Here’s the contents of a sheet of tips/ideas for students that was part of my unit on expository writing, to help students prepare an effective piece of expository writing. Click read more to view, and leave your comment.

How can you convince others to accept your point of view on an issue? Writing persuasively can be a powerful method for influencing the opinions of others. As well as essays, there are many other forms of persuasive writing: letters to the editor, editorials, letters of suggestion or complaint, advertisements and so on.

Writing persuasively involves knowing what you are going to say - that is, forming a claer point of view that is supported by well-researched reasons and relevant persuasive techniques, such as facts and evidence, expert opinion, positive or negative language. Essentially, you must know your subject. Writing persuasively also involves deciding how you are going to organise and express your point of view.

Whether you are writing a persuasive letter, editorial or an essay, there is a basic and effective organisational structure that is commonly adopted. This is explained below.

Paragraph One - Introduction:

Present your point of view (opinion) on the issue, including brief, relevant background information and definitions.

Paragraph Two - Supporting Reason:

Present the main reason for your point of view in the opening sentence (topic sentence). Expand this by giving a range of evidence, definitions and references to experts. Use positive or negative language to express your point of view on the issue.

Paragraph Three - Supporting Reason 2:

Present another key supporting reason for your point of view in the opening sentence. As with the first one, expand this by giving a range of evidence, definitions and references to experts. Use positive or negative language to express your point of view on the issue.

Paragraph Four - Opposing Views:

Briefly state the opposing views and why you do not support them. Your reasons need to be logical and backed up where appropriate with reliable evidence or facts. It is not sufficient to simply say “I do not agree with this point of view.”

Paragraph Five - Conclusion:

Conclusions can take many forms. They may be a summary of your point of view and key supporting reasons, a recommendation for future action on the issue, or a warning of what could happen if nothing is done about the issue.

REMEMBER:

Effective pieces of persuasive writing:

· uses language and ideas that are calm and reasonable

· includes reasons and cites specific examples

· avoids exaggerations and words that show strong emotions, bias, anger and insults

FEATURES:

· clear introduction

· audience - often a sense of talking directly to the reader

· polite, formal, concerned, expect reader to respond similarly

· list of points relevant to topic - all the facts

· points can be emotional

· consideration of opposing points in order to refute

· clear conclusion - with request

LANGUAGE:

· asking rhetorical questions

· personal pronoun - “I” and “the majority”

· linking words used a lot - firstly, secondly, another, however

· citing authorities

· appeal to intellect - “it is clear”, “facts show that”

· “beneficial to many” argument

· using selective figures to back up argument

· short sentences for emphatic points, longer sentences for back up information

RECIPE FOR SUCCESS:

· clear idea of what you want

· arguments for and against

· check audience and decide form - letter is common

· organise material - introduction, points to be made, conclusion

· points to be made - which first, use of linking words, personal tone, politeness, priorities for points, perhaps end on a strong point

· research backup material

· proof reading to ensure a quality final product

AVOID USING THE FOLLOWING ‘PROPAGANDA’ TECHNIQUES:

· Testimonial - persuasive statements made by people who claim to have personal experience with the issue

· Bandwagon - statements intended to make the reader believe that everyone is doing or believing what the author is writing about

· Name calling - representing alternative viewpoints in a negative light

· Facts left out - ignoring pieces of information that may influence the reader away from the author’s viewpoint

· Opinions as facts - representing the opinions of the author as factual information

· Use of numbers and statistics - author uses numbers to give the subject the appearance of greater importance

· Quoting out of context - quoting the source of information without providing all the details

· Red herring - a piece of information intended to mislead the reader

This entry was posted on Monday, July 13th, 2009 at 5:25 pm and is filed under Expository Writing, Text Production. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.