3Argument and Persuasion
Preparing to Write
What is the difference between argument and persuasion?
* persuasive essays typically appeal to emotions and feelings
* i.e. you will not be cool if you don’t wear a certain brand
* an argument uses factual evidence to support an idea, but the evidence can quite often be used to support the other argument
* i.e. “physically challenged” vs. “physically disabled”
What do you already know about arguing and persuading?
* we all develop argumentative skills as we grow older
* we learn to persuade people about ideas and facts
* we also learn how to compromise from arguments
How do you analyze your audience?
* in order to make a good persuasive essay one has to analyse their audience
* you should ask yourself questions like:
1. Who will be reading this?
2. What do they already know about this subject?
3. What are their values?
4. etc.
* your arguments should always revolve around your audience; and will allow you to pick out the evidence that will most likely hit home with them
* you should also anticipate any arguments or objections that they could make and answer them in your writing
What does it take to persuade your reader?
Essays Writers Chose Evidence Audience
Develop a list of qualities that are representative of good writing and explain why you chose each. Writers purpose: I chose the writers primary goal is to accommodate the audience based on the audiences experience, motivation, assumptions, education, reading habits, and preferences. Some common purposes for reading on the job include: 1. To gain information necessary for the readers job ...
* if your argument goes against the morals of the audience you will fail to persuade them
* choose something that you feel strongly about
* you must make a fair, logical argument; express honest emotion; but avoid distorted evidence and inflammatory language
* for an argument there are 2 main types of support:
1. factual
2. emotional
* the strongest evidence that you can gather is factual
* you can appeal to your readers values as a way to persuade them
* the best way to persuade someone is to appeal to both their emotions and their reason
* another thing that you must display is fairness, reason, and credible
