Persuasive Writing

1. Persuasive Writing Do You Want to Argue and Win?

2. You Can Win!! 1. What are some arguments that you have wanted to win? List them and the opponents. arguments opponents

3. Opponents 1. Who are they: Friends? Parents? Teachers? Authority? 2. What is important to them? 3. Put yourself in their shoes!

4. Do you realize… If you use certain strategies, you can be convincing?

5. In this essay- writing exercise, you will sharpen your skills. Believe it or not: There are strategies to winning an argument.

6. Writing a Persuasive Writing • Choose a point of view to establish your position on an issue. • Consider the purpose of your essay. • Try to understand the audience and influence that audience. • Use convincing arguments to prove your position. • Support each argument. • Provide logical order with good transitional words. • Open and closethe essay effectively.

7. 1. Choose a point of view. • Make a t-chart • Place the 2 opposing points of view on each side • List 3 arguments for each • Ask yourself, “Which argument can I defend best?” • Select that one as yourpoint of view.

8. 2. Consider the purpose of the essay. • What is your goal? • What do you hope the reader to believe or to do after they read your essay?

9. 3. Audience Try to understand the audience and influence that audience. (You need to know what makes them tick, so you can conquer them with your views). Who is your audience? What is important to them in this issue?

10. 4. Arguments Use convincing arguments.You must be persuasive! Remember: you want to win!

11. 5. Support • Present argument with support. • Come up with facts, details, and examples to back up your argument. • Be specific. .Use strong vocabulary in your arguments.

12. 6. Provide logical order. As you write and reread your writing: • Do you make sense? • Are you clear? • Did you use transitional words to connect your ideas? See examples at: http://departments.weber.edu/writingcenter/Grammar%20and%20Punctuation%20Handouts/Transitions1.htm

13. 7. Openand closethe essay effectively. • Review your notes on good introductions and closings. • Grab the reader’s attention. • Satisfy the reader’s need to know that you have finished your points.

14. Remember: Neatness is essential for the audience to understand your ideas. Do not forget you want to convince him or her that you are right! Do not leave them guessing.

15. Essay Writing Situation Your principal wants to tighten up the dress code in your school. He has requested that the board of education adopt a new policy requiring all students to wear uniforms. You decide to get involved and write a letter to the board members expressing your opinion. Next

16. Writing Task Your opinion is important. Write a letter to the board of education either supporting or opposing the proposal to require all students to wear school uniforms.

17. Pre-write Make sure you understand the situation and your task. Read and re-read. • Make a t-chart, and list 3 arguments for the 2 opposing points of view. For Uniforms Against

18. Pre-write cont’d 2. What is your purpose? Be clear about this. Take a minute to think this through clearly. 3. Who is your audience? What is their point of view? What do they care about? Put yourself in their shoes. 4. Once you have chosen a position, use a concept map or outline to brainstorm support for each of your arguments.

19. Plan your essay, then write! 5 paragraph essay: 1. Introduction 2. Argument 1 with support 3. Argument 2 with support 4. Argument 3 with support 5. Conclusion

20. Extra Tips ;-) • Include similes and/or other figures of speech. • Be descriptive; appeal to the senses. • Include a semicolon. • Include dialogue with quotations. • Use multi-syllabic words. • Use sensory details; appeal to your audience’s senses.

21. Proofread Check: • Spelling • Punctuation • Capitalization

22. The End By Mrs. Brewer