Prepared by a colleague ... to introduce the aspects of Persuasive Writing. Included as part of preparation for Year 9 NAPLAN.

1. Persuasive Writing
The art of getting someone to agree
with you, buy your product, vote for
you, see your point of view…

3. Forms of Persuasive Writing
• Advertisements
• Speeches
• Editorials
• Propaganda
• Reviews
• Blogs
• Essays

4. Advertisements
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbFEnGE
xSgI
• Advertisements try to convince
you to buy something

5. Speeches
• Speeches are used by politicians and other
people in public who want to convince you to
vote for them, take action or take a stand on
a matter that is important to them.

6. “I’ve been to the mountain top…”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oehry1JC
9Rk&list=RD3vDWWy4CMhE

7. Reviews
• Reviews evaluate books, movies, games and
other things to help the reader to decide
whether they should spend their money on
the product.
• With the internet becoming part of every day
life, reviews have gained more importance.
They can make or break product!

9. Funny fact that has nothing to do with
the topic!
• This hotel keeps the customer’s credit card
number and charges 100 pounds (about $180)
if they put up a bad review.

10. Editorials
• Editorials about current events appear in
newspapers and magazines, television, radio
and the internet.
• They are giving their opinion and trying to
convince you to feel the same.

13. Propaganda
• A lot of the propaganda we see now days
comes from political parties. We will be
inundated with politicians using persuasive
language this year as we get closer to the
Federal Election.
• They use emotionally charged languages and
appeals to the public.

15. Blogs
• Blogs provide commentary on a particular
topic, often combining text, images, and links
to other blogs, web pages, and other media
related to its topic.
• Blogs also allow readers to respond.

17. Essays
• Persuasive essays use logic, reason,
and emotion to convince readers to
join the writer in a certain point of
view.

18. PS This would not happen if they
planned their essay!

19. Persuasive Language
Techniques

20. Alliteration
• Repeating the first sound of different words is
alliteration. They also start with the same
letter. This repetition of sounds has an effect
of sticking in the minds of readers and can
reinforce a writer’s point of view.
• For example; To argue like that makes those
people cruel, calculating and corrupt!

21. Repetition
• Repetition of words creates emphasis and
makes the words stick in the mind of the
readers.

22. From the master of repetition!

23. Rhetorical Questions
• This type of question is so obvious that the
writer does not think the question requires an
answer.
• It forces the reader to think about the
question to reinforce a point.

26. Metaphors and Similes
• Metaphors and Similes are used in figurative
language to compare and contrast different
objects or ideas.
• They are formed when words are put together
so skilfully they conjure up pictures in the
minds of the reader.

27. • As a persuasive device they enable the reader
to engage with the text.
• A simile makes comparisons using the words
‘like’ or ‘as’.
• For example: The stock market is like a roller
coaster.

29. • A metaphor makes comparisons without using
the words ‘like’ or ‘as’.
• For example: “He is a wet blanket.”

32. Emotive Language
• Emotive language is words or phrases that
elicit an emotional response from the reader.
• Emotive language makes the reader feel
happy, sad, angry, guilty and so on.
• For example: “The innocent bystanders were
injured” elicits more emotion that “The
bystanders were injured.”

34. Hyperbole
• Hyperbole is the use of exaggeration in your
writing to persuade the reader.
• It is used to evoke strong feelings or create a
strong impression.

36. Expert opinions and quotes
• Using an expert or important person’s opinion
makes your argument seem more convincing.
• An opinion or quote adds weight to your
argument.

37. From the Adelaide Now website
• “A 375ml can of Coca Cola contains 39.8g of
sugar, or about 10 teaspoons. A can of Sprite
has nine-and-a-half. A can of Fanta Raspberry
tops out at just over 11 teaspoons (although
to be fair if you’ve ever had a Fanta Raspberry
it’s not like it leaves you in any doubt of that
— it tastes like it could melt enamel)”

38. Personal anecdote or experience
• Anecdotes and personal experiences are
stories that involve real life events.
• These anecdotes can be used to support an
argument and make the topic more real for
the reader.

39. http://realbusiness.co.uk/article/26867-5-great-and-5-bad-examples-of-customer-
service/page:2
• Elaine B. explains that she was only trying to contact
Comcast to find something out about her bill. "I
couldn’t understand the different groupings of
channels which had no explanation just names like
Extended Package. She couldn’t explain it and kept
getting the same channels in different groupings. I said,
very politely, that I didn’t understand her explanation,
and if there was someone else who can explain it to
me so I would understand.”
• The woman apparently replied: “You’re stupid.” Then
she hung up.

40. Inclusive Language
• Inclusive language addresses the reader
personally. Words such as like, us, we, you and
our make a personal connection.
• This language makes the audience think the
writer is talking to them, understand their
concerns and makes them feel as though they
are part of a group.

41. From Dr. Suess

43. The Power of Three
• ‘The Power of Three’ is when you list three
things to make a point more dramatic.
• For example; Location, location, location!
• Government of the people, by the people, for
the people.

45. Evidence and Statistics
• When you use evidence and statistics to
support your point of view you add strength
and validity to your argument.
• For example; 90% of Year 9 students do less
than 20 minutes homework per night.

47. Please note…
• When you are writing a Persuasive piece
under test conditions you will not have the
luxury of looking stats and evidence up on Dr.
Google.
• What to do? Well, make them up! It is the use
of statistics the markers are looking for, not
the accuracy of the stats!

48. A clip to summarise
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EqG5v0
7R24

49. I have a recipe for Persuasive Writing Pie. Use a
cup of confidence with a dash of brilliance,
sprinkle with facts and logic, then add a spoonful
of action and a pinch of panache. Mix in some
good research and combine with proper grammar
and perfect spelling. Then bake to perfection.