The Art of Persuasion Key to Effective Communication Copyright ©2015 Fiona Anne Ritchie, All Rights Reserved

The Art of PersuasionKey to Effective Communication

www.learntoloveenglish.comCopyright ©2015 Fiona Anne Ritchie, All Rights Reserved

http://www.learntoloveenglish.com/

What is persuasion?persuasion noun (CHANGING IDEAS) the action of persuading someone or of being persuaded: It took a lot of persuasion to convince the committee of the advantages of the new plan. She will help you - she just needs a bit of gentle persuasion. The occasion will be a test of the senator's powers of persuasion (= his ability to persuade people).

What words can you think of related to persuasion?


http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/action

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/persuade


http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/convince

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/committee

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/advantage

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/plan

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/help

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/need

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/bit

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/gentle

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/occasion

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/test

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/power

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/ability_1


http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/people


Fiona Ritchie

What are some situations in which you’ve had to persuade people?

What are some techniques you can think of to persuade people?



While you’re reading the article answer the following question:

What was the goal of the writer in the shop?

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http://www.thelanguagelab.ca/posts/the-art-of-persuasion-key-to-effective-communication/


Comprehension Questions

• Why did the writer expect to have difficulty when asking for her money back?• What arguments did the writer use to persuade the cashier to give

her a refund?• What are some examples of when persuasion is used?• When does persuasion work best?



SynonymsMatch the following synonyms from the article

a) less than pleased (adj.) 1. convince

b) disdain (adj.) 2. possible

c) refund (verb or noun) 3. reimbursement

d) assure (verb) 4. unsatisfied

e) ultimately (adv.) 5. finally

f) persuade (verb) 6. confident

g) unsnarl (verb) 7. resolve

h) potential (adj.) 8. proof

i) logic (noun) 9. relieve doubt

j) evidence (noun) 10. contempt

k) assertive (adj.) 11. rationale



Returning faulty goods

You bought some berries from a supermarket but they went mouldy after a day. You didn't have time to return them until 5 days later. Convince the cashier to give you a full refund.



Quality Assurance

Your company is new on the international market. How do I know that you will give me the service I need?



Asking for a pay rise

You have had a very successful year at work and feel like you deserve a pay rise. Talk to your boss and convince him/her of why you deserve a pay rise.



More money for marketing

You have been working on a project which you feel would benefit from more money for marketing. Persuade your boss that the project is important enough for extra funding.



Persuade your friend/family/husband/wife to try a new vacation spotYou have 2 weeks holiday in the summer to book. You always end up going to the same place but this year you want to try somewhere different. Persuade the people you’re going on holiday with the benefits of trying somewhere new.



Introducing flexi-time

You think that your company should introduce flexi-time. Prepare some reasons to persuade your company that it’s a good idea.



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The Art of Persuasion Key to Effective Communication Copyright ©2015 Fiona Anne Ritchie, All Rights Reserved