The

persuasion
book

Sue Palmer
 Persuasion text
argues the case for a point of view

The argument needs:

clear points
any necessary elaboration.
These texts are often
persuasion text...
pamphlet from
pressure group or
political party
magazine
advertisement article

persuasion
travel
brochure poster or flier

letter to the
editor book blurb
Persuasion text
to attract the attention
of the audience
to gain their trust
to argue the case
clearly
to convince the audience.
The genre of text
can also affect
the purpose.
needs
an eye-catching title and/or
opening
a clear opening statement
of your point of view
main points clearly set out
(e.g. each paragraph begins with a topic
sentence) A topic sentence sums up
what the paragraph is
about.
information, reasons,
examples to back up each
point
summary of main points at
the end (perhaps restating the
case in some way).
 Persuasion writing
Use what you know about
your audience to decide
think about the how much background detail
is needed
audience for the genre
appropriate level of
how much do you know formality.
about them Think about your audience
when you plan the layout.
(age, interests, prior How can you make it easy
for them to read?
knowledge)?

Where should the text sit along these continua?

informal formal
personal impersonal
The position on each continuum may be different. Impersonal texts
are sometimes written informally, and personal texts may be formal.
 Planning persuasion writing
BRAINSTORM who? what?
your ideas, perhaps on a Intro
why? when?
spidergram.
where?
elaboration
point

ORGANISE into arguments point

each side

Use a bullet for each point

main point.

On the prongs note any

sum up/
elaboration. End
restate
Each pronged bullet gives you one paragraph (or section) in your writing.
 Elaborating a point
Make your point
clearly, in a sentence. elaboration

reasons/arguments

point
examples to
back up the case e.g.
background detail For example...
or explanation For instance...
necessary to make This is obvious in
the case the case of...
Persuasion language features
present tense verbs ...because _________
(except in historical arguments)
____.Consequently,...
___.This results in...
persuasive devices
The reason that____ is
that...
the language of argument

There are three major

structural signposts to arguments...
your main points.
The second important
point is...
Persuasion language features
* emotive language * rhetorical questions
e.g. strong adjectives e.g. Are we expected
to...?
* deliberate ambiguity How will...?
e.g. probably the best, * turning opinion into truth
perhaps, maybe e.g. The fact is...
The real truth is...
* dare you disagree!
e.g. Clearly,...
Surely,... Obviously,...
Everyone knows that...
FACT or
OPINION?
 Alternative skeleton
note-taking frameworks
* spidergram

* point + evidence chart

* point + persuasive
language chart
 Example of
skeletons
in use
Taken from How to teach Writing Across the
Curriculum by Sue Palmer, with many thanks to David
Fulton Publishers
Time to give Mary the chop
Last week it was proved beyond any shadow of
doubt that Mary Stewart, the former Queen
of Scots, has been plotting yet again against
the life of our dear queen , Elizabeth. It is
clearly difficult for our beloved monarch to
consent to her own cousins death, but after
nineteen years of threat and betrayal, surely
the time has come to sign Marys death
warrant?
The foolish Queen of Scots was long ago
rejected by her own countrymen. During her
brief but turbulent reign, Scotland suffered
religious unrest, lack of leadership and
eventually a bloody civil war. As a result, the
Scottish people took away her crown and
threw her into prison. When she escaped and
fled to England, all Scotland sighed with relief
to be rid of her!
Since then Mary has lived under Queen
Elizabeths generous protection and at the
expense of English taxpayers in comfortable
English country houses. She has given nothing in
return. On the contrary, she has taken every
possible opportunity to plot against Elizabeths
life! Surely such a betrayal cannot be tolerated
any longer?
Moreover, as long as Mary lives, there will be
plots. This woman has always claimed to be the
rightful Queen of England, and she has always
had the support of the King of Spain, who knows
he can make her his puppet. Could any true
Englishman want to exchange our wise, generous
Elizabeth for this vain selfish woman? Could
anyone want our free, prosperous country to fall
under the control of the power-crazed King of
Spain?
Its hard for Elizabeth to sign the document
that sends her own flesh and blood to the block.
Yet sign it she must for herself, for justice,
and for the future of England.
From The Tudor Times, 1587
Skeleton
 thrown out of Scotland
Mary is

*
religious probs, war
trouble forced to abdicate, imprisoned

given home, paid for

she has

*
not paid back
betrayed
us constantly plotting

claims the crown. Supported by

if plots succeed Phillip II
Spain takes over
* would be Ps puppet

England falls to Spain

Text
The End