1. NİŞANTAŞI ÜNİVERSİTESİ
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WEEK 11:PERSUASIVE PARAGRAPH
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İktisadi, İdari ve Sosyal Bilimler Fakültesi
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PERSUASIVE PARAGRAPH
Have you ever attended a school fair? Why are school fairs organized?
Read the following paragraph and answer the questions.
The school fair is right around the corner, and tickets have just gone on sale. We are selling a limited number of tickets at a discount, so move fast and get yours while they are still available. This is going to be an event you will not want to miss! First off, the school fair is a great value when compared with other forms of entertainment. Also, your ticket purchase will help our school, and when you help the school, it helps the entire community. But that’s not all! Every ticket you purchase enters you in a draw to win fabulous prizes. And don’t forget, you will have mountains of fun because there are acres and acres of great rides, fun games, and entertaining attractions! Spend time with your family and friends at our school fair. Buy your tickets now!
What is the purpose of the paragraph?
Do you think it is an effective paragraph for its purpose?
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PERSUASIVE PARAGRAPH
Persuasive Writing: The Art of Getting What You Want
Persuasive writing is used to show that one idea is better than another idea. It attempts to persuade the reader to adopt a certain point of view or take a particular action.
To be able to write a strong persuasive paragraph, you need to know the difference between “positive” and “negative” words. The following exercise helps you to review the difference.
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PERSUASIVE PARAGRAPH
* Work with a partner to sort the following word list into categories of “positive”, “negative”, or “neutral/both”. better new dangerous exciting nuisance delight pet raw safe rough natural quiet scientific educational simple delicious scary wild beast wet soaked challenging difficult
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PERSUASIVE PARAGRAPH
Positive +
Negative -
Neutral/Both
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6. ThIngs to consIder when wrItIng a persuasIve paragraph
Purpose: Choose your position. Which side of the issue or problem are you going to write about, and what solution will you offer? Readers (audience): Decide if your audience agrees with you, is neutral, or disagrees with your position. Reasoning (evidence): A persuasive paragraph must provide specific and convincing evidence. Often it is necessary to go beyond your own knowledge and experience. You might need to go to the library or interview people who are experts on your topic.
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Analyze the followIng example wIth a partner, and answer the followIng questIons
Adopting a Pet
Owning a pet from the street has many advantages. First of all, a child feels good about rescuing an abandoned or abused animal and giving it a whole new life. Besides, if the animals from the street aren’t adopted right away, they might die. Having a pet also means lots of responsibilities. A child has to feed, clean up after, brush, and exercise the pet. Another great advantage of having a pet from the street is the price of these cute and cuddly animals. Pets from the street cost a lot less than pets at a fancy pet store, which can cost hundreds of dollars. Once you adopt a pet, it will quickly become a part of your family. If you are thinking of adopting a pet, you might consider choosing a dog or a cat. Dogs and cats can bring lots of happy times to a family, and they can be excellent companions for a person who lives alone or someone who has lost a loved one. Dogs are also a wonderful source of protection. Cats are funny, and they may help to calm people down when they are sad or mad. Please consider adopting an animal. If you remember all of the advantages of adopting a pet from the street, you might find the bird, mouse, hamster, dog, or cat of your choice.
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QuestIons
What is the writer’s position?
Who are the targeted readers?
What evidence did the writer use?
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9. Parts of A persuasIve paragraph
Introduction: It is the "hook” of the essay. Its main purpose is to “grab” the readers’ attention, which can be done in many different ways
Body: It provides evidence to support the opinion/idea offered in the introduction. The body should consist of topic sentence. The topic sentence is based on a solid reason to support the writer’s point of view.
Conclusion: It summarizes the most important details of the argument and states once again what the reader is to believe or do.
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1.The IntroductIon
The introduction has a "hook or grabber" to catch the reader's attention. Some "grabbers" include:
Opening with an unusual detail: (Manitoba, because of its cold climate, is not thought of as a great place to be a reptile. Actually, it has the largest seasonal congregation of garter snakes in the world!)
Opening with a strong statement: (Cigarettes are the number one cause of lighter sales in Canada!)
Opening with a quotation: (Elbert Hubbard once said "Truth is stronger than fiction.")
Opening with an anecdote: An anecdote can provide an amusing and attention-getting opening if it is short and to the point.
Opening with a statistic or fact: Sometimes a statistic or fact will add emphasis or interest to your topic. It may be wise to include the item's authoritative source.
Opening with a question. (Have you ever considered how many books we'd read if it were not for television?)
Opening with an exaggeration or outrageous statement. (The whole world watched as the comet flew overhead.)
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Read the following introduction and answer the questions. Exchange ideas with a partner.
"A dog is man's best friend." That common saying may contain some truth, but dogs are not the only animal friend whose companionship people enjoy. For many people, a cat is their best friend. Despite what dog lovers may believe, cats make excellent house pets as they are good companions, they are civilized members of the household, and they are easy to care for.
Which of the openings above did the writer use?
What other opening can you use?
What is the focus statement?
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2.The body
The following are different ways to support your argument/opinion/idea:
Facts - A powerful means of convincing, facts can come from your reading, observation, or personal experience.
Statistics - These can provide excellent support. Be sure your statistics come from responsible sources. Always cite your sources.
Quotes - Direct quotes from leading experts that support your position are invaluable.
Examples - Examples enhance your meaning and make your ideas concrete. They are the proof.
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Read the following body and write F for facts, S for statistics, Q for quotes, and E for examples wherever you find each of them In the text.
