essays letters-to-the-editor advertising speech writing letters to family, friends, colleagues,...

essays

letters-to-the-editor

advertising

speech writing

Letters to family, friends, colleagues, potential donors or

voters

poetry

songs

editorials

Etc.advice columns

award nominations

•To change a rule or policy

•To change a person’s attitude

•To change a person’s behavior

•To change a situation•To ask for money

•To ask for people’s votes•To ask for a privilege

•To ask for support of a cause

The Art of Successful PersuasionThe Art of Successful Persuasion

Pinpoint your objective- What is your purpose?Pinpoint your objective- What is your purpose?

Know your audienceKnow your audience

Who is the Audience?Brainstorm the

names of several magazines.

SeventeenMagazine

Teenage girls

Relating Factor: Are the intended audience for

as as

Complete a Bridge Map like the one below.

Knowing your audience is important because...Knowing your audience is important because...

It will determine the kind of language andarguments to use and avoidIt will determine the kind of language andarguments to use and avoid

It will determine how much backgroundinformation to include in the introductionIt will determine how much backgroundinformation to include in the introduction

It will help the writer find common ground with the reader - arguments used mustappeal to common interests and shared goals

It will help the writer find common ground with the reader - arguments used mustappeal to common interests and shared goals




Know which appeals can be used with your audienceKnow which appeals can be used with your audience

Persuasive Appeals

WhineBeg

Make wild promisesThreaten blackmail

Persuasive Appeals

Shared Values

and Beliefs

If I can find some common ground between us,I can use this to persuade you to do …whatever.(ex. “You have always wanted me to be responsibleand having a pet will teach me responsibility.”)

Referred to as “identification”, this can be themost powerful persuasive tool at our disposal.

Looks at what we have in common and how this canbe used to enlarge upon our similarities. (ex. Wewere both in the Marines, born in Illinois, etc.)

Focus on common goals. For example, we both wantthis thing so therefore you should go along withmy way of thinking.

Persuasive Appeals

Shared Values

and Beliefs

Emotionsand

Vanity

Persuades by inducing any of the following:

Guilt – If you don’t give there will be children who get no Christmas presents this year.

Security – Vote for increased salaries for our policemen and keep our community safe.

Greed – Investing now means a greater payoff later.

Pity – In our area there are children who have never received a Christmas gift.

Humor – Don’t be the Scrooge of the community. Get out your checkbook.

Love – Poor little children in our community will love you for making their Christmas a special one.

Appeals to vanity –

If you give just $100.00 your name will appear as a contributor in our publication. Your friends will see the depth of your commitment to this worthwhile project .

Persuasive Appeals

Shared Values

and Beliefs

Emotionsand

Vanity

Benefits to the

Audience

These benefits could be related to:

FinancesHealthSafety

Social statusTime Etc.

For example: With a new bike I could runerrands for you, like going to the store or tothe post office. This will save you time so

you can read or watch T.V.

Persuasive Appeals

Shared Values

and Beliefs

Emotionsand

Vanity

Benefits to the

Audience

Scientific/ Numerical

Factsor

Self-EvidentTruths

This is theBest Support for the Writer’s Argument

These might be:

Concrete examplesNarrative vignettes (anecdotes)

Authoritative quotesStatistics

DefinitionsFacts

Witness statementsExpert testimony




Know which appeals can be used with your audienceKnow which appeals can be used with your audience

Know how to organize your informationKnow how to organize your information

{PersuasiveEssay

Opening Statement withWriter’s Opinion

Series of Argumentsthat Support the Opinion

Conclusion Drawn Fromthe Arguments

Modeling the Persuasive Essay

Prompt: There has been much talk among members ofthe school board in your district regarding whether ornot to require students to wear uniforms to school. Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaperstating your position and supporting it with threeconvincing reasons.

Step 1: Consider your audience and the format that your writing will take

Audience – literate adults, many influential in local decisions – members of school board could also read the informationFormat – letter to the editor

Step 2: Consider the pros and cons of both positions. Record this information on a Tree Map.

People won’t bejudged by clothes

Less costly toparents

Allows more timeto focus on activitiesmore worthwhile than

shopping

Creates a sense ofschool spirit and

unity

Boring to look ateveryone dressed

the same

Takes away freedomof choice

Everyone might notlook good in school colors

Takes away fromshopping, a favorite

pastime for teens

Wearing Uniforms

Pluses Minuses

Step 3: Decide on your position. Select your 3 most convincing reasons to support your position.



