The Art of Persuasion

• Introduction
• Task
• Process
• Evaluation
• Conclusion
• Credits


• Teacher Page

Process

Step #1

1. Read and complete the following role-play activity with a classmate :                 

Two ways to try to get a Computer.

2. Print this Persuasive Vocabulary Worksheet and use it to take notes on this presentation.  Use your notes to answer the questions below.

3. Open a new Microsoft Word document.  Copy and paste the following title and questions (A-E) into the document:

Answer each of the questions in full sentences.  Be sure to RSQ (Restate the question).  Proofread and spell check your answers; then print your work. Be sure your paper has a proper heading!

** Before moving on to Process 2, be sure that you have completed each of the above steps, in order, and have print-outs of your work.

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Step 2

Examples of persuasive writing can be found almost everywhere we look.  T.V. commercials, newspaper and web advertisements, radio commercials and even cereal boxes all use persuasion in an attempt to convince the viewer that their product or point-of-view is better than the competitor's.

1.  Find two examples of persuasion or persuasive writing in your world.

2.  Write a brief summary of the position being expressed by the advertiser.  Then explain which persuasive strategies (remember the PowerPoint presentation?) are being used.  Be sure to type your summaries.

For example: I recently saw a T.V. commercial asking for donations for sick and underprivileged children in Africa.  It was a very effective example of persuasion because it used many persuasive strategies in one short, 30-second clip.  By using statistics of the number of children who die each day from malnutrition, the advertiser was using the "Logos" strategy.  The "Pathos" strategy was evident through the heart-wrenching pictures of sick and malnourished children that flashed across the screen.  A sense of urgency was created with the use of additional facts that stated that many of these children would die during the next few months unless something was done for them immediately.  This was an example of the "Kairos" strategy.

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Step 3

What is Op-ed? 

"Op-ed", short for Opinion Editorial, is a newspaper or periodical article that expresses the opinions of the person who wrote the it.  In an Op-ed, the author uses persuasive writing to try to convince readers that he or she has the correct idea about a particular topic. This is similar to the way the child in our role-play scenarios from "Process One" used persuasive words to convince a parent to purchase a new computer. 

First, go to the Daily Op-Ed website. Browse around to find articles that you would like to read. You can browse the editorials by title or use the search bar to find articles on a specific topic of interest to you.  ** Please be aware that the articles on Dailyop-ed.com are pulled from newspapers across the country and are therefore representative of issues that affect people from all regions and all walks of life.  I have no way of controlling the topics that are listed on this website.  It is up to you to choose a topic that is appropriate for evaluation in a school setting.  If you would like to focus on local issues you may choose an opinion article of your local, community newspaper.

1.  Find two articles with topics of interest to you. Choose one article that expresses an opinion with which you agree and one article that expresses an opinion with which you disagree.  Print each article. 

2.  Read the articles.

3.  Write an analysis for each of the opinion essays.  (You will probably need to re-read the article in order to complete your analysis.) Your analysis must be typed and include the following information:  

-- The name of the article

-- The author of the article and the source/publication from which it came.

-- The main idea (thesis statement) of the article. You may quote the thesis (use quotation marks) or summarize the thesis idea. 

-- Three main points made in the argument.

-- Three supporting details used for each of the main arguments. 

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Step 4

1. Use this Persuasion Map to plan an essay in which you disagree with one of the articles you summarized in Step 3.

2. Print out your Persuasion Map results. You will be using the Persuasion Map to write your essay and you will be handing it in as part of your portfolio. 

3. Now that you have your essay mapped out, it's time to write!  Your essay must be five or more paragraphs long and must contain an introductory paragraph, at least three body paragaphs, and a concluding paragraph. Be sure to use an introduction strategy, persuasion strategies that you learned through the webquest, and a conclusion strategy.  Don't forget to elaborate!  As you write, ask yourself these important questions:

--  Did  I state my position clearly?

--  Did I support my position with at least 3 reasons?

--  Are each of my 3 reasons supported with 2 - 3 facts or examples?

** Remember, you may need to do some research to dig up facts and statistics to support your position.

4. Your essay must be typed and must follow the guidelines for typed assignments.  Don't forget to give your essay an appropriate title.

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  Your Final Portfolio

 Your final Webquest porfolio should include:

--  Notes on the PowerPoint presentation on "Persuasive Writing"

--  "Two Ways to Try to Get a Computer" questions

-- Typed analysis of two examples of persuasive advertising

--  Two Op-ed articles

--  Typed analysis of two Op-ed articles

--  Your persuasive writing map

--  Persuasive writing essay in which you defend a position opposite to the one presented in one of your Op-ed articles.