Persuasive Writing

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Persuasive Writing
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Purpose of Persuasion

• This type of writing is meant to convince the
  reader of your point of view about a subject.
• Your point of view is stated in your thesis
  statement, which is the last sentence of your
  introduction.
• The rest of the essay serves to argue for your
  thesis.

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Thesis Statements

• The thesis statement illustrates your opinion
  regarding a particular topic.
• Example
• Due to its ineffective and cruel nature, the
  death penalty should be outlawed in the United
  States.
• This statement drives the rest of the essay,
  since each paragraph should provide evidence that
  argues for your thesis.

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Example of a Thesis and Supporting Arguments
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Introduction

• Begin with an engaging hook that captures the
  readers interest and makes them want to keep
  reading.
• Types of hooks
• Questions
• Quotes
• Anecdotes/Scenarios
• Present a quick summary of the arguments youll
  make in your essay
• --or--
• Provide background information on the subject
• The last sentence should be your thesis
  statement.

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Sample Introduction

• Does murdering a criminal as punishment for
  their crimes equal justice? Parents of those set
  to die by lethal injection most likely dont
  consider the death penalty a fair and humane fate
  for their children. For too long, the United
  States has relied on an ineffective punishment to
  deter criminal action, which has, at times,
  resulted in innocent deaths in the name of
  justice. Due to its ineffective and cruel nature,
  the death penalty should be outlawed in the
  United States.

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Body Paragraphs

• Each paragraph should only deal with one argument
  in support of the thesis statement.
• Begin the paragraph with a topic sentence that
  presents a main argument in support of the
  thesis.
• Example
• Crimes still occur frequently despite the death
  penalty in many states.

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Body Paragraphs cont.

• Support the topic sentence with evidence that
  shows why your view is valid and accurate.
• Be sure to elaborate on your evidence by
  explaining how your evidence supports your
  arguments and thesis.

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Body Paragraphs cont.

• Examples of evidence and persuasive strategies
• Anecdotes
• Statistics
• Facts
• Details
• Examples
• Comparison/Contrasts
• Emotional language.

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Language Features

• Use mainly the present tense.
• Use logical and cause and effect connectives.
• Use emotive language.
• Use technical language.
• Use rhetorical questions.
• Dare the reader to disagree.
• Try to make opinions sound like facts.
• Use powerful verbs and strong adjectives.

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,Persuasive Writing
11
Sample Body Paragraph

• Crimes still occur frequently despite the death
  penalty in many states. If capital punishment
  were truly effective, then watching the nightly
  news wouldnt be emotionally difficult. Every
  broadcast seems filled with stories of several
  different crimes. Murders, bank robberies,
  crimes of passion, embezzlement are all frequent
  visitors to the six oclock headlines. How can
  an advocate of capital punishment argue that the
  death penalty prevents crime if the news is still
  full of these stories? The evidence speaks for
  itself in this case. A focus on rehabilitation of
  criminals is the true deterrent to crime, which
  can create safer streets and less painful news
  broadcasts.

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Counterpoints and Rebuttals

• A key piece to successfully arguing your point of
  view is to prove differing views wrong.
• Your essay must address at least one differing
  view and show how your view makes more sense.
• Examples
• Summarizing
• Common ground
• Conceding
• Refuting.

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Sample Counterpoint Paragraph

• Even though some believe in an eye for an eye,
  two wrongs do not make a right. Killing one
  person to justify the death of another does not
  make sense. It is still immoral to murder a
  convicted felon, even if it is to punish that
  criminal for committing a murder. Will a
  victims family really find peace because the
  person who killed their loved one is also killed?
  A second death will not erase the crime or the
  pain of the first. Couldnt it also be argued
  that the murderer has not truly paid for his
  crime since death is an easier punishment than
  life in jail? There are alternatives to
  state-sponsored murder. Putting the money, time,
  and energy into those crime deterrents make more
  sense than simple vengeance.

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Conclusions

• Your last paragraph must provide a sense of
  closure.
• Restate your thesis in a new way
• This nation must make capital punishment a thing
  of the past.
• Summarize your main ideas in one or two sentences
  only.
• Close with a strongly worded clincher or call to
  action.
• People must rise up and prevent murder from
  continuing to be an accepted form of punishment.

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Sample Conclusion

• Based on this discussion, it is obvious that
  this nation must make capital punishment a thing
  of the past. Our society has enough pain already
  and the death penalty does not stop evil from
  occurring. Not only is it ineffective, but it
  sometimes results in innocent deaths, since it is
  a system that is not flawless due to its
  dependence on humans who are subject to errors in
  judgment. Therefore, people must rise up and
  prevent murder from continuing to be an accepted
  form of punishment.

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Calling All Sleepyheads

• Sleep is important. Nobody fully understands why
  we need it, but scientists think that the body
  uses the time to recover and to repair damage.
  When we fall asleep our heart and breathing rates
  slow down, muscles relax and our senses rest. If
  this is the case, are you giving your body enough
  rest?

