Persuasive Writing Review

SUMMER SCHOOL MS. BLUE

Persuasion: convincing people to adopt an opinion, perform an action, or to do both Argumentative Writing: students will investigate a topic; collect, generate and evaluate evidence; and establish a position on the topic

Claim: a statement that asserts a belief or truth. In arguments, most claims require supporting evidence. Reason: In writing, a statement that expands the claim by offering evidence to support it. The reason may be a statement of fact or another claim. Warrant: The statement establishes a logical connection between a claim and its supporting reason.

Claim: Don’t eat that mushroom.

Reason: It’s poisonous. Warrant: What is poisonous should not be eaten since it will either make someone sick or kill him or her.

Position statement: writer’s opinion and position on the issue Counterargument: an alternative position different from and possibly opposed to a claim. These are the objections that might be raised by someone who disagrees with an argument. Rebuttal: an answer that challenges or refutes a specific claim. A rebuttal may also be used by writers anticipating objections (counterarguments) to the claims or evidence they offer.

�  logical appeals (logos): requests based on rational arguments that support a set of assumptions already accepted by the audience

�  emotional appeals (pathos): requests based on specific examples of suffering or potential threats and tap an audience’s emotions

�  ethical appeals (ethos): requests that are based on shared moral values and call upon an audience’s sense of right, justice, and virtue

�  parallel structure: using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance

Logical/Ethical Appeals

Emotional Appeals

Supported by: � Reasons & Evidence � Facts & Statistics � Expert Testimony � Strong Opinions

Supported by: � Loaded Language � Slogans �  Immediacy � Big Names

State your argument.

" Example: Children

should not be allowed to watch horrifying or violent television programming (King 482).

Using important people or experts can make your argument seem

more convincing.

Example: Stephen King believes that parents should monitor what their children watch on television, creating a high shelf for programs that are inappropriate for young, impressionable viewers.

Facts, numbers, and statistical information

can be convincing.

Example: “More than 217 studies that were done between 1957 and 1990 reveal a positive and significant correlation between television violence and aggressive behavior” (King 483).

Getting your audience to have an emotional response, happiness, sadness, or anger, can help your argument.

Example: “A previous TV Guide article about children and frightening programs mentioned a three-year-old who watched [Salem’s] Lot and consequently suffered night terrors” (King 483).

� Usually contains words with strong positive or negative contexts

� Words should make plain the truth of a situation, not misdirect your audience

Attempt to convince your audience that

the issue is so important that they

must act immediately.

Example: “The pressure groups who want to see all the horror (and anything smacking of sex, for that matter) arbitrarily removed from television make me both uneasy and angry. . . the idea of a bunch of people I don’t even know presuming to dictate what is best for my children causes the anger” (King 484).

Your argument will be more convincing when

you use reliable research.

Example: “Harvard Professor Ron Slaby describes four different ways that media violence can affect children’s personalities: aggressor effect, victim effect, bystander effect, [and] appetite effect” (King 483).

�  Listen to the sound of the items in a list or the items being compared. Do you hear the same kinds of sounds?

�  For example, is there a series of “-ing” words beginning each item? Or do you hear a rhythm being repeated?

1.  Position Statement (Thesis)"

2.  First Claim (TS)"A.  Reason #1 (CD)"

a.  Warrant (CM)"B.  Reason #2 (CD)"

a.  Warrant (CM)"3.  Second Claim (TS)"

A.  Reason #1 (CD)"a.  Warrant (CM)"

A.  Reason #2 (CD)"a.  Warrant (CM)"

4. Third Claim (TS)"A.  Reason #1 (CD)"

a.  Warrant (CM)"B.  Reason #2 (CD)"

a.  Warrant (CM)"5.  Counterargument (CD)"

A.  Rebuttal (CM)"6. Conclusion (Restate Thesis)""

Prompt #1

� Many of us spend hours in front of our computers, cell phones and iPods, communicating more by email or texts than in person. Some people believe that this is good because it helps shy people communicate more openly with others. Others believe that computer communication prevents us from developing interpersonal skills and limits our ability to have meaningful relationships with others.

� How do you feel about this issue? Use specific reasons and examples to support your position.

Prompt #2

�  The Internet includes many websites with images and content that is inappropriate.

�  Should parents and schools censor websites like these? Why or why not?

�  State your position and support it with specific reasons and examples.

Prompt #3

�  Today’s top professional athletes often have salaries and bonuses in the tens of millions of dollars.

�  Do you think these athletes deserve such high compensation? Why or why not?

�  Explain your position and use specific reasons and examples.

Prompt #4

�  Many science fiction stories deal with the possibility of being able to “design” our children by choosing the specific physical and personality traits we would like them to have.

�  Do you think this is a good idea? Why or why not? �  Use specific reasons and examples to support your

position.

Prompt #5

�  Funding has been provided for an experimental online school. All the classes will take place on the Internet, using email, online chat, and the World Wide Web. The students enrolled in the online school will only interact online with each other and with their teachers.

�  ACHS is hoping this program will provide fairer educational access to students. Opponents of the program argue that because of their lack of interaction with other students in a traditional classroom, the students who attend this online school will not develop necessary social skills.

�  What is your position on this issue? State your position on this issue and supporting it with convincing reasons.