PowerPoint on writing a persuasive argument.

1. Persuasive
Writing

2. Quickwrite:
What is your experience with writing
persuasive essays?
 If you have never written one, have you
ever tried to convince someone to act a
certain way or do something?
 If so, what techniques did you use? What
kind of argument did you make?

3. Persuasive Writing
 In persuasive writing, a writer takes a
position FOR or AGAINST an issue and
writes to convince the reader to BELIEVE
or DO something.

4. Where do you find Persuasive
Writing?
 In advertisements to get the reader to buy a
product
 In newspapers, magazines, essays and other texts
to get the reader to accept a point of view
 In speeches, petitions, and political cartoons to
convince readers to believe a certain political
viewpoint
 On blogs, webpages, and social media sites to
convince the reader to subscribe to or follow the
author

5. Examples of Persuasive Writing
 Editorials
 Essays
 Advertisements
 Speeches
 Petitions
 Political Cartoons
 Editorial Letters
 Blogs
 Tweets
 Facebook
 Advice Columns

6. What are some topics that you
make argue or debate over?
 Examples:
 Students should be required to go to
school all year.
 The United States troops should leave Iraq.
 Come up with at least 5 topics that have
opposing views that interest you.

7. Persuasive Arguments
Should have the following:
 A claim
 Evidence Supporting the claim (reasons)
 An opposing viewpoint with counter-
arguments
 A conclusion

8. Making a Claim
 A writer must express an opinion to turn a
topic into a claim. For example, if your
topic is “school start time,” then a possible
claim could be “school should start later
in the day.” Remember that your claim
has to be arguable, meaning it needs to
have at least two sides.

9. Thesis statements or claims
avoid the following:
• the first person (I believe, In my opinion, etc.)
• unclear language (It seems, etc.)
• attempting two topics at once (even if they
seem related). Pick one and stick with it.
• just stating a fact - A thesis is something you
plan to make an argument about.

10. Claim Opposing Viewpoints
School should start
later in the day.
FOR Starting later will allow more
sleep for students. Rested
students are good students.
AGAINST Starting later will take away
time from after-school
activities.
Example:

11. Now you write a Thesis Statement
Step 1: TOPIC
State the topic under consideration: dogs

12. Now you write a Thesis Statement
Step 2: ISSUE
State the specific issue in the form of a
debating proposition (for something).
The issue usually answers the question
“what?” What about dogs?
Dogs should be subject to leash laws.
Dogs make great pets.

13. Now you write a Thesis Statement
Step 3: Position + Rationale ( because-
clause)
Your topic and issue = your position.
Now, using a because-clause.
Dogs should be subject to leash laws
because they are natural wanderers.

16. Persuasive Techniques
People aren’t always logical. Emotion can
play a key role in decision- making. That’s
why writers and speakers use persuasive
techniques, or methods that are intended
to sway people’s feelings and actions.
 Appeals by Association
 Emotional Appeals
 Loaded Appeals

17. Appeals by Association
 Link an idea or a product to something or
someone positive or influential
 Bandwagon Appeal
 Taps into people’s desire to belong
 Testimonial
 Uses celebrities or satisfied customers to
persuade
 Transfer
 Connects a product, a candidate, or a cause
with a positive image or idea

18. Emotional Appeals
 Use strong feelings, rather than facts, to
persuade
 Appeal to Pity
 Taps into people’s compassion for others
 Appeal to Fear
 Preys upon people’s fear for their safety
 Appeal to Vanity
 Uses flattery to win people over

19. Loaded Language
 Uses words with strongly positive or
negative associations
 Words with Positive Associations
 Call up favorable images, feelings, or
experiences
 Words with Negative Associations
 May bring t0 mind unpleasant images,
feelings, or experiences; often create a
sense of distrust or unease

20. Practice
 Now you will analyze the following
persuasive arguments. Remember to ask
yourself the following questions:

21. Purpose:
 What is the writer’s purpose for writing this
argument? Why does the writer want to
convince the audience to accept the
claim?

22. Audience:
 To whom is the letter written? To whom
do the reasons and evidence seem
targeted? How do you know?

23. Support:
 What facts, examples, and personal
experiences are presented?

24. Organization:
 What do you notice about the structure of
the essay? How does it begin? What is
included in the body paragraphs? How
does the essay end?

31. Get Started
 What is your topic or idea?
 What claim are you making about this idea?
 What is your thesis statement or topic
sentence?
 What evidence do you have to support your
claim?
 Do you have an argument against an
opposing viewpoint?
 How will you wrap up or conclude your
argument?
 Do you have an action you want the reader
to take?

32. Organizing the Essay
 Topic sentence: Statement of a reason to
support your claim.
 Evidence: Examples to support the claim
(facts, details, stories, etc.).
 Commentary: Explanation of the significance
of the evidence or the connection to the
claim (reasoning).
 Counter-Argument: An argument
acknowledging and defending against an
opposing viewpoint.
 Conclusion: Wrapping up the argument and
restatement of the claim.

33. Concluding a Persuasive Essay
When generating a conclusion for a persuasive
essay, writers should do the following:
 Wrap up the argument.
 Restate the claim.
 Provide a new appeal to needs or values.
 Add additional commentary.
 Ask for readers to take action or change
thinking.
 Refrain from repeating information.

34. Directions
1. Establish a position: Decide what your opinion is. Are
you for or against mandatory recycling?
2. Create a thesis statement: Make a claim and
include several key facts to support your claim.
3. Identify Supporting Evidence: What evidence
supports your claim? Use specific evidence and cite
where you found it.
4. Consider alternatives: What is the counter
argument? How will you defend against an
opposing viewpoint?
5. Include a Conclusion: Wrap-up your argument.
Restate your claim and summarize briefly any
important ideas. Ask readers to take action.
6. Revise and Edit: Does your essay follow guidelines
given? Did you check the rubric?

35. Persuasive Essay:
Revision Checklist
1. Issue/Topic • Are there multiple viewpoints surrounding this issue?
2. Claim • Does the claim have a topic and opinion?
• Does the writer give reasons for making the claim?
3. Support • What facts, statistics, examples, and personal
experiences are used?
• Does the writer use sound reasoning and relevant
details?
• Is the evidence relevant, accurate, current, and
typical?
4. Audience • To whom do the reasons, evidence, appeals, and
examples seem to be targeted?
• Are the above appropriate for the intended audience?
5. Opposing Viewpoints • Does the writer address opposing viewpoints clearly,
fairly, and completely?
• Does the writer acknowledge and refuse opposing
viewpoints with logic and relevant evidence?
6. Conclusion • Does the writer conclude the argument effectively?