CONTEXT

Persuasive writing
Attempt to sway, position or influence

e are never without confl

rsuasive writing
Starting point:
Why are you writing this particular piece?
Who are you directing this piece to?
The purpose and audience will influence the
tone you use, the language choices you make
and the structure employ
When producing a persuasive piece, you need a
CLEAR point of view and well constructed
arguments to support that point of view.

rsuasive writing
In constructing your argument, you will need:
A clear contention
Reasons in support of your contention
Evidence to support your reasons
A rebuttal (acknowledge counter arguments and
refute them)
Appropriate persuasive language for your
intended audience
Appropriate persuasive techniques to position
your

audience to agree with you

n you get the promp

o Think about your prompt in broad terms
o Begin to think about how you can respond to it
persuasively by creating why and what questions
Tip reconfigure the prompt to include a should
statement, a proposition that can be argued for or
against
Prompt: We are never without conflict
Thinking about the prompt in broad terms
Why are we constantly faced by conflict and what
should be done about this?

Persuasive writing
Forms

Audience

Language

Essay

Depends on the context,

usually educated adults

Authoritative, 3rd person

Letter to
the editor

All newspaper readers

Varies, tone is often very

personal, can use first
person

Editorial

All newspaper readers

Objective, authoritative,
formal, often uses
inclusive language

Opinion
piece

Readers with a special

interest with the issue

Can use sarcasm, humor,

etc; tone can be moderate
or highly emotive

Speech

Depends on the context,

usually listeners affected
by the issue

Clear, simple sentences

and expressions to
engage the audience

rsuasive essay
Introduction
o Contention
o Your line of argument
o Should engage the reader
Body paragraphs
o Examine different aspects of your argument
o Clear topic sentences
A rebuttal
o Strengthen your argument by countering opposing
viewpoints
Conclusion
o Summarises your POSITION

ter to the editor

o Can vary in style and structure
o Could commence with an anecdote then move to a
general discussion
o Can be logically structured like an essay
Tips
o Address appropriately
o Present your contention early
o Clearly state the context in which you are writing
o Consider adopting a persona
o Can be personalised anecdote or first person

pinion piece
Presents a strong, sustained line of argument
o
o
o
o

Usually work from the particular to the general

Frequently start with an anecdote
Then explore the issue as a whole
Tone can vary (try to avoid being overly biased)

Features:
o Headline
o Reference to the context in which you are writing
o An opening anecdote (refer back to this at the end
of your piece)
o Can use first person but dont overdo it

ditorial
o Structure can vary usually works towards the
contention
o Requires a headline (it is a media text)
o Usually begin by contextualising the issue (offering
background)
o Counter arguments are usually acknowledged
o Tone is usually objective and authoritative
o Language should be formal
o Uses inclusive words - our community

peech writing
o Acknowledge your audience at the beginning (and
throughout)
o Use a formal introduction
o Have an engaging opening
o Present a clear contention - early on
o A powerful conclusion or punchline to leave your
audience thinking
o Simple clear sentences to show your line of
reasoning
o Persuasive strategies
o Appropriate tone

eech writing - tips

Begin with
o Anecdote
o Question
o Inclusive language (this is your issue)
o Startling or shocking facts
o Imagery (mental picture)
Finish with
o Takeaway message
o Call to action
o Call to think
o Black and white choice

rsuasive writing
Remember Expand that vocabulary
Verb
(action)

Noun
(type/thing)

Adjective
(description)

Adverb
(how/mode)

encountering

conflict

aggressive

Calmly

avoiding

war

angry

passionately

Verb
(action)

Noun
(type/thing)

Adjective
(description)

Adverb
(how/mode)

encountering

conflict

aggressive

calmly

avoiding

war

angry

passionately

negotiating

crisis

strategic

emotionally

confronting

fight

instinctive

reasonably

ignoring

rivalry

selfish

badly

handling

trial

private

well

observing

contest

public

cynically

participating

struggle

personal

conscientiously

aracter conflict roles

e persuasive statem
o
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o
o
o
o
o

Its undeniable
It is simple common sense that
The truth is
The truth of the matter is
The fact of the matter is
The facts are plan
It is beyond doubt
It is beyond all doubt
There can be no doubt
There is no question
There can be no question

e persuasive statem
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o

You cant argue with

You cant deny that
We all agree that
We all care about
We all recognise that
We all know that
We all know its a basic truth that
Its important for all of us that
Were all experienced that
We all want
We all know someone who is
For each and every one of us, its important that