How To Persuade Some strategies to convince your reader Produced by Geraldine Norris

Personal Anecdote (Story) O When you write a short story about your family, friends or yourself to show something about your argument. O Homework should be banned because it causes trouble in families. Last week my Grandma was sick in hospital and we had to go every night to see her. It was very difficult to get our homework done and we got into fights with our parents about it. Produced by Geraldine Norris

Visualisation (Imagining) O When you ask your reader to imagine or picture something to make them agree with you. O Close your eyes and think about what it is like at home some evenings. The children are crying because the homework is too hard, dinner isn’t ready because the parents have been helping with the homework and everyone is cross and angry. If homework was banned this wouldn’t happen. Produced by Geraldine Norris

Rhetorical Question O When you ask a question – but you don’t expect an answer. O Homework should definitely be banned because it causes teachers too much stress. They are already overworked with planning for lessons and doing the marking and reports. Do you want to see them break down in tears because of homework? Produced by Geraldine Norris

Personal Belief and Well Known Fact O When you put your own thoughts and feelings into your writing and you make a believable factual statement. O I believe that homework should be banned. I think that children should be outside playing after school, not inside doing more boring school work. Everybody knows that children need to be more active so that they don’t get unfit. Produced by Geraldine Norris

Statistical Evidence (numbers) O When you use scientific or research results to prove your argument. O A survey taken at our school last month showed that 95% of students and parents would like homework to be banned. They gave excellent reasons for believing this, the main one being the time it took every evening. Produced by Geraldine Norris

Strong Language (High Modality) O When you use words that show certainty like MUST, SHOULD, WILL, DEMAND. O I am certain that you will agree with me that children must get outside in the fresh air to play after school. They should not be shut up indoors doing homework. Produced by Geraldine Norris

Figurative Language (Descriptive writing) O When you use language that will “paint a picture” for your reader. O Homework is like some evil spell that spreads unhappiness everywhere. It must be banned so that families can laugh again and have time for fun activities. Produced by Geraldine Norris

Your Turn to Write O “Every school student should be given a laptop for school work free of charge” O Write 2 or 3 sentences using one or more of these devices: O Personal anecdote (story) O Visualisation (imagine a scene) O Rhetorical question (a question for effect) O Statistical evidence (numbers) Produced by Geraldine Norris