Allows more timeto focus on activitiesmore worthwhile than

shopping

Creates a sense ofschool spirit and

unity

Boring to look ateveryone dressed

the same

Takes away freedomof choice

Everyone might notlook good in school colors

Takes away fromshopping, a favorite

activity for teens

Wearing Uniforms

Pluses Minuses

Step 4: Write your opening paragraph. Use an attention-getting technique to introduce your position. Include a thesis statement that clearly states your opinion.

Have you ever been to a party or public function whereyou felt out of place because of what you were wearing?Maybe you did not have on the latest fashion becauseyour budget would not allow you to spend that kind of money on clothes. Every day there are students in ourschools who feel self-conscious because of their clothes.Such would not be the case if students in our schooldistrict wore uniforms to school. Please consider thefollowing before making your final decision regarding thisissue.

Attention getter – make a connection with reader.

thesis statement

invitation to read further

Introduction

1. Attention getter (grabber) –consider an idea to be refuted or a startling statement, fact, or statistic.

2. Any important background for the reader –consider explaining how things are now, anything the reader doesn’t already know about the subject, etc…For example: Motercycle laws, as they stand today, require a rider to be 18 years of age before a person can qualifiy for a motorcycle license.

Introduction continued…

3. Thesis statement

4. Invitation to read further…Something like: There are several reasons why this policy (law) (program) must change!

Step 5: Select your 2/3 best reasons to support your position. Place the reasons on your Flow Map in the order of least important to most important.


More time forother activities



Select transition words and phrases.

In the first place Another reason Finally

Write supporting details under each reason. Have you ever been to a party or public function whereyou felt out of place because of what you were wearing?Maybe you did not have on the latest fashion becauseyour budget would not allow you to spend that kind of money on clothes. Every day there are students in ourschools who feel self-conscious because of their clothes.Such would not be the case if students in our schooldistrict wore uniforms to school. Please consider thefollowing before making your final decision regarding thisissue.




Put an * where you will address counterarguments.


Won’t hang outat malls

Parents haveextra money

Popular kids won’t havestylish clothes

Do morecommunity service

Single parentscan’t afford clothes

People who don’tdress well won’t be labeled

Spend more timewith family

Put money intocollege fund

People judged by other qualities* *








Popular kids havestylish clothes



People who don’tdress well labeled



People judged by other qualities*

*

Step 6: Write a closing paragraph

There is absolutely no doubt that requiring students towear uniforms to school would solve a lot of problemsfor both students and their parents. Mothers andfathers will feel less pressure financially, students willnot be judged by the clothes they wear, and, without the focus on shopping for the latest fashions, studentscould be encouraged to spend their time in more worth-while activities. While we all acknowledge that theadolescent years are a time for self expression anddeveloping a personal identity, I urge you to allow ourstudents to be appreciated and recognized by what iswithin rather than what is on the outside.

restatement of position

arguments summarized

acknowledge opposition

solicitation of support

Conclusion Paragraph

1. Restate your thesis or position.1. A shorter school year is definitely the way to go if

you want more students to graduate.

2. Summarize your arguments. This is when you give what you think the solution will be, or when you tell your reader how by following your advice will improve a situation.

1. By reducing students’ stress, allowing students time to get jobs and save their parents some money, and providing more days off for people to become teachers and get rid of our teacher shortages, Texas will see a dramatic decrease in their drop out rates.

Conclusion paragraph continued…

3. Acknowledge your opposition (counterargument)

1. While opponents of this idea may feel that not enough learning will take place, the opposite will be true. Students will not be as bored and will pay attention more if they go for a shorter period of days and are not stuck in school all week long.

4. A solicitation of support (A call for action)1. I urge you to act now! Write your local school

board and demand a four day school week today!















*

Step 7: Orally rehearse. Remember the format.

There is absolutely no doubt that requiring students to wear uniforms to school would solve a lot of problems for both students and their parents. Mothers and fathers will feel less pressure financially, students will not be judged by the clothes they wear, and, without the focus on shopping for the latest fashions, students could be encouraged to spend their time in more worth-while activities. While we all acknowledge that theadolescent years are a time for self expression and developing a personal identity, I urge you to allow our students to be appreciated and recognized by what is within rather than what is on the outside.















*

Step 8: Write your essay in the appropriate format using your Flow Map

There is absolutely no doubt that requiring students to wear uniforms to school would solve a lot of problems for both students and their parents. Mothers and fathers will feel less pressure financially, students will not be judged by the clothes they wear, and, without the focus on shopping for the latest fashions, students could be encouraged to spend their time in more worth-while activities. While we all acknowledge that theadolescent years are a time for self expression and developing a personal identity, I urge you to allow our students to be appreciated and recognized by what is within rather than what is on the outside.

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