Persuasive writing

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Persuasive writing is a set of written arguments to convince, motivate, or move readers into a particular point of view or opinion on your topic. This argument is typically presented with reasoned opinions backed and explained by evidence that supports the thesis. [1] [2] A wide variety of writings, such as criticisms, reviews, reaction papers, editorials, proposals, advertisements, and brochures, utilize different persuasion techniques to influence readers. In some forms of persuasive writing, especially in formal and academic works, the knowledge of both sides of the argument, one in favor and one against is essential to distinguish and minimize the significance of the counterargument to convince the audience. [1] [3]

Contents

When researching to support a thesis, it is important to anticipate potential objections or disagreements from thoughtful readers. Including a counterargument allows the writer to address these objections directly and explain why they are less convincing or compelling than the main argument. [2]

Structure of Persuasive Writing

Effective persuasive writing requires a clear and organized structure to present arguments convincingly. Common components of this structure are:

  1. Introduction:
    • The introduction typically starts with a hook to grab the reader's attention, followed by background information to set the context. For instance, beginning with a surprising statistic can effectively engage the reader. [4]
    • The thesis statement, usually at the end of the introduction, should clearly articulate the writer's position on the topic. This statement serves as a roadmap for the reader, indicating what to expect in the following paragraphs. [3]
  2. Body Paragraphs:
    • Each body paragraph should focus on a single main idea that supports the thesis. Writers should start each paragraph with a topic sentence that outlines the paragraph's main point. [4] [3] For example, suppose the thesis is about the benefits of renewable energy. In that case, a topic sentence might state, "Investing in renewable energy sources not only reduces our carbon footprint but also creates jobs."
    • Supporting evidence is vital for strengthening the argument. This can include facts, statistics, examples, and expert opinions. For instance, referencing a study that shows the economic benefits of solar energy can provide solid backing for the argument. [5]
    • Addressing counterarguments has the ability to enhance the writer's credibility. This involves acknowledging opposing viewpoints and systematically refuting them. For example, if a counterargument states that renewable energy is too expensive, the writer could counter this by citing the declining costs of solar technology and its long-term savings. [3] Each counterargument can be presented in a separate paragraph or integrated within the main points to show a balanced perspective.
  3. Conclusion:
    • The conclusion summarizes the main arguments presented in the body paragraphs while reinforcing the thesis statement. It's important to restate the key points succinctly to remind the reader of the argument's strength. [4] [5] An example of a conclusion might reiterate, "The transition to renewable energy is not only necessary for environmental sustainability but also economically advantageous."
    • A strong conclusion may also include a call to action, urging the reader to take a specific step or consider the implications of the argument. For instance, encouraging readers to support local renewable energy initiatives can leave a lasting impact. [3] [5]

Elements of Persuasive Writing

Persuasive writing comes in different forms depending on its purpose and audience. Each elements is used to achieve specific goals, like convincing someone to agree with an idea, take action, or buy something. Below are some common persuasive writing practices:

Reflexivity

Reflexivity involves critical self-reflection on the biases and preferences of researchers, which is essential for ensuring the substantive contribution of qualitative research. [6] It requires an awareness of the lenses through which we interpret the word, including our circumstances and positions, and an understanding of how these shape our findings and narratives. [7] That narrative serves as a method of inquiry and a means of understanding diverse realities, enhancing the depth of research findings. Engaging narratives that address power dynamics invite readers to grapple with complex issues, challenging their assumptions, and fostering social dialogue. [6]

Imagination

Imagination involves envisioning things without being constrained by how they exist or are perceived. It enables one to explore possibilities and adopt perspectives different from one's own. [8] This creativity allows researchers to explore unconventional angles and uncover insights from unexpected contexts. Imagination is crucial when research encounters obstacles, enabling scholars to adapt methodologies and foster environments for discoveries. However, tension exists between imaginative research and the conventions of academic writing, as researchers may hesitate to adopt unconventional narratives for fear of not conforming to established norms. [6]

Craftsmanship

Craftsmanship refers to the skill and artistry involved in integrating research. It encompasses the thoughtful selection of methods, careful construction, and ethical considerations in research practices. Effective craftsmanship emphasizes attention to detail and narrative structure, enhancing clarity and engagement. [6]

