Cornell NotesCornell Notes

Topic: Persuasive Writing

Essential Question: What is Persuasive Writing and what are strategies I can use for it?

not getting your way?Too many chores?

Not enough freedom?

What if you could get your way all the time?

•Fewer chores•More

privileges•Babysitting

relief?

• An increase in your allowance

• A later curfew• That new cell

phone

That’s right! We’re talkin’:

Want to know more??

You’ve come to the right place!That’s right!

•For a limited time, Ms. Whitaker has a special introductory offer

•The cost?? Your attention!

•The payoff?? HUGE!

Welcome to Persuasive Writing

Home of the “effective ARGUMENT” Guarantee!

If you’ve got an effective Argument, then you can

persuade!

Persuasion Basics

•The purpose of persuasive writing is to get your way!

•You want to influence your audience to agree with you and take an action to support you.

Writing Persuasively in 3 Easy Steps

1.Present an issue and express an opinion

2.Try to get the audience to agree with you

3. Ask your audience to take action!

The 3 Most Effective Tools:

The Persuasive Appeals•Ethos– Using the writer’s image or character

•Logos– Using logical arguments

•Pathos– The emotions of the audience

** Thank you, Aristotle!

Ethos—The Writer’s Character

•Audiences believe speakers who they judge to possess:– good moral character– expertise– authority

It’s Used Against Us•False “egos” occurs in advertising all the time—consider:–The “doctor” who discusses pain medicine

–The athlete who promotes a candy bar

–The actor who endorses a brand of soda

Credible???

Logos—What makes sense?

•Aristotle’s Syllogisms

– Example: All men are mortal.Socrates is a man.

Therefore, Socrates is mortal

• Effective persuasion depends on convincing people to accept that our assumptions are probably true and make sense.

Pathos—The Emotions

•Emotions greatly influence our rational judgments

•Powerful emotions like anger, fear, and pity are especially effective

Does Pathos Work?• Most advertising (and political

campaigning) are aimed at our emotions

–Most ads address our greatest insecurities and fears (pretty vs. ugly, young vs. old, thin vs. fat, smart vs. dumb, popular vs. social outcast)

–Then they say their product offers the solution

So we buy it, don’t we?? We’re convinced!

Why do we want these things?

To effectively persuade:

• State a position/opinion• Present detailed evidence or

examples using logic, ethics, and/or emotion

• Cite credible resources• Organize your argument logically• Address reader’s possible

concerns • Include a call to action!

An example to consider:•Your parent(s) is considering a job in

Seattle, Washington, meaning your family would relocate during Thanksgiving break.

•For you, it means a new town, a new school, new friends. Your parent has asked for your help in making this decision.

•Write a persuasive essay to your parents in which you either support moving or support staying where you are.

Pre-write your possible responses and the parent’s

potential arguments.