Grade 10 Unit 5: Persuasive Writing

Grade 10 Unit 5: Persuasive Writing

Table of Contents

Introduction 3

Unit Objectives 3

Lesson 1: Introduction to Persuasive Writing 3 Warm-up! 4 Learn About It! 4 Check Your Understanding 8 Let’s Step Up! 8

Lesson 2: Formal and Informal Words 9 Warm-up! 9 Learn About It! 9 Check Your Understanding 11 Let’s Step Up! 12

Lesson 3: Writing Opinions and Assertions 13 Warm-up! 13 Learn About It! 13 Check Your Understanding 16 Let’s Step Up! 17

Lesson 4: Emphasizing a Point 18 Warm-up! 18 Learn About It! 18 Check Your Understanding 21 Let’s Step Up! 22

Performance Task 23

Self-Check: How Well Did I Learn? 24

Wrap Up 25

Bibliography 26

2 Copyright © 2018 Quipper Limited

GRADE 10 |English

UNIT 5

Persuasive Writing The Greek philosopher Aristotle once said, “A statement is persuasive and credible either because it is directly self-evident or because it appears to be proved from other statements that are so.” In persuasive writing, it is thus important not just to state your stand but also to be able to show and convince readers that they should take the same position on the issue.

Unit Objectives

In this unit, you should be able to: ● identify persuasive strategies and logical fallacies; ● differentiate formal from informal words; ● formulate statements of opinion or assertion; and ● use words or expressions that emphasize a point.

Lesson 1: Introduction to Persuasive Writing

Nowadays, you probably encounter persuasive writing each day. Fake news, memes that aim to propagate certain beliefs,

and even articles serving as campaigns to revise history are all over the Web. It is thus important to recognize persuasive texts to be conscious of the motives or aims of that piece of writing.


Warm-up!

Think of a product that you use and have found effective. Write down three of its best qualities, and using these qualities as your focus, create a plan for an advertisement of the product. Be ready to share and discuss your work with a partner.

Learn About It!

Persuasive writing aims to convince the reader to take action or simply to agree with the writer’s stand. There are various types of texts that use persuasive writing, among which are speeches, advertisements, persuasive essays, persuasive letters, and editorials. Some articles or posts on blogs, social media, and websites may also feature persuasive writing. In persuasive writing, you may use appeals or persuasive strategies to support your claims and disprove counterclaims. These appeals, which were also called Aristotle’s Methods of Persuasion, are the most effective tools of persuasive writing or speaking. The methods of persuasion are the following:

a. Logos – This is also called as appeal to logic or appeal to reason. When using this, the writer appeals to readers with the use of logic or reason. This means providing information such as facts, statistics, historical evidence, or data from certain authorities on a particular topic. The following statements make use of logos:

The student’s intellectual quotient or IQ shows that he is, in fact, intellectually gifted. This is also supported by his high scores in standardized tests and his consistently excellent performance in all academic subjects.


The given statements are an appeal to reason, as the writer cites data such as the student’s IQ, high scores on standardized tests, and consistently excellent performance to show that the student is intellectually gifted.

b. Ethos – Also called an ethical appeal, this strategy is used when the writer convinces

readers of his or her credibility or character. To develop credibility, the writer should do the following:

▪ Use only credible sources and cite those sources correctly. ▪ State not just one’s claims but counterclaims and opposing arguments as well to

sound fair and unbiased. ▪ Use language that is appropriate for the topic and the audience. ▪ If applicable, state one’s expertise or field of specialization. ▪ Proofread and ensure that there are no grammar errors in the text.

The following statement makes use of ethos:

As a teacher with 20 years of experience teaching high school students, I can say that the current curriculum does not adequately address the learning needs of the students.

The given statement is an ethical appeal, as the writer states his or her experience as a teacher to make the statement credible.

c. Pathos – This is also referred to as emotional appeal. A writer that uses pathos aims to invoke sympathy. He or she may, for example, choose to provide background information by way of telling the story of someone who has undergone domestic abuse instead of simply giving statistics regarding the number of individuals suffering from domestic abuse each year. The following makes use of pathos:

Imagine your own child roaming through Manila’s busy and dirty streets while barefoot and hungry. Think of how much suffering your child goes through, begging for alms. Now imagine that people are just passing by, not even caring that your child does not have anything to eat or drink. This is a plight experienced by so many street children today. Don’t you want to do your share to alleviate the suffering of these children?


