Persuasive Writing

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Persuasive Writing
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Persuasive Writing

• A work written in which a writer presents a case
  for or against a particular argument.
• Each logical argument, powerful image, or
  striking phrase in the text is like a step on a
  staircase.

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A persuasive writing has

• an issue with more than one side
•  a clear organization that builds toward a
  conclusion
• a clear statement of the writer's position
• evidence supporting the writer's position,
  including arguments, statistics, expert opinions,
  and personal observations
• powerful images and language

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Common types of persuasive writing

• Editorials are brief persuasive essays, intended
  for publication in a newspaper, magazine, or
  other medium, that state and defend an opinion on
  a current issue

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Common types of persuasive writing

• Political speeches are persuasive speeches
  intended to win support for a policy, law, or
  reform

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Common types of persuasive writing

• Public-service announcements are radio or
  television commercials written to persuade and
  educate the public

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• Your mission is to create a Public Service
  Announcement (PSA) using Photo story.

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• PSAs came into being with the entry of the United
  States into World War II.
• Radio broadcasters and advertising agencies
  offered their skills toward the war effort and
  established the War Advertising Council.
• PSAs became the carriers of such messages as
  "Loose lips sink ships" and "Keep 'em
  Rolling."

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• Examples from the Ad Council
• "Smokey the Bear" was invented by the Ad Council
  to personify its "Only You Can Prevent Forest
  Fires" campaign
• "A Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Waste" raised
  millions for the United Negro College Fund
• the American Cancer Society's "Fight Cancer with
  a Checkup and a Check" raised public awareness as
  well as funds for research and patient services

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A PSA should

• be serious
• have a clear message
• be no longer than 30 seconds 
• have important information
• have accurate information
• give statistics (when appropriate, e.g. number of
  people that die because they were not wearing
  seatbelts)

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Example PSA Announcements

• Childhood Obesity Prevention watch Bullseye
  Grandpahttp//www.adcouncil.org/default.aspx?id4
  5
• Save Energy watch April Malcolmhttp//www.adc
  ouncil.org/default.aspx?id19
• Being Normalhttp//www.adobe.com/cfusion/ayv/inde
  x.cfm?eventdetailayvid403
• Parent Controlhttp//www.adobe.com/cfusion/ayv/in
  dex.cfm?eventdetailayvid301

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• Narrow your topic - make sure you can cover it
  thoroughly.
• Use "reporter's questions"
• -Who? What? Where? When? and How?

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Consider your audience

• Your purpose in writing a persuasive text is to
  convince readers of your opinion.
• Knowing your audience will help you find the
  evidence and language to best achieve this
  purpose.
• What do my readers know about the topic?
• What are their likely opinions or prejudices on
  the topic?
• What might concern them the most?

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Questions?