Journal entryJournal entry In your journals, tell me about In your journals, tell me about

a time when your parents did a time when your parents did not want to give you a not want to give you a particular gift for Christmas. particular gift for Christmas. What did you tell them in an What did you tell them in an effort to convince them why effort to convince them why you needed that gift?you needed that gift?

PersuasiPersuasionon

What is it?What is it?

Persuasion is the art of Persuasion is the art of swaying others’ feelings, swaying others’ feelings, beliefs, or actions. beliefs, or actions.

Persuasion normally appeals Persuasion normally appeals to both the mind and the to both the mind and the emotions of readers.emotions of readers.

In other wordsIn other words

It’s trying It’s trying to convince to convince someone to someone to do do something something or believe or believe in in something.something. “Come on: I’m begging you. You’ve

got to buy my product.”

Persuasive Persuasive writingwriting

What is it: What is it: A writer takes a position FOR or AGAINST an issue and writes to convince the reader to do something or believe a certain way.

Most Most persuasive persuasive arguments arguments open with open with a hooka hook

No: Not Captain HookNo: Not Captain Hook

We are talking about a way to lure We are talking about a way to lure the reader into your argument.the reader into your argument.

There are several ways to catch the There are several ways to catch the reader’s attention.reader’s attention.

1. Opening with an 1. Opening with an unusual detail:unusual detail:

Canada, because of its Canada, because of its cold climate, is not cold climate, is not thought of as a great thought of as a great place to be a reptile. place to be a reptile. Actually, it has the largest Actually, it has the largest seasonal congregation of seasonal congregation of garter snakes in the world!garter snakes in the world!

2. Opening with a 2. Opening with a strong statement: strong statement:

Cigarettes are the Cigarettes are the number one cause of number one cause of lighter sales in Canada!lighter sales in Canada!

3. Opening with a 3. Opening with a Quotation:Quotation:

Elbert Hubbard once Elbert Hubbard once said, "Truth is stronger said, "Truth is stronger than fiction."than fiction."

4. Opening with an 4. Opening with an Anecdote:Anecdote:

An anecdote can provide an amusing and An anecdote can provide an amusing and attention-getting opening if it is short and to the attention-getting opening if it is short and to the point.point.

Issue: 12 month school yearIssue: 12 month school year

One year there was a student who, after the One year there was a student who, after the summer had passed, came back to school summer had passed, came back to school having forgotten everything he had learned having forgotten everything he had learned the previous year in language arts. His the previous year in language arts. His teacher, blind with rage, wrote a letter to the teacher, blind with rage, wrote a letter to the school board petitioning for a twelve month school board petitioning for a twelve month school year.school year.

5. Opening with a 5. Opening with a Statistic or Fact:Statistic or Fact:

Sometimes a statistic or fact will add emphasis or interest Sometimes a statistic or fact will add emphasis or interest

to your topic. It may be wise to include the item's to your topic. It may be wise to include the item's authoritative source.authoritative source.

Issue: 12 month school yearIssue: 12 month school year

80 percent of teachers polled said that 80 percent of teachers polled said that the entire first six weeks of school is the entire first six weeks of school is spent re-teaching things students spent re-teaching things students have forgotten over the summer.have forgotten over the summer.

6. Opening with a 6. Opening with a Question.Question.

Have you ever considered Have you ever considered how much more students how much more students could learn and retain if could learn and retain if school was held year round?school was held year round?

7. Opening with an 7. Opening with an Exaggeration or Exaggeration or Outrageous Outrageous Statement. Statement.

Having school all year Having school all year long would solve all of long would solve all of our problems.our problems.

The ClaimThe ClaimThe claim is the argument the writer is The claim is the argument the writer is

trying to make.trying to make.

Some examples:Some examples: For instance, global warming is a serious For instance, global warming is a serious

issue that needs immediate attention.issue that needs immediate attention. The Bowl Championship Series system The Bowl Championship Series system

needs to be changed as soon as needs to be changed as soon as possible.possible.

There should be a law banning motorists There should be a law banning motorists from using cell phones.from using cell phones.

SupportSupportSupport is what the writer Support is what the writer

uses to back up his claim: uses to back up his claim:

reasons reasons or or evidenceevidence

PersuasivPersuasive e

TechniquTechniqueses

Bandwagon AppealBandwagon Appeal

Suggests that a person should Suggests that a person should believe or do something because believe or do something because “everyone else” is doing it.“everyone else” is doing it.

Example:Example:

“ “See the movie everybody’s talking See the movie everybody’s talking about!”about!”

TestimonialTestimonial

Relies on endorsements from well-Relies on endorsements from well-known people or satisfied customersknown people or satisfied customers

Example:Example:

““As an Olympic athlete, I need a lot As an Olympic athlete, I need a lot of energy. That’s why I drink of energy. That’s why I drink Quench-Ade.”Quench-Ade.”

Appeal to Pity, Fear or Appeal to Pity, Fear or VanityVanity

Uses strong feelings rather than facts Uses strong feelings rather than facts to persuadeto persuade

Example:Example:

““Won’t you give this abandoned Won’t you give this abandoned puppy a home?”puppy a home?”

Loaded LanguageLoaded Language

Uses words with strongly positive or Uses words with strongly positive or negative connotationsnegative connotations

Example:Example:

““Start your day with Morning Glory’s Start your day with Morning Glory’s refreshing, all-natural juice.”refreshing, all-natural juice.”

CounterargumentsCounterarguments Arguments made to address points that Arguments made to address points that

someone with an opposing view might raisesomeone with an opposing view might raise

Example:Example:Some might argue that professional Some might argue that professional athletes deserve to be paid large salaries athletes deserve to be paid large salaries because of the high likelihood of injury they because of the high likelihood of injury they face, but I would assert that professional face, but I would assert that professional athletes are aware of the risk when they athletes are aware of the risk when they decide to play professional sports, so they decide to play professional sports, so they should not expect to be compensated with a should not expect to be compensated with a huge salary.huge salary.

Rhetorical FallaciesRhetorical Fallacies False or misleading statements writers or False or misleading statements writers or

speakers use to persuade the audience to speakers use to persuade the audience to agree with themagree with them

Two types of rhetorical fallacies are:Two types of rhetorical fallacies are: Ad Hominem- Attempts to discredit an idea by Ad Hominem- Attempts to discredit an idea by

attacking the person’s character rather than his attacking the person’s character rather than his or her argumentor her argument

Example: “My opponent cannot be trusted: Elect him, Example: “My opponent cannot be trusted: Elect him, and city violence will surely increase.”and city violence will surely increase.”

Stereotyping- Makes a broad statement about Stereotyping- Makes a broad statement about people on the basis of their gender, ethnicity, people on the basis of their gender, ethnicity, race, or political, social, professional, or religious race, or political, social, professional, or religious groupgroup

Example: “All musicians think the same way.”Example: “All musicians think the same way.”