Persuasive Writing
Introduction
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Let's take a look at the key elements of Persuasive writing:
Goal: The goal of persuasive writing is to persuade, convince, or urge the reader to agree with the author’s opinion.
How: In addition to the writer’s opinion, supporting evidence is also provided to win the reader over to the writer’s side. The reader is often asked to perform an action or change their way of thinking.
Where: You can find persuasive writing in newspaper and magazine editorials or opinion pieces, print and digital advertising, and social media.
Watch
Video transcript
[Theme music]
do you know what it means to persuade
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you may have tried to persuade a friend
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to join a team or a family member to buy
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you a toy to persuade is to cause
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someone to do or believe something
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businesses male persuasive
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advertisements to get customers to shop
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in their stores and buy their products a
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school might send home letters to
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persuade students and their families to
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participate in fundraisers like a car
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wash or bake sale all persuasive texts
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try to convince the reader of something
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to try to convince the reader of
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something the author of a persuasive
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text can state an opinion give reasons
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to support their opinion use strong
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adjectives and use words that trigger
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emotions listen carefully to this
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example of a persuasive text try to
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identify the opinion and the reasons
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that support the opinion dogs rule
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written by Luke see dogs are the
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greatest pets ever there is really no
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denying it goldfish hamsters and cats do
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not compare what makes dogs so great you
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might ask
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that's easy they are affectionate smart
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and easy to care for if you have a tough
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day at school what do you want to come
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home to do you want to come home to a
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cat that just looks at you bored until
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you feed it no way how about coming home
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to a loving dog instead if you are sad a
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good dog will comfort you right away
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a dog will jump up on your lap and lick
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your face until you can't help but smile
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dogs are also super smart they can play
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fun games like fetch this also means
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that they are easy to train you can
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teach your dog to use the bathroom
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outside most dogs learn this pretty fast
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and don't forget it
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you can also teach a dog tricks with
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some patience and a couple treats you
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can train your dog to put on a show it's
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Flast dogs are easy to take care of as
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long as you feed them love them and
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train them caring for a dog is a breeze
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you don't have to worry about cleaning
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out
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dirty litter box or fishbowl if you are
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thinking about getting a new pet you
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should choose a dog after all they are
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man's best friend
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[Music]
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the title and first sentence give the
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author's opinion remember that a
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persuasive text should include reasons
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to support opinions the author provided
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reasons why dogs are the greatest pets
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ever according to the author dogs are
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affectionate smart and easy to care for
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the next paragraph adds details that
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make the reasons more convincing seeing
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that dogs are loving that they comfort
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you right away when you are sad and that
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they make you smile explains how dogs
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are affectionate this paragraph explains
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how dogs are smart according to the
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author dogs can play fun games are easy
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to train and use the bathroom outside
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you can teach a dog tricks and train it
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to put on a show the details provided in
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this paragraph describe how dogs are
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easy to care for you don't have to clean
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a litter box or a fishbowl when your pet
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is a dog
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many persuasive texts tell the reader to
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think do or believe something this one
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ends by telling the reader if you are
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thinking about getting a new pet you
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should choose a dog remember that
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persuasive text also includes strong
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adjectives dogs rule includes the words
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greatest affectionate smart loving easy
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and best persuasive text also use words
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that trigger emotions bored loving
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comfort smile fun and worry described
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feelings to which the reader might
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relate did dogs rule convince you that
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dogs make the best pets if you have
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another opinion what reasons would you
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give to convince others to agree with
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you try using reasons strong adjectives
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in words that trigger emotions the next
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time you want to persuade someone of
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something
Key Ideas
Key Features:
- It is full of opinions and beliefs.
- It is sometimes emotional. An author might use outrage, sadness, or joy to spark readers' attention.
- It is supported. Good persuasive writing supports opinions with facts, evidence, and explanation.
- It is influential. It often provokes some sort of response in readers -- positive or negative.
When developing or recognizing a persuasive argument, use the "OREO" method to help you:
Example
Source: Jesse Hall and Flowers, University of Missouri-Columbia https://gardens.missouri.edu/
Apply
Directions: Using the example above, match the element of persuasive writing to the portion of text.