A few things you should know Persuasive Writing A few things you should know PowerPoint adapted from http://compcolts.wikispaces.com Original PowerPoint available at: http://compcolts.wikispaces.com/file/view/Persuasive%20Writing.ppt/472078062/Persuasive%20Writing.ppt
Persuasive Writing Persuasive writing is writing that tries to convince a reader to do something or to believe what you believe about a certain topic. It takes a position for or against something.
Persuasive Writing can be used to… Purpose Support a cause Urge people to action Make a change Prove something wrong Persuasive Statement “Please support my football team by buying discount coupons.” “Vote for Sarah!” “The principal should let us wear hats.” “Cell phones don’t cause brain cancer.”
Persuasive Writing can be used to… Purpose Stir up sympathy Create interest Get people to agree with you Persuasive Statement “If you don’t adopt this dog, it could have to live in a shelter.” “Better grades get you a better job and more money.” “I am sure you’ll agree that Snickers is the best chocolate bar.”
Persuasive Essay Format: Persuasive essays follow a very similar format to expository essays: Introduction Body Counter-argument(s) Conclusion This additional part is added in good persuasive essays
First: Pick a Topic Think about things that tick-you-off, annoy you, bother you, or that you just plain think are wrong. You can also consider topics that are generally considered controversial by people, such as: Do curfews keep teens out of trouble? Should cell phones be banned in schools? Is society too dependent on computers? Is fast food really that unhealthy? Good persuasive topics will have two opposing sides
Second… Pick a side. What’s your opinion on your topic? You should have a strong opinion about which side you support. You must clearly state your position on your topic and stick with that position (this will be your thesis statement).
Three: Consider your reasons Once you’ve picked your topic and decided on your opinion, consider the reasons for your opinion. These reasons, or points, will become the focus of the body of your paper. If your topic was fast food and your opinion is that it is unhealthy, your reasons/arguments for your opinion might be that fast food: rapidly increases weight causes high blood pressure leads to sluggishness
Four: Create your Thesis Statement As reviewed previously, a thesis statement is one sentence that states your opinion. It is usually found at the end of the introductory paragraph. It needs to be strong. You can follow this formula to create your thesis: Topic + opinion = thesis If we consider the reasons/arguments we came up with regarding fast food being unhealthy and summarize those ideas, your thesis statement could be: Fast food has several negative health effects. Topic opinion
Five: Do Your Research… In order to convince the reader, you need more than just an opinion; you need facts or examples (arguments) to back your opinion. Research to find information that will support your opinion. Walsh Publishing Co. 2009
Six: Make a Plan Persuasive essay: 1. Introduction/Hook/Thesis 2. Argument 1 with support 3. Argument 2 with support 4. Argument 3 with support 5. Show the counter-argument(s) and make an argument against it/them 6. Conclusion
Sample Introductory Paragraph: CATCHY TITLE Fast Food Is Killing Canadians! Did you know that a typical child needs 2,000 calories for an entire day and Burger King’s Whopper with triple cheese has 1,230 calories? That is far more calories than anyone needs in one meal. Fast food consumption has risen 500 percent since 1970 and today reaches nearly every part of society, including some public school cafeterias. Fast food is harmful because it rapidly increases weight, causes high blood pressure, and leads to sluggishness. Eating Fast food causes several negative heath effects. HOOK THESIS STATEMENT YOUR ARGUMENTS
Seven: Write the Body of Your Essay Use each of the main arguments/reasons you used in your introductory paragraph and expand on each one giving facts and reasons. In our example, you would write one paragraph on how fast food increases weight, one paragraph on how it causes high blood pressure and one on how it leads to sluggishness. Walsh Publishing Co. 2009
Eight: Show “The Other Side…” How many of you have been in a discussion with someone and you remember saying, “Yeah, that’s true, but…” This is called a counter-argument. It’s the “other side” of the argument. Once you’ve presented your main arguments, You’ll need to tell your reader what the counter-argument(s) is/are and prove why it/they shouldn’t matter. This is where you should explain why your opposition believes what they believe but discredit their thinking.
Example counter-argument paragraph: Continuing with our fast food topic, here’s an example of a possible counter-argument paragraph: Chances are fast food companies would not agree that eating fast food is unhealthy. After all, admitting that would probably hurt their business. Fast food companies would likely claim that fast food is convenient, quite tasty, and fine if eaten in moderation, but these arguments just don’t hold up when one considers all the serious health problems associated with eating fast food. The counter-argument paragraph goes after you’ve presented the main arguments for your opinion.
Nine: Conclude or End Your Essay… What makes a good conclusion in a persuasive essay? Restates your thesis in different words Summarizes your key ideas Gets the reader thinking by using one or more of the following strategies (clincher sentences): Calls the reader to action Provides a solution Makes a Prediction Asks a question The conclusion should wrap up the writing and give the reader something to think about.
How to Leave Your Reader with Something to Think about (creating a clincher sentence): The following strategies make great last lines (clincher sentences) for persuasive essays: Call to Action Ask the reader to do something or to make something happen: Try challenging yourself to eat more healthy and avoid fast food. Provide a solution Provide an answer to the problem: Fast food doesn’t have to be ‘bad food.’ Make better choices like salads, fruit and low fat treats. Make a Prediction Explain what might be the consequences of action or inaction: If people continue to eat lots of fast food, they put their health at risk. If kids don’t make better choices today, they won’t grow into healthy adults. Ask your reader a question Are you willing to risk your health?
Sample Concluding Paragraph: Restate your thesis in different words Summarize your main points Include a clincher sentence (or two) In closing, it is important to remember that too much fast food can have negative effects on your health. If not eaten in moderation, you can gain weight, suffer from high blood pressure and become slow and sluggish. Is it worth the risk to your body? Try challenging yourself to eat more healthy and avoid fast food.
DO’S and DON’Ts of Persuasive Writing: Divide into 5 or more paragraphs Have a thesis statement in your introduction Come up with 3 main points to support your argument—these will be your 3 body paragraphs Show the “counter -argument” Have a conclusion that has a “clincher statement” Come up with a catchy title Don’t : Don’t begin with “Hello my name is___ and I’m going to write about____” Don’t use the word “I “ (Instead of “I think we shouldn’t wear uniforms” say “Uniforms shouldn’t be required.” Don’t be wishy-washy. Pick a side! Don’t forget to support your opinions with facts and examples