Aside from the given appeals, writers may also use persuasive devices such as the following:

a. Facts or data – These may be the results of studies or proven facts that may persuade the readers.

b. Anecdote – This is a narrative or story of a person or character, usually written in a humorous way.

c. Rebuttal – This is used to oppose or disprove a statement, particularly a counterclaim. d. Rhetorical question – Not meant to be answered by readers, this type of question is

used to challenge readers to reflect on the issue.

There are also some errors in reasoning that may weaken one’s argument when using the abovementioned appeals. These are called logical fallacies, and they must be avoided when doing persuasive writing. Here are just some of these logical fallacies:

a. Hasty generalization – This logical fallacy is committed when the writer makes a conclusion that is based on insufficient evidence. Example:

I have only gotten through the first ten pages of the novel, but I can already tell that the book is uninteresting and is not worth reading.

b. Red herring – This fallacy is committed when the writer begins discussing an idea that

avoids the key issue and distracts readers from it. Example:

People are often told that they need to eat healthy foods and do exercise regularly, but what we should really be promoting is not that people need to be thinner but that they should be more confident whatever the size or shape of their body.

c. Ad hominem – An ad hominem attacks not the reasoning or arguments of an opposing

individual but rather his or her character.


Example:

Mr. Sanchez gives others relationship advice, but he has never been able to stay in a romantic relationship for more than two years, so why should you listen to him and believe what he says?

d. Ad populum – This is an appeal that follows the reasoning, “If many or most people

believe it, it must be true.” It often makes use of issues such as religion, democracy, or popularity rather than focusing on the real issue. Example:

If you were really in favor of democracy, then you would support the right of the people to arm themselves with guns so that they could protect themselves. After all, 70 percent of civilian Filipinos believe that they should be allowed to possess guns.

e. Slippery slope – This makes the assumption that a certain event or a change in the

status quo would bring about another although there is not enough evidence given to support such a conclusion.

Example:

If we legalize divorce in the Philippines, eventually abortion would be legalized as well. Therefore, we should not legalize divorce.


Check Your Understanding

Identify the type of logical fallacy in each of the following statements. 1. The use of laptops and other devices to replace books in the classroom would eventually lead to the downfall of printing and publishing companies, causing many people to be laid off from their jobs. As such, schools should stick to using printed books as study materials. 2. My opponent in this election claims to have the best interests of our community at heart. However, he is separated from his family. Isn’t family the basic unit of society? How can we entrust the concerns of the community to someone who was not able to keep his family together? 3. Even without watching the movie, I just know that it would not be as good as the book. 4. So many people are speaking up about animal rights, but what they should first focus on is human rights. 5. Over 5 million Filipinos use our products. It’s time to switch to our brand now!

Let’s Step Up!


Lesson 2: Formal and Informal Words When you speak or write something, you most likely vary your words according to the situation, your purpose, and your intended audience. For example, you probably speak differently with your teacher than with your close friend. In writing a persuasive text, you should discern as well whether it would be appropriate to use certain words.

Warm-up!

Work with a partner. Both of you need to come up with a list of five informal words. Exchange papers with each other then think of the formal equivalent of each word on the paper. Afterward, discuss your answers with each other.

Learn About It!

Both formal and informal language may be used in writing a persuasive text. Knowing when to use formal language and when to use informal language helps the writer convey the message in an effective way. Take a look at the table below containing some formal words and their informal counterparts.

Formal Words Informal Words

investigate look into


discover find out eliminate get rid of request ask for assist help out increase go up establish set up raise bring up produce come up with

Generally, formal language is used for serious topics or when speaking with people that one does not know well. In persuasive writing, formal language is used when the text is academic in nature. When using formal language, an objective tone is used, so the text is usually written using the third-person point of view. Informal language, on the other hand, is usually used when speaking with people that one knows quite well. This is used in conversations and may feature colloquialisms or slang words. Idiomatic expressions and contractions are also considered informal language. When writing a persuasive text using informal language, the first-person point of view may be used, as this may help establish the author’s connection with the audience. The writer may also present anecdotes that may help persuade readers. Read the two examples below and identify which one uses formal language and which uses informal language:

It has come to the administration’s attention that many students are tardy to class. It has been suggested that students who incur more than five instances of tardiness in a month be required to render community service.

