Quinton Yeard’e

PERSUASIVE WRITING
PERSUASIVE WRITING

 “…seeks to get the reader to adopt a certain

line of reasoning or to take a particular course
of action.”( Allen, 1998. p25)
 Counter argues (at least two sides to every story …)

 Appears to Appeal to ’Reason-ability’ - the

argument must make sense
 Appeals to belief- the readers morals/values and
sense of fairness
THE PERSUASIVE ESSAY
SHOULD
1. be in Standard English
2. not exceed 300-350 words
3. As with all writing aspire to the 5 paragraph
plan
1. Intro – 1 paragraph - (50 – 75 words)
2. Body – at least 3 paragraphs (225 - 250 words)
3. Conclusion – 1 paragraph (50 – 75 words)
ALWAYS PLAN YOUR WRITING
1. Introduction – 1 paragraph (50 – 75 words)
State your opinion i.e. what you going to prove
1.

2. Body- Developing Your Argument – 4 or 5

paragraphs of (50 – 75 words) each
Section total 250- 300
3. Conclusion – reiterate your opinion, highlighting,
restating your points that show/prove your opinion.
1 paragraph (50 – 75 words)
n.b your essay should subscribe to the 5 paragraph format
THE PERSUASIVE ESSAY

1. Allen (1998) suggests that the essay should

“have appropriate supporting references
 advantages and disadvantages
 reasons and explanations
 comparisons and contrasts
 statistics and relevant authorities. And use
BE EFFECTIVELY ARGUED WITH THE USE OF
1. Rhetorical questions
2. Repetition
3. Specially constructed sentences
4. Irony and sarcasm
5. Hyberbole(overstatement)
6. Litotes (understatement)
7. Puns
AN EXAMPLE – 45 MINS

 BACKGROUND‘
 Write an article for your local newspaper in which you give strong
arguments for or against the abolition of capital
punishment.’ give your article a title and to state your name, write the
number of words at the end .

 BRAINSTORM- write down on a sheet of paper

 advantages and disadvantages
 reasons and explanations
 comparisons and contrasts
 statistics and relevant authorities.
1. BRAINSTORM : FOR YOUR TOPIC WRITE ONE POINT IN EACH BOX
Ad and Dis Reason Comparison Statistics and
advantage and Explanation and Contrast Authoritative
Opinion

When you examine your points do any of your points

1. repeat themselves
2. Appear sarcastic
3. Overstate the reality
4. Understate the reality
If you have none of the above
- as in points repeating themselves in different ways, being ironic,
hyperbolic or ‘litotic’ RE DO STAGE 1 AGAIN Look back at your points again
STAGE 2: CRAFTING = USE

 Focus FOCUS focus

 Now that you have points, what do they prove
what opinion/point of view do they present.
 The opinion that includes most of your points is
the main idea of your essay and the strong
opinion that you will use in your introduction
 Use a main idea/opinion that includes at least
3 but no more than 5 of your points from your
brain storming
 ALWAYS PLAN YOUR WRITING
1. Introduction in one paragraph
1. One main idea – your STRONG opinion – your
acceptable preposition
2. This preposition is supported, proven by your
points
3. The more ‘provable’ your preposition the more
persuasive your essay
4. In 50 – 75 words state what your position is,
and what your points are remember your introduction
informs us specifically of what your points will prove/ develop
in the body of the essay ,
NOW LET US DO STAGE 1

 Brainstorm
 Introduction

 10 mins
1. BRAINSTORM : FOR YOUR TOPIC WRITE ONE POINT IN EACH BOX
Ad and Dis Reason Comparison Statistics and
advantage and Explanation and Contrast Authoritative
Opinion

When you examine your points do any of your points

1. repeat themselves
2. Appear sarcastic
3. Overstate the reality
4. Understate the reality
If you have none of the above
- as in points repeating themselves in different ways, being ironic,
hyperbolic or ‘litotic’ RE DO STAGE 1 AGAIN Look back at your points again
SUGGESTED ANSWER

Paragraph 1- Introduction.
There is an exceptionally high level of violent
crimes, especially murders, in Jamaica.
However, the reintroduction of capital
punishment would not necessarily be a
deterrent.
 2. Developing the argument
WHAT TYPE OF POINT ARE YOU USING

1. Develop the argument in a balanced way,

 argument vs. counterargument ,
 Pros vs. Cons
2. Reason
 Explain, using support, the (grounds) reason for your position
3. Compare and Contrast
– similarities and differences between points, positions
4. Using Examples – stories/ anecdotes , specific
- illustrates your point
5. Sources –
- relevant, don’t make it up
 2. Developing the argument
ALWAYS PLAN YOUR WRITING

Ad and Dis Reason Comparison Statistics and

advantage and Explanation and Contrast Authoritative
Opinion
Argument vs. Explain, using Similarities and Sources –
counterargument , support, the differences between relevant,
Pros vs. Cons (grounds) reason for points, positions
don’t make it up
your position
Balance Using Examples –
stories/ anecdotes ,
specific
- illustrates your
point

Which three are you using ?

For each point
Devise topic sentences
Supporting sentences
Clincher sentence
 2. Developing the argument
WRITE/DEVELOP YOUR PARAGRAPHS

Comparison Statistics and For each point

and Contrast Authoritative 1. Devise topic sentences
Opinion
2. Supporting sentences
Similarities and differences Sources –
between points, positions relevant, 3. Clincher sentence
Use eg, anecdotes
don’t make it up
10 minutes per paragraph
Topic sentence Topic sentence
Supporting Supporting
Sentence 1 Sentence 1
S. Sentence 2 S. Sentence 2

S Sentence 3 S Sentence 3

Clincher Sentence Clincher Sentence

DEVELOPING THE ARGUMENT SUGGESTED TOPIC SENTENCE
Paragraph 2
There have not been any hangings (the form of capital punishment used
in Jamaica) for a long time. Give reasons, eg outcry by human rights
organisations, many stays of executions as a result of appeals to the
Privy Council.
Paragraph 3
Is capital punishment really justice, or revenge? Use statistics to show
numbers of people affected On the other hand, authorities, eg the
Bible: “Thot shalt not kill/justice is mine,’ says the Lord.”
Paragraph 4
There may be other contributory factors, ég poverty, lack of educational
opportunities, or the influence of violence in the media and films
which also need be addressed.
CONCLUSION AND REVIEW

 Recommendations/suggestions based on your

arguments
 Do not introduce points that you did not explain
in the essay
 5 mins
 REFERENCE

Allan, L. A. (1998). Jamaica observer lecture

series english with practice papers and answers , Kin,
Jamaica Observer.