1. (How to get what you want!)
Persuasive Writing
(How to get what you want!)

2. What does “persuade” mean?
“Persuade” is a verb or action word
It means “to cause someone to do something or believe something by reasoning or argument.”
Synonyms include:
convince
cajole
coax
brainwash
induce
incite
(Hmmm … do all those words have positive connotations?)

3. Persuasive writing Persuasive writing is around us all the time.
Consider:
Advertisements on TV, in magazines and elsewhere to make us buy things
Letters that convince us to take a stand on an issue
Phone calls from people who seek our votes or donations
Asking your parents for new clothes, iPhone, etc …

4. How to persuade Focus on a specific problem/issue/need/belief
No: “We need your donation to fix our school.”
Yes: “We need your donation to fix the leaky roof at our school.”
Provide clear, logical reasons
No: “The money will help us be a better school.”
Yes: “Fixing the leaky roof will keep our basketball court from being ruined the next time it rains.”

5. How to persuade, Part 2 Have strong facts to support your claims
Your facts should:
- Make you sound credible, believable, respectful.
(This is why companies use famous people to sell their stuff.)
- Appeal to people’s emotions.
(Ever see the sad commercial about saving dogs and cats?)
- Be logical and clear.
(Use statistics, poll results, etc …)

6. How to persuade, Part 3
Timing can be important to successful persuasion.
Example:
You want to persuade citizens to donate food to help feed poor and homeless people in your community.
When should you ask for donations? Why?
A) During the summer
B) A few weeks before Thanksgiving
C) In late April after everyone pays their income taxes

7. Persuasion can be sneaky!
This sign doesn’t ask us to do anything, does it?
… But is it persuading us anyway?

8. Homework! It’s time to practice what you’ve learned about persuasion.
To begin, you need to find an example of “persuasion” and bring it in to show the class tomorrow.
More details are on the Instruction Sheet!
Examples* can include:
Advertisements from newspapers, magazines, junk mail or the Web
Letters to the editor and other opinions that someone wrote
Video clips of commercials or other persuasion
*Examples MUST be appropriate for the classroom