The administration noticed that many students come to class late. They then came up with the idea that students who are late for more than five times each month should do community service.


The two given examples present the same idea. However, the first example makes use of formal language, while the second one uses informal language. It is likely that the first example will be used by members of the administration as they make an announcement regarding the issue, while the second example is more likely to be used by students or other individuals when talking about or describing the matter in casual situations. Here are some guide questions that will help you determine whether you should use formal words or informal words in a persuasive text:

a. What form of persuasive text are you writing? Is it an editorial for a newspaper, a persuasive essay, an advertisement, or a campaign speech?

b. Who are you writing to? Who will be reading the text? Is it your teacher, your classmates, or strangers of different ages and backgrounds?

c. What is the topic you are writing about? Is it a serious topic that needs to be discussed formally, or is it better discussed in a less serious manner?


Determine whether each of the sentences below is formal or informal. Write the words formal or informal on the blank before each number. Then, if the sentence is formal, change it to informal, and vice versa. ___________1. I can’t wait to see my favorite band play when they go here to have their concert! _________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________2. It is with utmost sincerity that we apologize for the inconvenience. _________________________________________________________________________________________________


___________3. Please do not remove these items from their respective boxes. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________4. I’ve no idea how she was able to deal with all the mess. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________5. She tried to go out of the building, but the guard didn’t let her. _________________________________________________________________________________________________

Let’s Step Up!


Lesson 3: Writing Opinions and Assertions

The aim of persuasive writing is to convince readers to believe and take the stand of the author. As such, it is only natural for persuasive texts to contain opinionated and assertive statements, as these help the author express his or her thoughts on the subject matter in a way that would make him or her believable and credible.

Warm-up!

For each of the topics below, formulate your own opinions and write them down on a piece of paper. Then, be ready to share your opinions with a partner.

- divorce - climate change - child labor - consumerism

Learn About It!

An opinion is a view or judgment that one holds about a particular subject matter. An opinionated statement serves to express the writer’s perspective. This statement is believed by the writer to be true, but it cannot be proven as either true or false, as a statement of opinion is not verifiable. Below are some tips that will help you come up with opinionated statements:


a. Write about your personal feelings or judgment regarding the issue. Assess how you feel about the subject matter. Does it make you feel pleased, angry, disgusted, or sad? What adjectives can you use to describe the issue or a certain aspect of it? Is it unethical, praiseworthy, or often ignored?

b. Use clue words such as “I think,” “I believe,” or “In my opinion.” These would help

the readers understand that you are simply stating what you deem to be true, but your statements do not have to be perceived as facts. Read the following statement and think about what makes it an opinionated statement:

I believe that people would not change unless they have the desire to change.

An assertion, though similar to an opinion, is slightly different. It is a declaration of one’s belief that may be proven true or false. An assertion expresses the author’s stand on the topic. Unlike facts that are true, assertions may be false, and unlike opinions, they may be proven as such. There are various types of assertions, among which are the following:

a. Basic assertion – This is a simple and direct statement expressing one’s opinions, feelings, or beliefs. Example:

I would like for all of us to agree on a decision.

b. Empathic assertion – This expresses understanding for another person’s situation

followed by a statement that expresses support for the speaker’s rights. Example:

I understand that you feel upset that we did not go with your suggestion, but the team felt that this solution is better, and we would really like for you to help us.

c. Escalating assertion – This is used when the other person does not respond to the

speaker’s assertion. The speaker then becomes increasingly firm without resorting to aggression.


Example:

If you are not able to submit your contribution to our project by tonight, I will let our teacher know that you did not do anything.

d. I-language assertion – This is usually used for expressing negative feelings. This type of

assertion typically comes in three parts, the first one describing the other person’s behavior, the second part stating how the behavior affects the speaker, and the third part stating what the speaker wants to happen.

Example:

When you openly criticized my work and called it ugly and useless in front of other people, I felt humiliated. Next time, do talk to me in private and tell me your suggestions in a nice way.

In persuasive writing, particularly in persuasive essays, assertions are used as the foundation of a logical argument. These assertions form the following.

a. Premise – This is an assertion that serves to lead readers to the conclusion. It is important for readers to be able to accept the premises as true. If readers find one of the premises to be fallacious, it is likely that they will reject the conclusion. It is thus important to check which assertions seem to be well-grounded and which are erroneous.

b. Conclusion – This is an assertion that should be supported by at least one premise.