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english/powerpoints/PM_persuasivewriting.ppt256,1
,Persuasive Writing
17

• Lack of sleep means that the body and brain do
  not work properly. If you dont go to bed at a
  reasonable time, you will be sleepy in class and
  not learn so much. Tiredness means you may not be
  able to think clearly, and you may also be a
  danger to other people. Accidents can happen. You
  will lack energy, and even playing becomes too
  much of an effort. Is staying up late really
  worth it?

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english/powerpoints/PM_persuasivewriting.ppt256,1
,Persuasive Writing
18

• There is some truth in the old saying
• Early to bed and early to rise, makes us
  healthy, wealthy and wise.
• Next time you start to argue about your bedtime,
  remember your body needs a break.
• From Have Your Say by Karavis and
  Matthews

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english/powerpoints/PM_persuasivewriting.ppt256,1
,Persuasive Writing
19

• Now, let us examine the text together in more
  detail.
• How many elements of persuasive writing have
• you identified in it?

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english/powerpoints/PM_persuasivewriting.ppt256,1
,Persuasive Writing
20
Calling All Sleepyheads

• Sleep is important. Nobody fully understands why
  we need it, but scientists think that the body
  uses the time to recover and to repair damage.
  When we fall asleep our heart and breathing rates
  slow down, muscles relax and our senses rest. If
  this is the case, are you giving your body enough
  rest?

Retrieved from http//www.primaryresources.co.uk/
english/powerpoints/PM_persuasivewriting.ppt256,1
,Persuasive Writing
21
Calling All Sleepyheads

• Sleep is important. Nobody fully understands why
  we need it, but scientists think that the body
  uses the time to recover and to repair damage.
  When we fall asleep our heart and breathing rates
  slow down, muscles relax and our senses rest. If
  this is the case, are you giving your body enough
  rest?

Retrieved from http//www.primaryresources.co.uk/
english/powerpoints/PM_persuasivewriting.ppt256,1
,Persuasive Writing
22

• Lack of sleep means that the body and brain do
  not work properly. If you dont go to bed at a
  reasonable time, you will be sleepy in class and
  not learn so much. Tiredness means you may not be
  able to think clearly, and you may also be a
  danger to other people. Accidents can happen. You
  will lack energy, and even playing becomes too
  much of an effort. Is staying up late really
  worth it?

Retrieved from http//www.primaryresources.co.uk/
english/powerpoints/PM_persuasivewriting.ppt256,1
,Persuasive Writing
23

• Lack of sleep means that the body and brain do
  not work properly. If you dont go to bed at a
  reasonable time, you will be sleepy in class and
  not learn so much. Tiredness means you may not be
  able to think clearly, and you may also be a
  danger to other people. Accidents can happen. You
  will lack energy, and even playing becomes too
  much of an effort. Is staying up late really
  worth it?

Retrieved from http//www.primaryresources.co.uk/
english/powerpoints/PM_persuasivewriting.ppt256,1
,Persuasive Writing
24

• Lack of sleep means that the body and brain do
  not work properly. If you dont go to bed at a
  reasonable time, you will be sleepy in class and
  not learn so much. Tiredness means you may not be
  able to think clearly, and you may also be a
  danger to other people. Accidents can happen. You
  will lack energy, and even playing becomes too
  much of an effort. Is staying up late really
  worth it?

Retrieved from http//www.primaryresources.co.uk/
english/powerpoints/PM_persuasivewriting.ppt256,1
,Persuasive Writing
25

• Lack of sleep means that the body and brain do
  not work properly. If you dont go to bed at a
  reasonable time, you will be sleepy in class and
  not learn so much. Tiredness means you may not be
  able to think clearly, and you may also be a
  danger to other people. Accidents can happen. You
  will lack energy, and even playing becomes too
  much of an effort. Is staying up late really
  worth it?

Retrieved from http//www.primaryresources.co.uk/
english/powerpoints/PM_persuasivewriting.ppt256,1
,Persuasive Writing
26

• Lack of sleep means that the body and brain do
  not work properly. If you dont go to bed at a
  reasonable time, you will be sleepy in class and
  not learn so much. Tiredness means you may not be
  able to think clearly, and you may also be a
  danger to other people. Accidents can happen. You
  will lack energy, and even playing becomes too
  much of an effort. Is staying up late really
  worth it?

Retrieved from http//www.primaryresources.co.uk/
english/powerpoints/PM_persuasivewriting.ppt256,1
,Persuasive Writing
27

• There is some truth in the old saying
• Early to bed and early to rise, makes us
  healthy, wealthy and wise.
• Next time you start to argue about your bedtime,
  remember your body needs a break.
• From Have Your Say by Karavis and
  Matthews

Retrieved from http//www.primaryresources.co.uk/
english/powerpoints/PM_persuasivewriting.ppt256,1
,Persuasive Writing