Persuasive Writing Essential Questions l What are the

Persuasive Writing

Essential Questions l What are the unique characteristics of persuasive writing?

Essential Questions l What are the common components we notice in editorials, essays, speeches, letters, journalism, advertisements, cartoons, and other forms of persuasive writing.

Essential Questions l How does a writer use language to build, substantiate, and sustain a credible thread of argument?

Concepts and Topics l Claim –Debatable/Arguable –Shares characteristics of thesis statements –Answers the question, “What is the author trying to prove? ”

Examples of Claims l Today there is more pressure placed on students to do well [in school]…this pressure is what is causing the increase in cheating – Colleen Wenke, “Too Much Pressure”

Examples of Claims l Giving up privacy rights [to government surveillance] can’t guarantee physical safety, but it will certainly inhibit intellectual freedom and limit cognitive liberty. We Americans who cherish our freedoms should seriously consider whether or not this is a compromise we are willing to make. – Zara Gelsey, “The FBI is Reading Over Your Shoulder

Concepts and Topics l Evidence (or Data) –facts, statistics, expert opinion, examples, etc. used to support claim –Answers “What does the author say to persuade reader to accept the claim? ”

Concepts and Topics l Evidence (or Data) –Must also appeal to intelligence and feelings of audience l. Rational l. Emotional l. Ethical

Concepts and Topics l Warrant –Are the assumptions underlying the argumentgenerally accepted beliefs and values in our society –Common ground between author and audience

Concepts and Topics l Warrant –Connects the evidence to the claim. –Answers “Why causes the author to say what s/he says? ”

Concepts and Topics l Counter-Argument –Why and when is it necessary to provide a counter argument?

Concepts and Topics l Audience –Why is it important to have an audience in persuasive writing? –Why should you consider that audience?

Concepts and Topics l Syntax –How does the order of words in a sentence enhance the desired effect? –How do you use various sentence types?

Concepts and Topics l Diction –How does thoughtful deliberate word choice affect the reader?

Concepts and Topics l Organization –Why is organization crucial to the intelligibility of the argument?