1. Persuasion
The Basics

2. Logos (Logical)
Using facts and statistics (logic) to support your position.
4 out of 5 dentists prefer Dentyne.
Visit Acme Gizmotronics for an example

3. Pathos (Emotional)
Using emotion to support your position. Think of the music used in commercials to make you feel a certain way about their product.
Doesn’t your family deserve a piece of the rock.
Visit Acme Gizmotronics for an example

4. Ethos (Ethical)
Establishing credibility to support your position (and to make you seem credible). Using famous people as spokespersons for your product and using allusions to refer to sacred or valued ideas are both examples of ethos.
When Oprah endorses a book, it becomes a best seller.
Visit Acme Gizmotronics for an example

5. Persuasive Techniques
Things you can use to make your language memorable, convincing, and strong when you’re writing a persuasive piece.

6. Benefits List and explain the benefits of your claim
The benefits of gay marriage are that it encourages people to be faithful and it allows people to share insurance.
What benefits could you list if you were trying to convince a principal to extend the lunch period to 50 minutes?

7. Antithesis Acknowledge counter-arguments and refute them.
Some people might say that banning smoking takes away people’s right to smoke in public places, but in fact, it is not people’s right to do something that could make other people sick.

8. Antithesis
What counter arguments could someone make to your argument about extending the lunch period to 50 minutes? How would you refute (shoot down) them?

9. Repetition Repeat the same word to add emphasis
“I have a dream” is repeated in Martin Luther King’s speech

10. Repetition
What words would you repeat throughout a commercial if you were trying to get people to donate to starving children?

11. Parallel Structure Use matching grammatical structures
To stand up for our rights and to protest this action is our duty.

12. Parallel Structure
Fix this sentence so that it has parallel structure:
It is our duty to fight against squirrels, protecting people from their attacks, and make them pay.

13. Analogy
Compare the issue to something easy to understand and to agree/disagree with
Denying students their right to dress the way they want is like denying their right to speak their minds.

14. Analogy
When people argue that gay marriage should be legal, what do they compare it to?
When people argue that teenagers should be allowed to drink at 18, what other issues could they compare this to?

15. Rhetorical Question
Ask a question that cannot be denied and does not need to be answered
How can we allow this to continue?

16. Rhetorical Questions
What are some rhetorical questions you could ask about extending the lunch period?
What are some rhetorical questions you could ask about lowering the drinking age?
What are some rhetorical questions you could ask about legalizing gay marriage?

17. Alliteration Use the same consonant sound at the beginning of words.
Today, too many teens try to avoid hard work.

18. Alliteration
Give an example of a sentence that uses alliteration.

19. Antithesis Acknowledge counter-arguments and refute them
Some people might say that banning smoking takes away people’s right to smoke in public places, but in fact, it is not people’s right to do something that could make other people sick.

20. Argument
The position statement you are making; what you are trying to persuade your audience to believe.
This will be your thesis statement.

21. Argument
My curfew should be extended to 12:00.

22. Claim/Topics The topics you will use to support your argument/thesis.
Also known as a topic argument (the claim will serve as your topic sentence).

23. Claim/Topics
I am responsible in all aspects of my life, I am trustworthy to make good decisions, and I deserve the chance to demonstrate this responsibility and trustworthiness regarding my curfew.

24. Evidence
The evidence and facts necessary to support your claim, which in turn supports your argument.
Remember, everything is intended to convince your audience to accept your position. (this is also where you will want to work in some persuasive techniques).

25. Evidence
I have never been late for curfew, I have never been delinquent in my chores, and I have never been grounded for making poor choices.
Connection to thesis:
I have consistently proven myself to be responsible, and I deserve proper credit. The best and most appropriate reward for me is to give me the freedom to stay out until midnight.

26. Warrant
After you present your evidence, it is imperative that you connect it to your argument (thesis). Don’t assume that your audience understands the connection you are making. This is called the warrant.
This is where most of the rhetoric will be developed.

27. Counter-Argument
These are the arguments that others will make against your position.
Acknowledge them and then refute them (tell why they are wrong or inaccurate).
This is uses the persuasive technique antithesis.

28. Counter-Argument
The dangers present for young adults increase the later it gets. I understand this, and I will be extra careful. There are many dangers in our society, but I have been raised to make smart and responsible choices, and I will always be careful about where I go, and with whom. If we let fear control our lives, we could quickly realize that we should never leave home because there are potential dangers everywhere. I also have my cell phone, so if I need assistance, I can call for help.

29. Structure
Persuasive essays should have an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
The introduction will contain the thesis which states your argument.
The body paragraphs make the claims that support your thesis and provide the evidence to prove your claims.
The conclusion will offer additional insight about the topic and leave your reader ready to take your side. Consider a call to action, an anecdote to

30. Thesis Statements/Arguments
Be direct and concise in your thesis statement.
Leave no questions about your position.
Place this at the end of your introduction.

31. Introductions
Using the funnel technique, start general and become more specific. Consider these different strategies for an introduction.
vivid example
dramatic anecdote
memorable quotation
or appeal to common values

32. Body Paragraphs
Think of “reasons” why you are correct, and state these in clear, solid topic sentences (claims).
Provide evidence (anecdotes, facts, definitions, analogies) to support your reasons.
Refute counter arguments, either as they arise in body paragraphs or in a separate paragraph in the body.
Remember: a well-developed paragraph is at the bare minimum three sentences long. Go for very well-developed paragraphs.

33. Body Paragraphs Traditional argumentative structure
Claim
Evidence to support the claim
Warrant—explanation of how the evidence proves the claim. The warrant is where you spice up your rhetoric and sell your point to us. You use your evidence to build logical and emotional appeals, and you use language that stirs a response in an audience.
Address and refute counter-arguments

34. Conclusions Invoke a call to action
Excite emotions appropriate for the occasion
Leave your audience with a positive impression of you
Make your audience feel the importance of the issue

35. Logical Fallacies Logical fallacies are mistakes in reasoning.
They may be intentional or unintentional, but in either case they undermine (take away from) the strength of an argument.
Some common fallacies are defined below.

36. Hasty Generalization
A generalization based on too little evidence, or on evidence that is biased.
Examples:
All men are testosterone-driven idiots.
After being in New York for a week, I can tell you: all New Yorkers are rude.

37. Either/Or Fallacy
Only two possibilities are presented when in fact several exist.
Examples:
America: love it or leave it.
Shut down all nuclear power plants, or watch your children and grandchildren die from radiation poisoning.

38. Non Sequitur
The conclusion does not follow logically from the premise.
Examples:
My teacher is a good singer; I'll learn a lot from her.
George Bush was a war hero; he'll be willing to stand tough for America.

39. Red Herring
Distracting the audience by drawing attention to an irrelevant issue.
Examples:
How can he be expected to manage the company? Look at how he manages his wife!
Why worry about nuclear war when we're all going to die anyway?

40. Circular Reasoning Asserting a point that has just been made.
Sometimes called "begging the question."
Examples:
She is ignorant because she was never educated.
We sin because we're sinners.

41. False Analogy
Wrongly assuming that because two things are alike in some ways, they must be alike in all ways.
Example:
The destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina was like the Holocaust (one was a natural disaster; the other was a man-made atrocity).

42. Slippery Slope
Falsely assuming that one event will lead to many more catastrophic events.
Example:
If we allow one student to wear a hat in class, every student in the school will assume rules mean nothing.