Download Persuasive Writing

Persuasive Writing
Persuasive writing attempts to inform,
persuade, and convince readers to agree with
the writer’s point of view.
Types of Persuasive Writing
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Advertisements
Billboards
Newspapers editorials
Speeches
Reviews
What is a Argument?
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An effective argument clearly makes a
claim or states a position on an issue and
supports it with good evidence and
logical reasoning.
It also presents opposing views and
explains their weaknesses.
Strategies for Reading
• Look for a statement of the main issue or
problem and the author’s position on it.
• Evaluate the evidence -- facts, statistics,
and opinions -- that support the author’s
position.
• Evaluate the evidence -- facts, statistics,
and opinions -- that oppose the author’s
position.
Tracing an Author’s Argument
• Mapping the structure of an argument can help you
read the argument critically and decide if it is
convincing.
• Be sure to include the following elements:
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Author’s position on issue
Statements supporting author’s position
Evidence given to support author’s position
Statements against author’s position
Evidence given to support those statements
Author’s conclusion
Evaluating Reasoning
• To be convincing, a proposal or other
persuasive statement must show sound
reasoning.
• There are four types of unsound reasoning
to watch out for: overgeneralization, the
either-or fallacy, the cause-and-effect
fallacy, and circular reasoning.
Overgeneralization
• An overgeneralization is a broad statement
that says something is true for every case,
with no exceptions.
• Overgeneralizations often include the
words all, none, everyone, no one, any,
and anyone.
• Ex. Every school official who cares about
students supports video monitoring.
Either-Or Fallacy
• The either-or fallacy states that there are
only two possible ways to view a situation
or only two options to choose from.
• Either-or fallacies often include the words
either…or.
• Ex. Either video monitors are installed in
the school, or students will be injured.
Cause-and-Effect Fallacy
• In the cause and effect fallacy, the writer
makes the assumption that because one
event follows another, the second event
was caused by the first one.
• Ex. Westview School cut security staff, and
two students fell down the stairs and were
seriously injured.
Circular Reasoning
• Circular reasoning is an attempt to support
a statement by simply repeating it in
other words. (It does not include
supporting facts)
• Ex. Using video cameras to monitor school
hallways is good because it feels right.
Fact and Opinion
• A fact is a statement that can be
proved.
• An opinion is a statement that
cannot be proved.
Stereotyping
• A stereotype is a generalization about
a group of people that doesn’t take
individual differences into account.
Bias
• Bias is a preference for one side
of an argument.
Propaganda
• Propaganda is a form of
communication that may use
distorted, false, or misleading
information.
Emotional Appeals
• Emotional appeals are statements that
create strong feelings rather than use
facts and evidence to make a strong point.
• Be alert for statements that make you feel
angry, sad, or even happy.
• They are directed at feelings rather than
thoughts, so sometimes they are called
unreasonable persuasion.