Authenticity

Authenticity provides readers with richer and more realistic contexts to apply knowledge and practice skills. [9] It is paramount in the investigation part to remain true to the voices and experiences of their participants. This commitment to authenticity resonates more with readers and offers genuine insights into social realities. The challenge lies in balancing rhetorical strategies with authentic representation. By prioritizing authenticity, researchers can encourage meaningful engagement and reflection around the issues addressed in their work. [6]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Essay</span> Written work often reflecting the authors personal point of view

An essay is, generally, a piece of writing that gives the author's own argument, but the definition is vague, overlapping with those of a letter, a paper, an article, a pamphlet, and a short story. Essays have been sub-classified as formal and informal: formal essays are characterized by "serious purpose, dignity, logical organization, length," whereas the informal essay is characterized by "the personal element, humor, graceful style, rambling structure, unconventionality or novelty of theme," etc.

Non-fiction is any document or media content that attempts, in good faith, to convey information only about the real world, rather than being grounded in imagination. Non-fiction typically aims to present topics objectively based on historical, scientific, and empirical information. However, some non-fiction ranges into more subjective territory, including sincerely held opinions on real-world topics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Persuasion</span> Umbrella term of influence and mode of communication

Persuasion or persuasion arts is an umbrella term for influence. Persuasion can influence a person's beliefs, attitudes, intentions, motivations, or behaviours.

Appeal to emotion or argumentum ad passiones is an informal fallacy characterized by the manipulation of the recipient's emotions in order to win an argument, especially in the absence of factual evidence. This kind of appeal to emotion is irrelevant to or distracting from the facts of the argument and encompasses several logical fallacies, including appeal to consequences, appeal to fear, appeal to flattery, appeal to pity, appeal to ridicule, appeal to spite, and wishful thinking.

Pathos appeals to the emotions and ideals of the audience and elicits feelings that already reside in them. Pathos is a term most used often in rhetoric, as well as in literature, film and other narrative art.

<i>Inventio</i> Canon of rhetoric

Inventio, one of the five canons of rhetoric, is the method used for the discovery of arguments in Western rhetoric and comes from the Latin word, meaning "invention" or "discovery". Inventio is the central, indispensable canon of rhetoric, and traditionally means a systematic search for arguments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Progymnasmata</span> Exercises in rhetoric

Progymnasmata are a series of preliminary rhetorical exercises that began in ancient Greece and continued during the Roman Empire. These exercises were implemented by students of rhetoric, who began their schooling between ages twelve and fifteen. The purpose of these exercises was to prepare students for writing declamations after they had completed their education with the grammarians. There are only four surviving handbooks of progymnasmata, attributed to Aelius Theon, Hermogenes of Tarsus, Aphthonius of Antioch, and Nicolaus the Sophist.

Narrative paradigm is a communication theory conceptualized by 20th-century communication scholar Walter Fisher. The paradigm claims that all meaningful communication occurs via storytelling or reporting of events. Humans participate as storytellers and observers of narratives. This theory further claims that stories are more persuasive than arguments. Essentially the narrative paradigm helps us to explain how humans are able to understand complex information through narrative.

A thesis statement is a statement of one's core argument, the main idea(s), and/or a concise summary of an essay, research paper, etc. It is usually expressed in one or two sentences near the beginning of a paper, and may be reiterated elsewhere, such as in the conclusion. In some contexts, such as in the British educational system, a thesis statement is generally considered synonymous with one's argument.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Modes of persuasion</span> Strategies of rhetoric

The modes of persuasion, modes of appeal or rhetorical appeals are strategies of rhetoric that classify a speaker's or writer's appeal to their audience. These include ethos, pathos, and logos, all three of which appear in Aristotle's Rhetoric. Together with those three modes of persuasion, there is also a fourth term called Kairos, which is related to the “moment” that the speech is going to be held. This can greatly affect the speaker’s emotions, severely impacting his delivery. Another aspect defended by Aristotle is that a speaker must have wisdom, virtue, and goodwill so he can better persuade his audience, also known as Ethos, Pathos, and Logos.

In expository writing, a topic sentence is a sentence that summarizes the main idea of a paragraph. It is usually the first sentence in a paragraph.

An annotated bibliography is a bibliography that gives a summary of each of the entries. The purpose of annotations is to provide the reader with a summary and an evaluation of each source. Each summary should be a concise exposition of the source's central idea(s) and give the reader a general idea of the source's content.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhetorical modes</span> Major types of writing and speaking

The rhetorical modes are a broad traditional classification of the major kinds of formal and academic writing by their rhetorical (persuasive) purpose: narration, description, exposition, and argumentation. First attempted by Samuel P. Newman in A Practical System of Rhetoric in 1827, the modes of discourse have long influenced US writing instruction and particularly the design of mass-market writing assessments, despite critiques of the explanatory power of these classifications for non-school writing.

