Persuasive WritingThe art of getting someone to agree with you, buy your product, vote for

you, see your point of view…

Forms of Persuasive Writing

• Advertisements• Speeches• Editorials• Propaganda• Reviews• Blogs• Essays

Advertisements

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbFEnGExSgI

• Advertisements try to convince you to buy something

Speeches

• Speeches are used by politicians and other people in public who want to convince you to vote for them, take action or take a stand on

a matter that is important to them.

“I’ve been to the mountain top…”

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oehry1JC9Rk&list=RD3vDWWy4CMhE

Reviews

• Reviews evaluate books, movies, games and other things to help the reader to decide

whether they should spend their money on the product.

• With the internet becoming part of every day life, reviews have gained more importance.

They can make or break product!

Funny fact that has nothing to do with the topic!

• This hotel keeps the customer’s credit card number and charges 100 pounds (about $180)

if they put up a bad review.

Editorials

• Editorials about current events appear in newspapers and magazines, television, radio

and the internet.

• They are giving their opinion and trying to convince you to feel the same.

Propaganda

• A lot of the propaganda we see now days comes from political parties. We will be inundated

with politicians using persuasive language this year as we get closer to the Federal Election.

• They use emotionally charged languages and appeals to the public.

Blogs

• Blogs provide commentary on a particular topic, often combining text, images, and links to other blogs, web pages, and other media

related to its topic.

• Blogs also allow readers to respond.

Essays

• Persuasive essays use logic, reason, and emotion to convince readers to join the writer in a certain point of

view.

PS This would not happen if they planned their essay!

Persuasive Language Techniques

Alliteration

• Repeating the first sound of different words is alliteration. They also start with the same

letter. This repetition of sounds has an effect of sticking in the minds of readers and can

reinforce a writer’s point of view.

• For example; To argue like that makes those people cruel, calculating and corrupt!

Repetition• Repetition of words creates emphasis and

makes the words stick in the mind of the readers.

From the master of repetition!

Rhetorical Questions

• This type of question is so obvious that the writer does not think the question requires an

answer.

• It forces the reader to think about the question to reinforce a point.

Metaphors and Similes

• Metaphors and Similes are used in figurative language to compare and contrast different

objects or ideas.

• They are formed when words are put together so skilfully they conjure up pictures in the

minds of the reader.

• As a persuasive device they enable the reader to engage with the text.

• A simile makes comparisons using the words ‘like’ or ‘as’.

• For example: The stock market is like a roller coaster.

• A metaphor makes comparisons without using the words ‘like’ or ‘as’.

• For example: “He is a wet blanket.”

Emotive Language• Emotive language is words or phrases that elicit

an emotional response from the reader.

• Emotive language makes the reader feel happy, sad, angry, guilty and so on.

• For example: “The innocent bystanders were injured” elicits more emotion that “The bystanders were injured.”

Hyperbole• Hyperbole is the use of exaggeration in your

writing to persuade the reader.

• It is used to evoke strong feelings or create a strong impression.

Expert opinions and quotes

• Using an expert or important person’s opinion makes your argument seem more convincing.

• An opinion or quote adds weight to your argument.

From the Adelaide Now website

• “A 375ml can of Coca Cola contains 39.8g of sugar, or about 10 teaspoons. A can of Sprite has nine-and-a-half. A can of Fanta Raspberry tops out at just over 11 teaspoons (although to be fair if you’ve ever had a Fanta Raspberry it’s not like it leaves you in any doubt of that — it tastes like it could melt enamel)”

Personal anecdote or experience

• Anecdotes and personal experiences are stories that involve real life events.

• These anecdotes can be used to support an argument and make the topic more real for

the reader.

http://realbusiness.co.uk/article/26867-5-great-and-5-bad-examples-of-customer-service/page:2

• Elaine B. explains that she was only trying to contact Comcast to find something out about her bill. "I couldn’t

understand the different groupings of channels which had no explanation just names like Extended Package. She

couldn’t explain it and kept getting the same channels in different groupings. I said, very politely, that I didn’t

understand her explanation, and if there was someone else who can explain it to me so I would understand.”

• The woman apparently replied: “You’re stupid.” Then she hung up.

Inclusive Language• Inclusive language addresses the reader

personally. Words such as like, us, we, you and our make a personal connection.

• This language makes the audience think the writer is talking to them, understand their

concerns and makes them feel as though they are part of a group.

From Dr. Suess

The Power of Three• ‘The Power of Three’ is when you list three

things to make a point more dramatic.

• For example; Location, location, location!

• Government of the people, by the people, for the people.

Evidence and Statistics

• When you use evidence and statistics to support your point of view you add strength

and validity to your argument.

• For example; 90% of Year 9 students do less than 20 minutes homework per night.

Please note…• When you are writing a Persuasive piece under test conditions you will not have the

luxury of looking stats and evidence up on Dr. Google.

• What to do? Well, make them up! It is the use of statistics the markers are looking for, not

the accuracy of the stats!

A clip to summarise

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EqG5v07R24

I have a recipe for Persuasive Writing Pie. Use a cup of confidence with a dash of brilliance,

sprinkle with facts and logic, then add a spoonful of action and a pinch of panache. Mix in some

good research and combine with proper grammar and perfect spelling. Then bake to perfection.