Writing Persuasively

1. Writing Persuasively how to structure persuasive writing

2. Purpose? The primary purpose of persuasive writing is to give an opinion and try to influence the reader’s way of thinking with supportive reasoning (facts, examples, statistics, analogies, expert opinion) Claim • Reason • Reason • Reason

3. Audience? Audience is dependent upon your intended purpose. Always keep the audience in mind as it will help you determine which persuasive techniques to use. • Teens • Elderly • Professionals more emotional, pathos set ethics and values, ethos more logical, logos

4. Content? Once you know and understand the issue it is important to determine the best and most persuasive pieces of evidence to use in your essay. Also consider what evidence someone of a different opinion may use so you can counter their argument. • Take notes • List your sources (www.easybib.com) • Organize notes (for and against) • Incorporate the information (what transitions can you use?)

5. Structure-Intro? The introduction needs to introduce the issue, clearly state your position on the issue, and provide a hint at the reasons for your position. Ways to introduce the issue: • Definition • Analogy • Anecdote • Explanation

6. Structure-Intro? The story of Lincoln High School is a familiar one; an inner city school surrounded by an impoverished community, attended predominantly by students of color who receive proficient standardized test scores, competitive grade point averages, and college admittance at significantly lower rates than their more affluent and more white peers. This gap in achievement exists in schools like Lincoln through out the nation. When Lincoln was rebuilt and reopened in 2007 it was anticipated to be a renaissance of academics for a community that had for so long been ignored, a new chapter in the story. It has been anything but. The achievement gap persists at Lincoln because the inequities persist in the lives of Lincoln students. The only way to close the gap for these students is to eliminate the violence and depression in the community they live in.

7. Structure-Body? The body paragraphs need to provide the reader with clear reasons, factual evidence, and an explanation, all in support of your claim. Ways to provide evidence: • Facts • Examples • Analogies • Statistics • Expert Opinion

8. Structure-Body? Lincoln High School is located less than one block from the intersection of Imperial Avenue and Euclid Avenue, an intersection locally known as, “The Four Corners of Death.” As the name suggests violence is prevalent in the surrounding community in the form of gang rivalry, crime related to drug and alcohol abuse, and household disorder. Violence is so prevalent in fact that when solicited for their wish list for the new Lincoln High, the first and most noted response was safety. Not access to rigorous curriculum, not the hiring of highly qualified teachers, but safety. When students have to walk through rival gang territory to and from school, when they leave home in the morning to arguments over money and when they return home to drunken rage, homework is the last thing on their mind. In order for that same student to focus their attentions and efforts on academic endeavors, their basic need of safety must be met first.

9. Structure-Conclusion? The conclusion needs to acknowledge a significant counter argument, refute that counter argument explaining why it is wrong, and then offer another alternative or idea. Ways to refute a counter argument: • It could be argued…but • It is believed…however • It could be argued…yet

10. Structure-Conclusion? It goes without saying that the school has some responsibility in bridging the achievement gap. A teacher must have a progressive skill set in order to encourage students to achieve high expectations. A teacher must to actively develop relationships with students in order to determine interests, ability level, and learning styles. Nevertheless, if everything a teacher must build in the classroom is destroyed by the fears and anxieties outside the classroom than nothing is achieved. The only way to truly change the academic success of underachieving students is to make their academic success the priority, a difficult task when safety and physical health are on the priority list as well.

11. Style? Rhetoric Device • Repetition • Parallelism • Analogy • The story of Lincoln High School is a familiar one; an inner city school surrounded by an impoverished community, attended predominantly by students of color… Persuasive Technique • Association • Pathos • Ethos • Logos • …intersection locally known as, “The Four Corners of Death.”