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PERSUASIVE WRITING

Persuasive writing is an opinion based writing that seeks to convince someone to believe your argument. So, its purpose is to literally persuade. In order to accomplish this task you will have to, firstly, engage your audience. This means that you have to get the audience interested in what you are saying. Secondly, you have to ensure that strong points are made to support your argument, and finally, your points have to be organized in such a way that they flow. In the context of the examination, this essay should be 250-300 words and is worth 30 marks.
Introduction



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This forms the beginning of your essay. It tells the examiner, or your teacher, that you understand the question and gives them an idea of the points that you plan to use to answer the essay. The three points also form the topic sentences for your three body paragraphs.
  • Give an opinion on the moot or a definition, if necessary.
  • State a clear stance in relation to the moot/ argument set.
  • Use at least one literary device (eg. rhetorical question)/ persuasive technique.
  • Thesis Statement: Answer the question that was asked, without any details or explanation. These answers will become your topic sentence / points in the upcoming paragraphs.
Body Paragraph 


​This portion of the essay is an expansion of the points, or the answer, that you gave in your introduction. Each segment of the essay, hence each point, should be given its own paragraph. This is the case because your aim is to express a single idea in one paragraph.
  • State your topic sentence, or one of the points listed in your introduction.
  • Provide an explanation/ expansion of your topic sentence.
  • Provide an example to prove your point. This example can take the form of statistics/ expert opinion/ anecdote, or simple logical evidence.
  • Include at least one literary device, per body paragraph.
  • Include a concluding sentence that mirrors your topic sentence.
Repeat this process for each point, or topic sentence.
Conclusion





This is the end of your essay. It prevents your essay from ending abruptly and gives it a feeling of completion.
  • A repetition of the points, or thesis statement, expressed in the body.
  • A concluding sentence that echoes your stance.
​End of essay!
Persuasive Writing Checklist
1. Identify your audience and ensure that your tone fits that audience.
​2. Have a clear stance.
3. Support your stance with an equally strong thesis statement, which should have three points.
4. Logical (logos), ethical (ethos) and emotional (pathos) appeal should be utilized.
5. Acknowledge at least one opposing viewpoint.
6. Use persuasive techniques.
Example: Persuasive Writing
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​Media: Persuasive Techniques
Contributor: Leisa Samuels-Thomas

Reference:
​https://www.readingrockets.org/classroom/classroom-strategies/persuasive-writing 


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