6.

2 PERSUASIVE STRATEGIES

PERSUASIVE STRATEGIES
To analyse strategies that other people may be using to persuade you.
To choose the most effective way to persuade your readers. a) Emphasising Readers Benefits b) Addressing Readers Concerns c) Showing Sound Reasoning d) Presenting Reliable Evidence

a) Emphasising ReadersBenefits
Explain to readers how they will benefit from performing the action. Taking the position or purchasing the product recommended.

b) Addressing Readers Concerns

It is always a good strategy to try and predict what readers responses.
Concerns will be so that you can counteract any negative thoughts or arguments that may arise in their minds.

c) Showing Sound Reasoning

Not enough to merely identity the benefits of taking a position or an action.
To persuade readers that the decisions or actions recommended will actual bring about benefits and explain : i. why ii. for example iii. Because......

d) Presenting Reliable Evidence

The kind of evidence readers are willing to accept. What is acceptable depends on the situations. For example: In many business scenarious, personal observations and anecdotes by knowledgeable individuals are accepted as reliable evidence.

6.3 THE REASONING PROCESS

The Reasoning Process

The Writers Claim.

The Evidence.

The Line Of Reasoning

The Writers Claim

The position The writer Wants readers to accept

You

The Evidence
The evidence consists of
other information provided
observations

facts

in support of the claim.

The Line of Reasoning

The line of reasoning is the connecting link between the claim and the evidence

The reasons given for believing that the evidence proves the claim.

 There are two basic types or reasoning processes : i . Deduction ii. Induction

6.4 DIRECT AND INDIRECT PATTERNS OF ORGANISATION

Direct And Indirect Patterns Of Organisation

Organising to Create a Positive Response

Indirect Patterns of Organisation Direct Pattern of Organisation

Organising to Create a Position Response

Not only the variety and amount of information that is critical in a communication.

The way in which readers process that information.

Carefully choose the organisational pattern which best suits your purpose. Ensure that all the part of your persuasive piece fit together tightly.

Direct Pattern of Organisation

In a direct pattern of organisation, state main point first. Evidence and other related information are given afterwards.

For example, if your wish to recommend that a company makes a particular purchase, you begin with the recommendation and present the arguments in favour of the purchase.

6.5 VOICE AND CREDIBILITY

Voice And Credibility

Voice in the context of written communication, means: Who am i as a writer? Am i deputising someone else or do I assume another role? It is good to be yourself when you write. Be sincere when you try to persuade others or win them to your side. People will accept you for being you because they know that you are credible and can be trusted.

Voice And Credibility

a) Consider the Reasoning Process and Types of Reasoning. b) Choosing an Appropriate Voice. c) Establishing Credibility.

 To consider how you reason out things in your writing. To reflect on what, when, and how to say things. Reasoning out is a process which takes time and perseverance. How do you argue or put forward your thoughts to the readers?

a) Consider the Reasoning Process and Types of Reasoning

b) Choosing an Appropriate Voice

Choose is an important element of persuasive strategy; it presents both the role you assign yourself and the role you assign your readers. For example, if you intend to write for your peers but assume the voice of a superior authority, your readers may resent their implied role as inferiors. If your readers respond to your voice in a negative way, they will not receive your message openly.

c) Establishing Credibility
Credibility is the belief your readers have regarding whether you are a good source of information and ideas. When people believe you are credible, they are more likely to accept the things you say. If people do not find you credible, they may refuse to consider your ideas seriously, no matter how soundly you present your case.

Topic 6: Persuasive Writing

6.1 Arrangement of Persuasive Writing If you want to write a persuasive essay, structure your writing as follows. (a) Introduction Explaining the subject matter. Help your readers to understand what the issue is all about and prepare themfor any assertions that you may make later on.

 (b) Body Assertion An assertion is when then writer strongly presents a certain opinion to the reader. You should clearly express your stand, usually in the topic sentence. (c) Body- Concession/Rebuttal You should discuss other opinions besides your own. Not to exaggerate or distort other peoples viewpoints.

 (d) Body-Proof Which make up the bulk of the writing, is proof. This calls for the evidence to be presented . This can be done either inductively or deductively using examples, facts and observations. It is best to present proof in increasing order of strength, which means saving the best argument for last or as your closure.

 (e) Conclusion You should rephrase the topic sentence at this stage to emphasise the assertion. Put it in a different perspective and remember not to introduce any new argument at this point. Leave a strong impression on your readers.

 6.1.1 Reasons for and Purposes of Persuasive Writing Below are some reasons and purposes for persuasive writing: (a) To influence or change your readers thoughts and actions. (b) You want people to believe what you say, remember what you have written and take appropriate action based on your written work.

 (c) You have to appeal to your readers sense of reason, emotions and good character. 6.1.2 Types of Reasoning Processes 1. Two types of reasoning processes: (i) Induction Reasoning Introduces a general principle or premise and draws a specific conclusion from it. (ii) Deduction Reasoning Supports a general conclusion by looking at specific facts or evidence.

 2. Whether it is inductive or deductive reasoning, you need to appeal to your readers sense of reason, emotions and good character to persuade and win them over. (i) Appeal to Reason Argument is an appeal to a persons sense of reason. It is a conscious and deliberate action, using logic to make others agree with you. At least two sides to every issue. Do not leave your readers after writing , only about your side.

 (ii) Appeal to Emotion While appealing to reason is a great way to persuade others, i.e. by evoking their emotions. This can be done via creating clear images in their heads. Remember to be careful when you use emotional appeal, especially if you are using it on close friends or relatives. Using it in a real sense. Do not use emotional appeal as a substitude for logical and/or ethical appear.

 Try not to draw on stereotypes or manipulate emotional fears just to get an automatic reaction from someone. (iii) Appeal to Good Personality / Character Appeal to ethics. Appeal to good behavior or ethics can occur at several levels in an argument. This moral/ethical appeal only works if your reader s perception of you.

 6.1.3 Source of Information, and Relating to Arguments and Evidence The purpose of persuasive writing is to assert an opinion which you are going to defend and to offer supporting evidence(data) in order to convince the reader to agree with you. Below are the elements: (a) Convincing evidence (b) Appeal to authority (c) The proper evaluation of statistics