Persuasion

1. Persuasion

2. What is persuasion?

3. Under what circumstances might a person need to employ persuasive techniques?

4. What text types tend to be used to persuade?

5. What makes a text persuasive?

8. What techniques and word types do you already know that can be used to persuade another person or group?

9. Rhetoric 101 The art of eloquently convincing an audience of your opinion or viewpoint

10. Formality & flattery Adopt a formal and flattering tone – but don’t be effusive or sycophantic!

11. Personal pronouns Personalise the delivery by using ‘we’, ‘you’ and ‘your’

12. Logic, common sense Appeal to the head

13. Appeal to the heart Fear, guilt, empathy, altruism

14. Hard evidence Facts, statistics, research & surveys,

15. Soft evidence Expert opinion, anecdotes & examples

16. Rewards, offers, accentuate the positives Incentives

17. A wry sense of humour whilst not seeming flippant about serious issues can win over an audience Humour

18. The law of contrast All things are relative!

19. Credible exaggeration for effect Hyperbole

20. Emotive language Don’t shy away from strongly expressed opinion and dramatic vocabulary

21. It’s simple, repeatable and very effective! Rule of 3

22. Poetic devices Alliteration, simile & metaphor to paint word pictures and create musicality

23. Can you think of a good reason why you wouldn’t include them in your writing? Rhetorical questions

24. As you gain confidence that you have hooked your audience, don’t be afraid to use commands to drive home your point Imperatives

25. Humour The law of contrast Hyperbole Emotive language The rule of 3 Poetic devices Rhetorical questions Imperatives Formality & flattery Personal pronouns Appeal to the head Appeal to the heart Hard evidence Soft evidence Incentives Rhetoric revisited

26. Rhetoric Bingo!

27. How to structure a persuasive text

29. What kind of structure do you think is most likely to make your text memorable and persuasive?

30. A hard-hitting opening line

31. The first paragraph should offer an overview of your stance or opinion that you will be putting forward for consideration

32. The main body of your writing will be divided into clear paragraphs – each will present a new point or idea that supports your overarching premise

33. Make full use of the rhetorical techniques you are now familiar with in each of your paragraphs to ensure that the CONTENT and STRUCTURE complement one another

34. Your final paragraph should summarise your stance and reinforce the strength of the ideas you have presented

35. The last line should be memorable, punchy and an ‘applause cue’

36. Past paper questionsGCSE

37. When teachers apply for a job at school, they receive a pack containing information about the school. Write a section of this pack in which you, as a student, try to persuade teachers to come to work at your school.

38. An open air concert has been planned for next summer but the farmer who owns the land where the concert is to be held has received objections from locals. He is now undecided about whether or not to allow the event to take place.Write a letter persuading him to allow the concert to go ahead.

39. ‘Killer drop’ is a popular ride in a local amusement park. A group of lobbyists are calling for it to be permanently shut down.There is a proposed meeting on the issue taking place tonight in the town hall and you have been asked to deliver a speech, arguing your opinion on the issue as a representative of young people in the area. Write the speech.

40. An action group called ‘Cut Road Deaths Now’ wants to change the age at which young people are allowed to drive (from 17 to 21). Write a letter to the leader of the group persuading them that the proposed change is unwise.

41. Your local council intends to allow a supermarket chain to build a new store on a piece of nearby green land.Write a letter for your local newspaper in which you try to persuade local people that this is unacceptable.