Techniques and Approaches to Persuasive

Writing

Appeal to Emotion

The writer appeals to the fear, anger, joy, or other emotions of the reader. The writer may also emphasize their own emotions to encourage empathy on the part of the reader. For example: “Do you feel safe at night

knowing our police officers and firemen are not receiving the funds they need to operate at full capacity?”

Appeal to Authority

A writer may mention an important event or person in an essay to lend importance or credibility to his/her argument. The writer may also invoke laws and statutes to support their argument For example: “All the experts agree on

this subject, so who are we to argue?”

Appeal to Logic

Just the facts, ma’am! The writer bases their argument on facts, figures, or other provable or accepted information. For example: “Studies show that 90% of

the students begin abusing alcohol between the ages of 14 and 16. This shows how desperately we need programs targeted at this age group.”

Tools of Persuasive Writing Here are some specific tools writers can use to

enhance the effectiveness of their argument: Repetition: While excessive repetition can make an

essay tiresome and uninteresting, careful repetition of key phrases can help to reinforce a point.

Example: Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech Exaggeration: Overstating a point to enhance its

impact. Not the same as an outright lie, however. Must be founded in truth.

Example: We’ve been warned a million times about the dangers of flu, but for some reason, people still need to be dragged to the doctor’s office to get their vaccination.

Comparison (Simile or Metaphor): Figurative Language engages the reader and can help to clarify a point.

Example: Ignoring the problem is like shoveling sand into the ocean, it will always eventually wash back up.

Rhetorical Question: A question to which an answer is not required. The answer is meant to be obvious or is implied by the nature of the question.

Example: Do we really want our children growing up in a society that condones such disrespectful behavior?

Tools of Persuasive Writing Anticipating an opponent’s point: If there are obvious

points that could be made in a counter-argument to their argument, writers can bring up those points to counter them in their own piece.

For Example: “There are some who will say that the county doesn’t have enough money for these improvement projects, but surveys show that the people would be willing to pay more to have these improvements made.”