Argumentative writing Used to convince the reader to believe the writers view point on a debatable issue Want to convince the reader to do something or believe something Persuasive Writing Must ID: 645030
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Slide1
What is Persuasive Writing?
Argumentative writing
Used to convince the reader to believe the writer’s view point on a debatable issue
Want to convince the reader to do something or believe somethingSlide2
Persuasive Writing Must…
Know both sides of an argument
Present both different sides then TAKE A STAND
Give evidence to back up your position
Offer more than one reason
Save the best argument for last
Tone is important for this type of writingSlide3
Where do we see it?
Essays
Debates
Informational writing
Articles
Court cases
Studies or investigations (science) Slide4
Where else do we see
p
ersuasive language?
Commercials
Documentaries
Political speeches
Protests and demonstrations
Interviews on the newsSlide5
Watch Severn Suzuki’s Speech
David Suzuki’s daughter at 12 years old
Spoke to the United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992
She and 3 classmates from Vancouver fundraised to attend the conference
Watch, try to pick out some reasons her speech is effective
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1I6ljzaY9k&index=4&list=PLYe9yW1cgGG1ifpSkv6K3ZzgDzmMQ-sg0
(5 min)Slide6
Using Rhetoric and Effective Speech Delivery
Adapted from
Dr
. Lisa
WatsonSlide7
Persuasive Appeals
“People buy on emotion and justify with facts”
-Bert Decker
Ethos
the credibility or character (ethic) of the speaker
Speaker’s own expertise, pedigree, objectivity, intelligence, etc.
The appeal to authority
Credibility of expert sources as support
Pathos
The emotional appeal
Striking an emotional chord with audience (e.g., empathy, indignation, etc.)
story telling, evocative examples, analogies, choice of language
Logos
The appeal to logic & listeners’ rational side
Statistics, facts and analogous examples (e.g., historical, literal) as supportSlide8
The 5 Canons of Rhetoric
Invention
: Developing and refining arguments
Consider your audience, evidence, types of appeal, order, format
Arrangement
: Organizing arguments for maximum impact
Introduction & establishing credibility, establishing context as necessary, constructive arguments, addressing weaknesses, memorable conclusion
Memory
: Not needing notes increases credibility
Leave your audience with something memorable
Build a treasury of quotes, facts & anecdotes to include in speeches
Style
: Using language to make people want to listen
correctness, clarity (simple, strong, short), vivid description, propriety
(context
), clever use (using double meanings, alliteration, metaphor, etc.)
Delivery
: Strategic choices around how to deliver a speech
body language, eye contact, enunciation, use of gestures, pausing, match pace to emotion, varying force, tone & inflection of voice, etc.Slide9
Rhetorical Devices: Structural
Epigraph
Quote set at the beginning of a work or section of a work to set a tone or suggest a theme
May also take the form of a rhetorical question or statement
Theme
Central or dominant idea or concern of a work
Your core message (e.g., impact, benefit, paradigm shift)
Foreshadowing
Hinting at or presenting things to come in a story
Various forms of the recommendation first approach
Juxtaposition
Placing two items side by side for effectSlide10
Rhetorical Devices: Linguistic
Anaphora
regular repetition of the same word of phrase at the beginning of successive sentences or clauses
e.g., We are thorough. We are driven. We are right.
Alliteration
repetition of same initial consonant (or any vowel) in proximal words
e.g., this solution is practical, principled and profitable
Asyndeton
removing conjunctions (often replaced with pauses)
This man was negligent, thoughtless, unethical.
Parallel structure
Using syntactically similar grammatical structure
e.g., “I once was lost, but now I’m found”, the costs far outweigh the benefitsSlide11
Rhetorical Devices: Substantive
Analogy
A comparison of two different things to make a point about their similarity (can include metaphor and simile)
Used to communicate new, complex or controversial ideas
e.g., business and war, “band-aid” solutions, throwing a monkey wrench in the system
Personification/animism
Giving something inanimate human or
animal
characteristics
e.g., numbers don’t lie, profits will soar
Axiom
Statement that is regarded as true or self evident
e.g., “He who fails to plan, plans to
fail”
Aphorism
Short memorable philosophical statements designed to illustrate a commonly held belief
e.g., “Hire slowly, fire quickly”, “A business that makes nothing but money is a poor kind of business”
Adage: an aphorism that has gained credibility through longevity
e.g., “Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched
”Slide12
Vocabulary & Phrasing Examples
Maintain an appropriate level of formality to be taken seriously
You or your firm instead of you guys
Enunciate clearly and finish all words
Going to instead of
gonna
Use
strong language
Recommend, demonstrate and prove instead of feel
Will do instead of
kinda
, maybe,
sorta
, like
Use active voice
Somebody killed him instead of he was killedSlide13
Analyze Severn Suzuki’s Speech
We’ll watch it one more time
How does she use Ethos, Pathos, and Logos?
Pick out some examples of rhetorical devices
Structural
Linguistic
Substantive
Then you’ll work in your groups to fill out the analysis worksheet, using a transcript of the speech
Find specific examplesSlide14Slide15
Passion & Conviction
Show conviction in everything you say, even if you don’t believe it
It has to sound like you prepared your own speech and are speaking straight from the heart
Makes you memorable
What is going to make judges remember what you had to say instead of your competitors?Slide16
Style & Delivery Reminders
Vocabulary
Short, simple, strong
Correct, clear, clever
Vividness
Voice modulation
Gestures
Develop a rapport with the audience
Eye contact,
humour
, etc.Slide17
Use of Voice
Modulation (volume and pitch)
project without yelling
use inflection or tone to emphasize key points
The poignant pause
Not just to gather thoughts, but to drive points home
Pace
persuasive speeches generally average about 150 words per minute (25 words per 10 seconds)
more sounds glib, less sound preachy
Slow down to make serious, controversial, or complex points
Speed up slightly to inspire and incite emotional response
Knowing how to combine all of these techniques for full emotional impact is an art form
Variance is necessary, but it really has to be the right typeSlide18
Gestures & Body Language
Stance
Don’t cross anything (including legs) when speaking
Posture
Generally stand tall with head up
Can slouch (deflate) to make a point
Eye contact
This may mean getting very good at looking at tops of heads
Gestures
Hand gestures to reinforce key points
Inclination or shaking of head
Active use versus nervous ticks
Facial Expressions
turn a plain speech into an emotional and convincing one
confusion, disappointment, enthusiasm, conviction, etc.Slide19
Presidential Debate Speeches
Persuasive techniques in action
First presidential debate 2012