Writing to Persuade
Identify the characteristic features used in imaginative, informative and persuasive texts to meet the purpose of the text.
Read this first
To persuade, you need an opinion and reasons. An opinion alone is not enough.
Words you need
- Persuade
- To make someone agree with you.
- Reason
- Why you think it. It backs up your opinion.
- Emotive word
- A word that makes the reader feel something.
Worked example
e.g. Write to persuade your school to have a longer lunch break.
- Start by stating your opinion clearly.
- Our lunch break should be longer.
- Now give reason one. The strongest one goes first.
- Students eat too fast and get stomach aches.
- Give reason two.
- There is no time left to run around.
- Add an emotive word to make the reader feel it.
- Rushed and squashed both work well here.
- Finish by saying what you want to happen.
- Please add ten minutes to lunch.
Opinion, then reasons, then what you want. In that order.
Practice
Opinion, reasons, then the ask.
1What must come with every opinion?with a picture
AnswerA reason.
2Where does your strongest reason go?with a picture
AnswerFirst.
3Homework is bad. What is missing?with a hint
Need a hint?
Why do you think it?
AnswerA reason. Say why it is bad.
4Choose the stronger word: bad or unfair.with a hint
Need a hint?
Which one makes the reader feel more?
AnswerUnfair. It is more emotive.
5Write an opinion and one reason about school uniforms.on your own
AnswerUniforms are useful because nobody is judged on their clothes.
6Why say what you want at the end?on your own
AnswerSo the reader knows exactly what to do.
Think about it
1
Why might too many emotive words weaken your writing?
One good answerThe reader stops trusting you. It starts to sound like an advert.
2
Is it useful to mention the other side?
One good answerYes. It shows you have thought it through, as long as you answer it.
Common mistakes
Saying it loudly makes it convincing.
It does not. Reasons convince people, not volume or capital letters.
One reason is enough.
Two or three are stronger. One is easy to argue against.