Persuasive Writing

1. Persuasive Writing Language Arts spiral, pg 138 In persuasive writing, a writer takes a position for or against an issue and writes to convince the reader to believe or do something.

2. Persuasive writing is often used: • In advertisements to get the reader to buy a product. • In letters to convince others to take your side. • In essays and other types of writing to get the reader to accept a point of view. In order to convince the reader, you need more than opinion – you need facts or examples to back your opinion. So, be sure to do the research!

3. Persuasive WritingTerms to Know • Thesis or “Claim” • Main Idea of your Writing • States the topic and your position • Position • How you feel about the topic – are you for or against? • You must choose one side!! • Argument • An idea to support your position • Must be supported by details and anecdotes! • Anecdote • A personal story used as a detail to support an argument • Call-To-Action • What you are asking your audience to do

4. Outline for Persuasive Writing • Introduction • Get your audience’s attention • Establish a need – describe the issue • State your thesis – give your position on the issue • Body • First Argument • Support and Elaboration • Anecdotes • Second Argument • Support and Elaboration • Anecdotes • Third Argument = Counterargument • Counter an argument from the other side • Anecdotes • Conclusion • Re-emphasize thesis in a new way • Show how your arguments lead to a reasonable conclusion • Give your audience a Call-To-Action

5. Persuasive Writing A persuasiveThesis Statement Thesis statement = “claim”: topic + position Your thesis statementspecifically states the purpose of your essay. • Single sentence • Not a question • Persuasive • Able to be developed into an essay • Usually stated in introductory paragraph

6. Writing a Conclusion A persuasiveCall-to-Action • Asking the reader to do something or make something happen • Stated in the conclusion paragraph Must be • Specific • Realistic • Stated as a polite command