Notes
on Persuasion: OWL defines
persuasive writing as "...to convince its readers to embrace the
point-of-view presented by appealing to the audience’s reason and
understanding through argument and/or entreaty." Dictionary.com
defines to persuade as, "to induce to believe by appealing
to reason or understanding; convince...."
In many senses all writing is
persuasive, and when readers finish a piece, it proves the writing
was, indeed, successfully persuasive, at least, in keeping the
reader engaged. Most every decision we make, large or small,
involves persuasive elements as we choose what to do. Growing up, we
likely wove elaborate appeals to stay up to watch some special TV
show, get the keys to the car, etc., much like we hear from kids
now. But maybe the most powerful and subtle persuasion that we
contact everyday is advertising. In many varieties of print, on
radio, TV, and more and more on websites, we are invited, kidded and
intimidated in to buying what the seller is selling.
Advertising, whether we admire it or not, has much to teach us about
what moves us to act. The Classic Appeals show how we can present an
issue using one (or all) to gain a reader's agreement.
An emotional appeal (Pathos) might show how an issue tugs at our
feelings, and is supported by evidence (logos) and reflects what we
value (ethos) by using an expert/spokesperson to agree with us.
One of the appeals is usually the most obvious or powerful, but
often all three are present.
Threat
and Rescue:
Advertising (also in politics,
media, interrogation, everyday discussion,etc.) uses a
"threat and rescue" model to present a
situation and "solution" to it that usually benefits, primarily, the
advertiser (or questioner). Any print, internet or TV commercial
shows these features. Because there is an element of manipulation in
any writing, the appeals writers use to persuade readers of a
problem and solution should be based in the writer's genuine
thought, values and perspective of the topic.
Using
Fear (threat) to Persuade (rescue)
Links to more specifics and
Classical Appeals:
Persuasive Writing and Audience,
Effective Persuasive Strategies and
Basic Appeals.
Most persuasive
writing includes elements of all three Classic Appeals, but one
is usually more prominent than others. Logos (evidence and reason)
can support both Ethos and Pathos approaches to the topic, depending on
the writer's intention and the audience.
The Thesis
Sentence
still contains the topic+opinion/position (+reason(s), but for
a persuasive writing it may also include "should," "must," or other
wording that strongly implies what the reader should
do or think, etc. as a result of the
information you present. An example might be: Americans must vote to
protect our democracy because the people are the ones who choose
leaders and policies.
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Crediting
Sources in the wording of sentences--(with
or without
parenthetical cites: USING
Signal phrases to credit sources:
a signal phrase lets the reader know, right at the beginning
of the sentence, that the information they are about to read
comes from another source.
Example:
Your Op-Ed might include
something like... According to John Smith, author of
Pocahontas Is My Love, "Native American women value a deep
spiritual connection to the environment."
Notice that since
the word-for-word quote is from John Smith's book, those words
are in quotation marks. Because the author and the name of book it comes from
is stated IN the sentence, the reader is easily able
to find the source on their own to check the facts. The reader is also more likely to believe
the thesis because they know that the information comes from a credible
source.
For Web sources,
use the particular website name instead
of John Smith's book. The signal phrase would look exactly the
same, but use wording like, "According to Pocahontasrules.com..." to
identify material from that source. Page/paragraph locations are
not required, but may be even more convincing.
OpEds do not generally use a formal list of sources but, should refer,
by signal phrase, to
credible evidence and sources to back-up facts and other information.
Counterargument is an opposite opinion that further proves
yours is stronger: Predict counterarguments. For example:
e.g..--The Argument: Organic produce from local
Farmers’ Markets is better than store-bought produce because it
is more nutritious.
The
Counterargument/Opposition: Organic produce is too expensive.
Combining both in a thesis sentence might be:
Although organic produce from local
Farmers’ Markets is better than store-bought produce because it
is more nutritious, it is too expensive.
Argument Basics:
A more formal
academic position essay, makes
an
argument:
a decarative thesis/claim that
provides reasoning and evidence, which
suggests why the thesis
is true. The
counter-arguement considers a possible
argument against the
thesis or some aspect of
the reasoning. This is
a good way to test the
ideas while drafting.
And in the finished
essay, it can be a very
persuasive as it
allows the writer to anticipate
doubts and pre-empt
objections that a
skeptical reader might
have. It presents
the writer as
the kind of person who
weighs alternatives
before arguing for one,
who confronts
difficulties instead of
sweeping them under the
rug and someone more
interested in
discovering the truth
than winning a point.
- Both thesis and brief
counterargument need evidence (documentation) to support each "side" of the issue. For practice in citing, each
reference to supporting evidence needs
signal/intro phrases worded as part of a sentence with enough
specifics that a reader could find it easily.
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All materials developed
by Jane Thielsen © copyright 2014 : other materials available under Fair
Use guidelines for students in this course only: all rights reserved