In the first place, people enjoy the companionship of cats. Many cats are affectionate. They will ask to be petted, or scratched under the chin. Who can resist a purring cat? If they're not feeling affectionate, cats are generally quite playful. They love to chase balls and feathers, or just about anything dangling from a string. They especially enjoy playing when their owners are participating in the game. Experts say “Cats can be trained.” Using rewards and punishments, just like with a dog, a cat can be trained to avoid unwanted behavior or perform tricks. Cats will even fetch! In the second place, cats are civilized members of the household. Unlike dogs, cats do not bark or make other loud noises. Most cats don't even meow very often. They generally lead a quiet existence. Cats also don't often have "accidents." Mother cats train their kittens to use the litter box, and most cats will use it without fail from that time on. Even stray cats usually understand the concept when shown the box and will use it regularly. Cats do have claws, and owners must make provision for this. A tall scratching post in a favorite cat area of the house will often keep the cat content to leave the furniture alone. As a last resort, of course, cats can be declawed. Lastly, one of the most attractive features of cats as house pets is their ease of care. Cats do not have to be walked. They get plenty of exercise in the house as they play, and they do their business in the litter box. Cleaning a litter box is a quick, painless procedure. Cats also take care of their own grooming. Bathing a cat is almost never necessary because under ordinary circumstances cats clean themselves. Cats are more particular about personal cleanliness than people are. In addition, cats can be left home alone for a few hours without fear. Unlike some pets, most cats will not destroy the furnishings when left alone. They are content to go about their usual activities until their owners return.
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3.The conclusIon
A persuasive paragraph usually ends by summarizing the most important details of the argument and stating once again what the reader is to believe or do.
Restate your topic sentence.
Summarize the main points: The conclusion enables your reader to recall the main points of your position. In order to do this, you can paraphrase the main points of your argument.
Write a personal comment or call for action. You can do this:
With a Prediction: This can be used with a narrative or a cause and effect discussion. The conclusion may suggest or predict what the results may or may not be in the situation discussed or in similar situations.
With a Question: Closing with a question lets your readers make their own predictions, draw their own conclusions.
With Recommendations: A recommendations closing is one that stresses the actions or remedies that should be taken.
With a Quotation: Since a quotation may summarize, predict, question, or call for action, you may use a quotation within a conclusion for nearly any kind of paper.
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15. Read the followIng paragraph and answer the followIng questIons.
Laughter the Medicine Laughter is one of the greatest healing ways known to man. Laughter is powerful and can help people in many different ways. It has the power to cure something as little as a bad day or to heal the wounds of a terminally ill person. Laughing has helped create the smile which is the universal sign of well- being. Generally, individuals who do not laugh live miserably and have unhappy lives. Dr. Robert Holden found out that smiling and laughing releases endorphins in the brain which gives people a overall happy well- being. Using comedy, many doctors have stimulated the healing process in manic depressants and fatally ill patients giving them hope and ambition. In many clinics laughter is being used in replacing anti- depressants and reduces the need for pain killers.(Dr. Gael Crystal). Take comedians for example, they usually live long and happy lives. Putting a smile on faces and laughs in souls is what makes life complete. Laughter helps heal people and brightens spirits for a better and healthier life. Laughing is a sign of joy and hope and keeps people normal and the world happy. Using the techniques of laughter and happiness is the best medicine known to man. Laughter is the universal sign of well- being and happiness within health. Laughing brightens the spirit and heals the mind and body of people who allow it to overcome them. So try a smile and laugh on for size and live a longer happier life with loved ones.
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QuestIons
What is the thesis statement?
What are the main points summarized in the conclusion?
Did the writer end the conclusion with a prediction, a question, recommendation, or quotation? Can you write a final sentence of a different kind?
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17. Some tIps to produce an effectIve argument/reasonIng
Be well informed about your topic. To add to your knowledge of a topic, read thoroughly about it, using legitimate sources. Take notes.
Test your argument/reasoning. It must have two sides. It must be debatable.
Disprove the opposing argument. Understand the opposite viewpoint of your position and then counter it by providing contrasting evidence.
Support your position with evidence. Remember that your evidence must appeal to reason.
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TransItIonal SIgnals TransItIons are words and phrases that connect Ideas and show how they are related. The followIng are some suggested words/phrases to help you In your wrItIng
To repeat an idea just stated:
In other words,
That is,
To repeat,
Again,
To illustrate an idea:
For example,
For instance,
In particular,
To illustrate,
In this manner,
Thus
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TransItIonal SIgnals
To announce a contrast, a change in direction:
Yet,
However,
Still,
Nevertheless,
On the other hand,
In contrast,
Instead of,
On the contrary,
Conversely,
Notwithstanding,
In spite of this,
Time:
At once,
In the interim,
At length,
Immediately,
At last,
Meanwhile,
In the meantime,
Presently,
At the same time,
Shortly,
In the end,
Temporarily,
Thereafter,
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TransItIonal SIgnals
To restate an idea more precisely:
To be exact,
To be specific,
To be precise,
More specifically,
More precisely,
To mark a new idea as an addition to what has been said:
Similarly,
Also,
Too,
Besides,
Furthermore,
Further,
Moreover,
In addition,
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TransItIonal SIgnals
To show cause and effect:
As a result,
For this reason,
Therefore,
Hence,
Consequently,
Accordingly,
Conclusion:
In short,
To conclude,
In brief,
On the whole,
In summary,
To sum up,
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PractIce
Use the suggested topics and write your persuading paragraph. Try to follow the organization, and also use transition signals to improve your essay.
Does Facebook (or other forms of social media) create isolation?
Are we too dependent on technology?
Does the school/work day start too early?
Should the minimum wage/salary be increased?
Are security cameras an invasion of privacy?
Should a relaxed dress code be allowed in the workplace?
Should public transportation be free for all residents of a city?
Should a college education be free for everyone?
Should everyone donate their organs?
Is it acceptable for parents to lie to their children?
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References
www2.waterforduhs.wi.us
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