The five-paragraph essay is a format of essay having five paragraphs: one introductory paragraph, three body paragraphs with support and development, and one concluding paragraph. Because of this structure, it is also known as a hamburger essay, one three one, or a three-tier essay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Feature story</span> Piece of non-fiction writing about news

A feature story is a piece of non-fiction writing about news covering a single topic in detail. A feature story is a type of soft news, news primarily focused on entertainment rather than a higher level of professionalism. The main subtypes are the news feature and the human-interest story.

Inoculation theory is a social psychological/communication theory that explains how an attitude or belief can be made resistant to persuasion or influence, in analogy to how a body gains resistance to disease. The theory uses medical inoculation as its explanatory analogy but instead of applying it to disease, it is used to discuss attitudes and other positions, like opinions, values, and beliefs. It has applicability to public campaigns targeting misinformation and fake news, but it is not limited to misinformation and fake news.

The Jane Schaffer method is a formula for essay writing that is taught in some U.S. middle schools and high schools. Developed by a San Diego teacher named Jane Schaffer, who started offering training and a 45-day curriculum in 1995, it is intended to help students who struggle with structuring essays by providing a framework. Originally developed for personal narratives and essays about literature, the curriculum now also covers expository and argument essays.

Narrative transportation theory proposes that when people lose themselves in a story, their attitudes and intentions change to reflect that story. The mental state of narrative transportation can explain the persuasive effect of stories on people, who may experience narrative transportation when certain contextual and personal preconditions are met, as Green and Brock postulate for the transportation-imagery model. As Van Laer, de Ruyter, Visconti, and Wetzels elaborate further, narrative transportation occurs whenever the story receiver experiences a feeling of entering a world evoked by the narrative because of empathy for the story characters and imagination of the story plot.

The heuristic-systematic model of information processing (HSM) is a widely recognized model by Shelly Chaiken that attempts to explain how people receive and process persuasive messages.

In social psychology, the Yale attitude change approach is the study of the conditions under which people are most likely to change their attitudes in response to persuasive messages. This approach to persuasive communications was first studied by Carl Hovland and his colleagues at Yale University during World War II. The basic model of this approach can be described as "who said what to whom": the source of the communication, the nature of the communication and the nature of the audience. According to this approach, many factors affect each component of a persuasive communication. The credibility and attractiveness of the communicator (source), the quality and sincerity of the message, and the attention, intelligence and age of the audience can influence an audience's attitude change with a persuasive communication. Independent variables include the source, message, medium and audience, with the dependent variable the effect of the persuasion.

References

  1. 1 2 Carrell, Patricia L.; Connor, Ulla (1991). "Reading and Writing Descriptive and Persuasive Texts". The Modern Language Journal. 75 (3): 314–324. doi:10.2307/328725. ISSN   0026-7902.
  2. 1 2 "Counterargument | Harvard College Writing Center". writingcenter.fas.harvard.edu. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 n.d, n.d. "Persuasive writing" (PDF). The Writing Center.
  4. 1 2 3 "Writing for success (Chapter 10.9: Persuasion)". University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing. 2015-10-27.
  5. 1 2 3 Polak, Adam. "Writing a Persuasive Essay" (PDF). Hamilton.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Jonsen, Karsten; Fendt, Jacqueline; Point, Sébastien (2018-01-01). "Convincing Qualitative Research: What Constitutes Persuasive Writing?". Organizational Research Methods. 21 (1): 30–67. doi:10.1177/1094428117706533. ISSN   1094-4281.
  7. ↑ Kaufman, Peter (2013-01-01). "Scribo Ergo Cogito: Reflexivity through Writing". Teaching Sociology. 41 (1): 70–81. doi:10.1177/0092055X12458679. ISSN   0092-055X.
  8. ↑ Liao, Shen-yi; Gendler, Tamar (2020), Zalta, Edward N. (ed.), "Imagination", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2020 ed.), Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University, retrieved 2024-12-10
  9. ↑ Petraglia, Joseph (2009-03-10). "The Importance of Being Authentic: Persuasion, Narration, and Dialogue in Health Communication and Education". Health Communication. doi:10.1080/10410230802676771. ISSN   1041-0236.
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