ARGUMENTATIVE OR PERSUASIVE WRITING Elements to Persuasive Writing

TAKING A STAND It is often important to take a stand – to have a belief you’re willing to argue and defend. Doing so won’t usually result in revolution or complete change, but you may be able to persuade others that you’re right.

PURPOSE AND AUDIENCE  Your purpose in argumentative writing is to make readers think a certain way or act a certain way.  You can’t do that without paying pretty close attention to them – your audience.

SUPPORTING YOUR OPINION  Talk to friends and others interested in the issue or topic.  Take to experts - people who are knowledgeable about the issue; use testimonials, or take a survey  Research – use the internet, books, magazine, and newspapers.  Look for Reasons, Facts, or Opinion from knowledgeable sources.

METHODS APPEALS TO THE EMOTIONS  Appeal to people’s heart as well as their minds. (Facts, testimonials are used very often with this technique) Example: Actors, Authors, and Athletes shouldn’t charge for autographs.

APPEALS TO THE EMOTION Support:  The most popular celebrities already earn millions.  Fans will think less of these celebrities if they have to pay for autographs.  Celebrities in the past didn’t ask fans to pay for autographs. Today, they should be more like them.  What about all the people in the world today who do not have a job, or enough food to eat…

FALSE CAUSE AND EFFECT  Assume that one event caused another just because one came before the other. Example: “Not sending the school band to out-of-town games put the team on a losing streak.”

ATTACKING!!!! Ignores the issue by attacking the person instead of the person’s view on the topic.  “Supporters of this leash law are dog haters at heart.”  My teacher gave me a U, because she doesn’t like me.

BANDWAGON Ask you to believe or do something because many other people do.  Don’t be the only family in your neighborhood without a XBOX.”  Everybody's wearing …  Everybody has…

PRACTICE Why is each statement below misleading? Which technique (Appeals to Emotion, False Cause and Effect, Attacking, Bandwagon) is being used? Explain. 1.Everyone is buying ______. The stores can hardly keep them on the rack. You need to get your today! 2.Because the principal made the school day longer, many students are getting poor grades.

PRACTICE 3. Since he is an active deer hunter, it’s no wonder that Bob says hunting helps conserve deer. 4. The Kids at Del Rio Middle School who started skate-boarding lost their A and B averages. Skateboarding definitely eats up study time.

THE PAPER

INTRODUCTION Title Refers to the Main Idea and Position of topic. Introduction also can hook the reader with question.

INTRODUCTION The Hook Death Served on a Platter. Cook or Killer?

INTRODUCTION Background  Introduce Mary Mallon (background, what she did for a living, how what she did for a living impacted her, and others.

INTRODUCTION Thesis Presented as last sentence of introductory paragraph. Writer takes a clear position. Ex. Junk foods should be taken out of school lunch menus because they affect your body and mind in negative ways.

BODY PARAGRAPHS One: Details and facts support position. Language is precise and lively. Sentence structures are varied and correct.

BODY PARAGRAPHS Two: Paragraph present another fully developed reason for position.

BODY PARAGRAPHS Three-Four: Paragraphs present another fully developed reason for position. Include facts and opinions to support argument.

CONCLUSION Call to action concludes essay. Restate position, and summarize main reason(s) for your position.