Persuasion

1. Persuasion A Writer’s Tool .

2. Persuasion is… …writing or speaking that attempts to convince people to accept a position or take a desired action. position (or claim): a stated idea or opinion that a writer has about a subject or issue.

3. *How does persuasion apply to me? In your high school career, you will be required to write many types of essays: • Narrative • Descriptive • Expository and…

4. Persuasive! A persuasive essay is a way for a writer to share his/her views and convince others to accept them. The goal of a persuasive essay is to state the position clearly and support it with reasons and evidence. Reasons may include rhetorical devices and persuasive techniques. rhetoric: art of speaking or writing effectively

5. Parts of Persuasive Essays • Thesis: a clear, arguable statement in response to the topic. This should explicitly state your point of view as specifically as possible. • Anticipating Biases: predict beliefs/opinions that your reader may hold that may cause them to disagree and convince them otherwise. • Counter-argument (counterclaim): take your opponent’s strongest arguments and prove them wrong. • Concession: the “Yeah . . . But”; accepting part of the opponent’s argument while showing why it doesn’t counter yours • Call to action: the explicit statement of what you want your audience to do, think, or feel. Often stated (or restated) in the conclusion.

6. Persuasive Language • Vivid descriptions/powerful images: appeal to the reader’s five senses with detailed descriptions. Figurative language can help create these images and evoke the appropriate emotion. • Metaphor: extended comparisons between dissimilar things; the audience may be familiar with what you are comparing the topic to, so it will help them understand your point of view. • Analogy: a form of direct comparison. Come up with a similar situation and compare it to yours. • Loaded words: choosing words that carry emotional connotation with them even when isolated.

7. Persuasive Language, cont’d • Repetition: stating and restating as often as possible what you are trying to convince your reader of. • Anaphora: a specific type of repetition in which the word or phrase (or whole sentence) is used repeatedly to build up emotion or rhythm (used especially in speeches). • Rhetorical questions: posing questions as “food for thought” for your readers. The answer is usually implied, not explicitly stated. The question should evoke an emotional response.

8. Persuasive Techniques • Anecdote: offer a specific personal experience that serves your cause. Use names and specific details. Show the reader your experience. • Testimonial: personal endorsement; a statement in support made by an individual. • Over-generalization: when authors use words like “only”, “all”, and “every” to exaggerate their opinions in order to make them seem stronger.

9. Persuasive Techniques, cont’d • Bandwagon: mass appeal; convincing your reader that the majority share your view. • Statistic: numerical fact; percentage. • Case study: Using research, seek out facts that support your side. • Expert opinion: opinions that count more than most because of the specialized experience of the person giving the opinion.

10. *Persuasive appeals help a writer support his/her position. Rhetorical devices appeal to the reader’s • Emotions (pathos) - feelings • Logic (logos) - evidence (facts and examples) • Ethical beliefs (ethos - good and evil and moral (right and wrong) duty • Appeal to authority – having a spokesperson Therefore, there are four types of appeals:

11. 1. Emotional appeal (pathos) • Emotional appeal is aimed at readers’ hearts. • Emotional appeals speak to emotions such as fear, love, sympathy, and pride, outrage, and happiness. • Tools used: Vivid descriptions, anecdotes, testimonials, analogies, repetition, over-generalization, bandwagon • Example: Recycling keeps us from being buried in trash.

14. 2. Logical appeal (logos) Logical appeal speaks to readers’common sense and logic. Logical appeals make sense. Tools used: Analogies, statistics, case study, expert opinions Example: Recycling saves precious resources.

17. 3. Ethical appeal (ethos) Ethical appeal addresses the readers’sense of right and wrong as determined by their culture, religion, or upbringing. Ethical appeals also rely on a reader’s belief that the writer is ethical. Example: Recycling reduces the garbage we produce.

20. 4. Appeal to Authority • May overlap with the three above • Convince others by showing them that people they know and respect share your position. • Tools used: Expert opinions, testimonials, analogies

24. Beware… It is important to be able to recognize emotional appeals in arguments - AND to be aware of how they can persuade an audience without credible (believable) evidence. argument: a series of statements in a text designed to convince the reader of something.

25. How to write a Powerful Persuasive Essay An age-level appropriate persuasive or argumentative essay will be at least six paragraphs long.

26. Sample Prompt: Although Atticus Finch is considered a selfless character, some readers may believe that his actions did not justify putting his family in danger. Was Atticus Finch justified in taking Tom Robinson’s case even though it endangered his children? Write a persuasive essay in which you will defend your opinion of the actions of this character.

27. Because this persuasive essay is also a response to literature, you must include: Title of the novel, author’s name, and a synopsis A thesis statement: in this case your claim or assertion that you need to defend.

28. Introductory Paragraph For any persuasive essay, you must include the background of the issue at hand, and the claim.

29. Example: In the classic American novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, a selfless lawyer, Atticus Finch, defends a black man from a false accusation in a small southern town in the midst of the Great Depression. Although he is considered by most critics a model of integrity and courage, some may argue that his actions were misguided and imprudent in view of the volatile environment in which he was raising his children. However, I firmly believe that some issues take precedent over everything else, and that his actions were entirely justified.

30. Body paragraphs: Defend your claim by incorporating logical examples from the text, and inserting textual support in the form of quotes. You need at least three well developed paragraphs. One solid example in each one with textual support.

31. Body Paragraphs Cite the page number after each quote in parenthesis. Make sure that you don’t just retell the novel; the narration of events must support your claim

32. Body Paragraphs Address at least one reader concern (objection to your claim) and provide a counterargument or refutation (how do you respond to the concern and still persuade the reader?) The reader concern/counterargument should comprise at least one full paragraph.

33. Concluding Paragraph Restate your claim (use different wording that expresses the same idea). Summarize your main points. You may close with a final reflection or conclusion based on your claim.