Remember that the aim of the author to make readers accept the conclusion. Thus, it is through providing sound and logical premises that this may be achieved.

Here are some tips that may help you write assertions, which you may use as premises and/or conclusions:

• Be knowledgeable. Research on the issue and the facts regarding it. Obtain important information that you may need. Learn about the different sides of the topic as well as the pros and cons of each.

• Back up your assertions. Support your assertions with facts. Use the ideas you were


able to gather from your research as evidence for your assertions. • Use the thesis statement as a guide. Make sure that all the assertions you make are

relevant to and serve to support the thesis statement. • Be clear and concise. Ensure that the assertions you make can be easily understood by

readers and that they are straightforward.


Read the following statements and identify what type of assertion it is. 1. I would rather read a book than go to a party. 2. When you borrow my clothes without asking for permission, I feel disrespected. Next time, ask me first if it is all right for you to borrow my stuff. 3. I agree with your point, but I think that the situation calls for a different approach, and I would really appreciate your cooperation. 4. I have followed up with you regarding the email I sent, and if I do not receive a response by tomorrow, I will assume that you agree with all the conditions I have set in the contract. 5. I believe that we could all do something to make a difference in the amount of trash that we consume.


Let’s Step Up!


Lesson 4: Emphasizing a Point

When you read, you most likely find yourself looking for the important ideas or key points of the passage. You have probably also used highlighters in order to make these ideas stand out on the page. In writing, highlighting ideas or points may be done as well in order to let readers know which ideas are the most important or significant.

Warm-up! Imagine that you have to convince your parents to let you attend a sleepover. What are the points that you need to tell them? How can you assure them that you are responsible enough to handle being away from home and being with your friends? How will you emphasize certain significant reasons as to why they should allow you to go? Write a short paragraph about it and highlight points that you

would like to put the most emphasis on.

Learn About It!

When writing persuasively, you may find that there are ideas that you would like to emphasize, which means to stress or draw more attention to. It is thus important that you be able to highlight those points in order for readers to easily notice and recognize them as important. Below are some of the


ways you can emphasize your ideas in persuasive writing.

a. Using transition words – In emphasizing a point, transition words can be used to signal to readers that an important idea is coming next or that an example will be given to back up the point the writer is trying to make. Transition words also connect the writer’s ideas together and help them flow smoothly from one sentence to another, or from one paragraph to the next. Here are some transitional words you can use: ▪ in fact – means in reality; used to add more detailed information to what has already been mentioned ▪ again – used to repeat or restate a point ▪ to point out – used to provide specific details for a general point ▪ for this reason – used to signal that the previous statement is the cause and the next statement will state the result or consequence ▪ in general – used to state a general statement encapsulating all the ideas included in that particular paragraph ▪ with this in mind – often used to show that the idea in the previous statement is the reason for the action stated in the next statement ▪ on the positive side – used to state something positive after giving information that is usually but not always negative Read the following sentences and take note of how certain ideas are emphasized using transition words:

▪ Magic Concealer X by Berry Beauty Cosmetics is the best concealer on the Philippine market. In fact, 8 out of 10 Filipinas who tried it prefer it over the other concealers they have used before. ▪ Global warming is already significantly harming our environment and our health. With this in mind, we should all do everything we can to minimize our carbon footprint and take care of Mother Earth.

b. Using adverbs – Adverbs may be used as emphatic intensifiers. When used as such,

they help make an idea stand out. In emphatic phrases, the adverb is always placed before the verb or adjective. Below are some adverbs that are commonly used as


emphatic intensifiers.

▪ sincerely – honestly or genuinely ▪ positively, totally, fully, utterly – without a doubt; to the highest degree ▪ really, deeply, very much – strongly Read the following and observe how adverbs were used as emphatic intensifiers:

▪ I sincerely hope you consider this proposal, as I believe it would benefit both parties. ▪ Promoting kindness is an act that, in this detached and apathetic society, may be considered utterly radical and very much needed.

c. Using identical pairs – Identical pairs are expressions in which a word is repeated in

order to emphasize the idea being stated. These are often used in conversations and informal writing. Below are some examples of identical pairs:

▪ again and again, over and over – repeatedly ▪ round and round – in circles ▪ little by little – gradually ▪ on and on – without stopping ▪ day after day – every day for a long time ▪ word for word – in the exact words ▪ all in all – considering everything Read the following and take note of how identical pairs were used to emphasize ideas:

▪ All in all, this is the best solution we could hope for. ▪ If we do what we can day after day, we will certainly look back and see how far we’ve come toward achieving our goals.

