Persuasive Writing…Allows you to use the power of language to inform and influence

others.

Persuasion can include

Speeches, debates, essays, newspaper

editorials, advertisements, power points, and critical

reviews

What do you believe about the issue? How can you express your opinion most clearly?

What do you want your listener/reader to do?

Clarify Your Position

Who will you be speaking to? What do they already know & believe about the topic?

What objections to your position will they have?

What additional information will they want or need?

What tone & approach would be most effective?

Know Your Audience

Support Your Opinion• Why do you feel the way you do about

the issue?• What facts, statistics, examples,

quotations, anecdotes, or expert opinions support your view?

• What reasons are most likely to convince your listener/reader?

• What evidence can answer their objections?

How will your reader/listener benefit from agreeing to your point-of-view?

What Is In It For Them?

How can your hook your readers and make a lasting impression?

What memorable quotation, anecdote, or statistic will catch their attention at the beginning or stick in their minds at the end?

What strong summary or call to action can you conclude with?

Begin and End with a

Statistics Facts that are stated in numbersExamples Specific instances that explain pointsObservations

Events or situations you have seen firsthand

Anecdotes Brief stories that illustrate pointsQuotations Direct statements from authority figures

(doctors, scientists, etc.)

Graphics Graphs, pictures, maps

Ways to support Your Argument

Introduction states issue and your opinion on itReason 1 with evidence and support

Reason 2 with evidence and support

Reason 3 with evidence and support

Objections to whole argument

Response to objections

Conclusion restates your position and recommends a course of action

Options for OrganizationOption 1: Reasons for Your Opinion

Introduction states issue and your opinion on itReason 1 with evidence and supportObjections and responses for reason 1Reason 2 with evidence and supportObjections and responses for reason 2Reason 3 with evidence and supportObjections and responses for reason 3Conclusion restates your position and recommends a course of action

Options for OrganizationOption 2: Point-by-Point Basis