ARGUMENTATIVE OR PERSUASIVE WRITING

Elements to Persuasive

Writing

TAKING A STAND

It is often important to take a stand – to

have a belief you’re willing to argue and

defend. Doing so won’t usually result

in revolution or complete change, but

you may be able to persuade others that

you’re right.

PURPOSE AND AUDIENCE

Your purpose in argumentative

writing is to make readers think a

certain way or act a certain way.

You can’t do that without paying

pretty close attention to them – your

audience.

SUPPORTING YOUR OPINION

T

alk to friends and others interested in the issue or topic.

T

ake to experts - people who are knowledgeable about the

issue; use testimonials, or take a survey

R

esearch – use the internet, books, magazine, and

newspapers.

L

ook for Reasons, Facts, or Opinion from knowledgeable

sources.

METHODS

APPEALS TO THE EMOTIONS

Appeal to people’s heart as well as

their minds. (Facts, testimonials are

used very often with this technique)

Example: Actors, Authors, and Athletes

shouldn’t charge for autographs.

APPEALS TO THE EMOTION

Support:

The most popular celebrities already earn

millions.

Fans will think less of these celebrities if they

have to pay for autographs.

Celebrities in the past didn’t ask fans to pay for

autographs. Today, they should be more like them.

What about all the people in the world today who

do not have a job, or enough food to eat…

FALSE CAUSE AND EFFECT

A

ssume that one event caused another

just because one came before the other.

E

xample: “Not sending the school band

to out-of-town games put the team on a

losing streak.”

ATTACKING!!!!

Ignores the issue by attacking the person

instead of the person’s view on the topic.

“Supporters of this leash law

are dog haters at heart.”

My teacher gave me a U,

because she doesn’t like me.

BANDWAGON

Ask you to believe or do something

because many other people do.

Don’t be the only family in your

neighborhood without a XBOX.”

Everybody's wearing …

Everybody has…

PRACTICE

Why is each statement below misleading? Which

technique (Appeals to Emotion, False Cause and

Effect, Attacking, Bandwagon) is being used?

Explain.

1.Everyone is buying ______. The stores can hardly

keep them on the rack. You need to get your today!

2.Because the principal made the school day longer,

many students are getting poor grades.

PRACTICE

3. Since he is an active deer hunter, it’s no

wonder that Bob says hunting helps conserve

deer.

4. The Kids at Del Rio Middle School who

started skate-boarding lost their A and B

averages. Skateboarding definitely eats up

study time.

THE PAPER

INTRODUCTION

Title

Refers to the Main Idea and

Position of topic. Introduction

also can hook the reader with

question.

INTRODUCTION

The Hook

Death Served on a Platter.

Cook or Killer?

INTRODUCTION

Background

Introduce Mary Mallon

(background, what she did for a

living, how what she did for a living

impacted her, and others.

INTRODUCTION

Thesis Thesis

Presented as last sentence of introductory

paragraph. Writer takes a clear position.

Ex. Junk foods should be taken out of

school lunch menus because they affect your

body and mind in negative ways.

BODY PARAGRAPHS

One:

Details and facts support position.

Language is precise and lively.

Sentence structures are varied

and correct.

BODY PARAGRAPHS

Two:

Paragraph present

another fully developed

reason for position.

BODY PARAGRAPHS

Three-Four:

Paragraphs present another fully

developed reason for position.

Include facts and opinions to

support argument.

CONCLUSION

Call to action concludes essay.

Restate position, and

summarize main reason(s) for

your position.