In persuasive writing, you may also choose to place an idea at the beginning or the end of a paragraph in order to draw more attention to it. You may place in the middle of the paragraph


those ideas that do not need to be emphasized.


Read the statements below. Identify whether transition words, adverbs, or identical pairs were used to emphasize a certain idea in the sentence. 1. Little by little, we will be able to convince him to cooperate with our plan. 2. This is positively the best solution we have come up with so far. 3. Again, I would like to remind you that this would impact your grades. 4. In fact, since we implemented the policy, there has been a 90 percent decline in instances of tardiness and absenteeism in our employees. 5. Minimalism and the zero waste movement, though considered a trend by some, are very much the trends that we hope would catch on and turn into a lifestyle for majority of the population.


Let’s Step Up!


Performance Task

Goal: Your goal is to convince your peers to vote for you during the upcoming student council elections. Role: You are a grade 10 student running for the position of president in the upcoming junior high school student council elections. Audience: Your target audience are all the students in your school’s junior high school department. Situation: The challenge involves creating a five-minute to eight-minute speech that you will deliver during the electoral campaign. Product/Performance and Purpose: You need to develop the speech so that it is persuasive enough to convince your fellow students to vote for you. Standards and Criteria for Success: Your speech needs to make use of methods of persuasion and persuasive strategies, opinions and assertions, and emphasize important points. It must also be written using appropriate language and delivered confidently. Your work will be judged based on the following rubric:

Criteria Beginning (0-12 points)

Developing (13-16 points)

Accomplished (17-20 points)

Score

Content (Focus on details are clearly evident; all details are clearly related to the topic.)

Organization (Logical progression of details/events; clear transitions between ideas)

Language (spelling, mechanics, grammar, and usage)

Use of persuasive devices (Logos, ethos, and pathos are used well.)


Vocabulary (Appropriate language is used for the event and the audience.)

Opinions and assertions (Opinions and assertions are made and emphasized properly.)

Confidence (The speech is delivered with confidence and conviction and with proper gestures as well.)

Total Score:

Self-Check: How Well Did I Learn?

Do a self-check on how well you learned the lessons in this unit. Place a checkmark in the appropriate box.

Skills I think I need more

practice and assistance

I am familiar and can perform well

with minimal assistance

I am confident that I can perform this on

my own

I can identify persuasive strategies and logical fallacies.

I can differentiate formal from informal words.

I can formulate statements of opinion or


assertion. I can use words or expressions that emphasize a point.

Wrap Up

Persuasive Writing Definition of persuasive writing

Persuasive writing aims to convince the reader to take action or to simply agree with the writer’s stand.

Appeals or methods of persuasion

- logos - ethos - pathos

Persuasive techniques - facts or data - anecdote - rebuttal - rhetorical question

Definition of formal language

Generally, formal language is the kind of language used for serious topics or when speaking with people that one does not know well.

Definition of informal language

Informal language is the type of language used when speaking with people that one knows quite well. This is used in conversations and may feature colloquialisms and slang words.

Definition of opinion An opinion is a view or judgment that one holds about a particular subject matter.

Definition of assertion An assertion is a declaration of one’s belief that may be proven true or false. An assertive statement expresses the author’s stand on the topic.

Ways of emphasizing ideas

- using transition words - using adverbs - using identical pairs


Bibliography

Guillain, Charlotte. 2016. What is Persuasive Writing?. London: Raintree. Hargie, Owen. 2017. Skilled Interpersonal Communication: Research, Theory and Practice.

New York, NY: Routledge. Joshi, Manik. 2014. Dictionary of Informal Words: Vocabulary Building. Manik Joshi. Kisak, Paul F. 2015. The Logical Fallacy: The Art of the Argument & Critical Thinking. CreateSpace

Independent Publishing Platform. Livingston, Mike. 2016. Mastering Logical Fallacies: How to Win Arguments and Refute Misleading

Logic. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.


Documents

Grade 10 Unit 5: Persuasive Writing