in 1906.

An attempt to support a statement by simply repeating it in other words.

Circular reasoning

Killer whales are magnificent animals because they are so awesome!

Evaluating Evidence

You need to carefully examine the evidence the author presents. •Ask the following questions about the evidence …

~Is it a fact or an opinion?~Is it adequate?~Is it accurate?~It is appropriate?

Ask … is the author’s statement a fact or an opinion?

Fact or opinion?

Pandas are the cutest of all animals!

There needs to be enough evidence presented to support the author’s

statement.

Adequate?

Chimpanzees are very smart animals because they use tools, they exhibit emotions, and they solve problems.

To increase accuracy, the evidence needs to come from a reliable source.

Accurate?

Green eggs are much better with ham per Dr. Seuss.

The evidence needs to apply to the topic AND be free of stereotyping,

bias, emotional appeal, and propaganda.

Appropriate?

Some African tree frogs are very poisonous.

When evaluating evidence,

beware of alluring tactics!•Emotional appeal

•Stereotyping•Propaganda •Bandwagon•Scapegoat•Bias

Please send money for the poor, starving sea monkeys! Just a mere $.79 a day will feed a family of three for a week! Don’t

wait! Send money today!

Emotional appeal

All ogres are mean, evil, and can’t be trusted!

Stereotyping

Propaganda

All sharks are mean, lean, eating machines and must be

destroyed!

Bandwagon

Seeing the fun all the other boys were having, Pinocchio jumped on the

bandwagon and joined in! Then, he realized the danger he was facing!

Scapegoat

It’s Pete and his dragon that caused all the trouble! Let’s kick them out of

town!

Bias

Disney’s Tarzan was the best Disney movie! None of the others are worth

seeing!

Card Stacking and Name Calling

• Distort the truth, use lies and associate people with negative labels .

Famous People influence Us!Testimonials and

Transfer Snob Appeal

Plain Folks and Band Wagon

Plain Folks• Everyone loves “Coke!’

Shopping at Target is terrific!

Band Wagon• Everyone has an IPod, even

cartoon characters….

Let’s summarizeHow do writers persuade their audience?

•Cause / effect•Argument•Presenting evidence

Let’s summarizeWhat various forms of media do people use to persuade their audience?•Political cartoons•Advertisements•Personal letters•Editorials•Speeches

Let’s summarizeWhat do good readers do when reading persuasive text?

•Read critically•Question•Evaluate evidence

Let’s summarizeWhat strategies can a good reader use to help make sense of persuasive writing?

•Look for main issue / problem•Author’s purpose •Evaluate evidence

Let’s summarizeWhat should a reader look for when evaluating the evidence an author presents?•Accuracy•Adequacy•Appropriateness •Fact or opinion

Let’s summarizeWhat alluring tactics should a reader be aware of when reading persuasive text? •Emotional appeal•Stereotyping•Propaganda•Bandwagon•Scapegoat •Bias

Ticket out the door3 – List 3 alluring tactics to be aware of2 – List 2 ways to evaluate evidence1 – List 1 way people stereotype teenagers The

End!

The End!

Homework:Locate two ads that contain examples of propaganda, attach them to paper and write an explanation of what types of propaganda are used and how..

Bandwagon • A movement or cause that by its mass

appeal or strength attracts followers.

• Example … some say bottled water is better for you, so everyone started drinking bottled water.

Stereotype• An oversimplified or generalized opinion

or prejudice … a broad statement about a group of people that does not take into account individual differences.

• Example … all teenagers are troublemakers!

Bias• Favoritism toward or against something

• Example – Dogs are the best pets and cats are useless.

Emotional appeal• Emotional appeals are statements that

create strong feelings rather than using fact and evidence to make a point.

Scapegoat• A person or group made to bear the blame

for others or suffer in their place.

• Example – The Jews became the scapegoat for the suffering of the German people after WWI.

Propaganda• The deliberate spread of rumors with the

intention of harming another person or group of people.

• Speech, writing, or other attempts to influence ideas or opinions, often through the use of stereotypes, faulty generalizations, or emotional language. • Example – Hitler’s propaganda that Jews

were responsible for the poor condition of Germany after WWI.

Generalize• To infer or form an opinion or conclusion

about someone or something based on only a few facts, examples, or the like.

• Example – Everyone eats chocolate!

Plain Folks

• The users of this product or proponents of this course of action are simple, down-to-earth people like you and me.

• Example: Everyone loves Coke!

Card Stacking and Name Calling

• Distorting or omitting facts; telling half-truths.

• Stereotyping ideas or people with a bad label.

Glittering Generalities

• Glittering Generalities - Using "good" labels, such as democratic, patriotic, amazing, beautiful and exciting, that are unsupported by facts.

Testimonials

• Seeking support for an idea or product by having it endorsed by a famous person, such as a sports figure or movie star.

Snob Appeal and Transfer

1. Only the richest, most important, or most discerning people like this idea or product.

2. Associating a respected person or idea with whatever is being promoted, such as picturing a well-known athlete in a breakfast cereal advertisement.