By Barbara Mariconda
Among the most difficult writing assignments a young author can face is the persuasive essay. Think about it – have you ever been able to persuade someone who holds a view that is diametrically opposed to your own to come around to see things your way? Were you ever involved in a heated conversation about a hot button topic – politics and religion come immediately to mind – and actually able to convince someone to change their point of view?
This is the difficulty authors face in crafting a successful persuasive essay.
Purpose and Challenge
The purpose of persuasive writing is to persuade or convince your audience to think as you do about an issue. To do this the author needs to have not only a solid organizational strategy, a number of powerful arguments, and plenty of information to support these arguments; the author needs to understand the art of persuasion – audience awareness, a thorough understanding of the opposing view, as well as a respect for the legitimate self interests of everyone affected by the issue. Like a member of a debate team or a skilled attorney, the persuasive writer needs to anticipate, respond to, and skillfully refute the opposing view, while addressing the concerns of all (appealing to the common interest). Clearly, when done well, this is a sophisticated genre that requires a high level of critical thinking.
When to Teach Persuasive Writing?
Because of the complexity of the genre, students need a solid foundation on which to build their persuasive writing skills. This can be challenging for districts that require some persuasive writing from their primary or middle grade students. With these younger students, teachers must generally lower the bar considerably, requiring the young writer to simply state the issue, their position, and to write a number of “reasons” they feel as they do.
In order to explore persuasive writing in a deeper way it makes sense to focus this instruction on more mature students who have extensive experience in expository writing. This foundation in expository writing is important because the organizational framework is so similar to that of the persuasive essay. Also, knowing how to elaborate and expand on the details of an expository piece is a pre-requisite for persuasion.
(For more on Expository Writing see: Expository Writing)
How Does Persuasive Writing Compare to Expository Writing?
When looking at student samples of persuasive writing one of the typical pitfalls is this: more often than not students simply state the issue, their position, and then give information about that position. If the nature of the information is compelling enough, their reader might alter their position. But, providing information about an issue or your position relative to that issue does not result in effective persuasive writing. In fact, based on author’s purpose, it relates more closely to expository writing, where the purpose is to simply give information.
The following chart shows, side by side, the ways that expository and persuasive writing differ as well as citing the similarities.
Introduction Paragraph – The introduction paragraph of a persuasive essay should begin with a lead and then state the issue to be considered. Most often students will state their position immediately. This can really be a detriment to the piece. Think of editorials you’ve read on divisive issues. If the writer holds the opposite view and states it strongly or in a way you find off-putting, what happens? You stop reading! Therefore it is always better to raise an issue in the introduction, but build and support your position it in the body of the piece.
The Body of the Piece – As in expository writing, each paragraph in the body should be dedicated to a main idea – in persuasive writing we call these main arguments. Supporting these main arguments requires more than solid elaboration skills. The author must acknowledge and refute the opposing view, anticipating what their arguments might be, must expand their concept of “audience” to include anyone with a vested or even a related interest who might be affected by the issue. Once this “extended audience” is identified, the skillful persuasive writer will explain“what’s in it” for each member of this audience.
For example, students might be writing their principal about a school sports issue. It is easy to assume that the audience is solely “the principal”. However, the principal would be more likely to agree with the writer’s point of view if the author spelled out how his/her position affected student athletes, parents, teachers, local business, younger siblings, board of ed members.
The effective persuasive writer must cleverly “show rather than tell” with a number of techniques. These include, but are not limited to quotes, statistics and anecdotes. Other techniques include selecting stronger language in regard to your position and weaker language in relation to the opposing view. Using connotation and inference also can be used to great advantage. Additionally, persuasive writers routinely use rhetorical questions, “bandwagon” examples, and will downplay the negative aspects of their position while emphasizing the positive. This kind of slanting or spinning should be backed up by powerful details without which persuasion can become propaganda.
It is so important, in the culture in which we live, that students learn these techniques, not only for ethical application in their own writing, but to become more savvy consumers of media information, news, and advertising which often uses these techniques of persuasion in questionable ways.
The Conclusion of a Persuasive essay is the author’s last chance to make an impact. Reiterating each argument in creative ways, and emphasizing the strongest argument is helpful. This is the place for a powerful call to action to leave the reader inspired and ready to take a stand in a practical way.
Why it’s Important
Whether it’s a college admission essay, a job application, a letter of complaint, or an editorial about an issue about which the author is passionate, being able to use language powerfully to communicate a particular point of view is so important. Teaching students how to do this truly empowers them to make an impact on the world in which they live.
For more information on the specifics of teaching persuasive writing, see the Empowering Writers Comprehensive Persuasive Writing Guide.
