Writing Composition: Effective Persuasion - Developing Persuasive Documents

Contributed by:
Ivan
Learning how to develop pieces of writing with the intent to convince or persuade readers to embrace the point-of-view presented by the author by appealing to their reason and personal understanding

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Developing Persuasive Documents

Purdue OWL staff
Brought to you in cooperation with the Purdue Online Writing Lab
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This presentation will cover:
"The persuasive context.
"The role of the audience.
"What to research and cite.
"How to establish your credibility.
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4. You encounter persua
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5. = Understand your audience.
= Support your opinion.
= Know the various sides of your issue.
" Respectfully address other points of view.
.o . .
6. 1. Your organization needs funding for a project.
2. Your boss wants you to make
recommendations for a course of action.
3 if , int of
7. Who is your audience?
What beliefs do they hold about the topic?
your audience?
_ How can you refute counterarguments with
8. What concerns does your audience face?
For example:
"Do they have limited funds to distribute?
"How much time do they have to consider your
9. Help your audience relate to your topic.
Appeal to their hearts as well as their minds.
"Use anecdotes when appropriate
"Paint your topic in with plenty of detail
"Involve the reader’s senses in these sections
10. Become familiar with all! sides of an issue.
You can try to:
"Find common ground.
"Understand the history of the topic.
"Predict counterarguments your audience might
"Find strong support for your own perspective.
11. Find common ground with your audience.
For example:
Point of Opposition: You might support a
war, whereas your audience might not.
Common ground: Both sides want to see
their troops come home.
12. Predict counterarguments.
For example:
Your Argument: Organic produce from local

13. Appeal to the audience’s ae
"Use statistics and reputable
studies. i"
Cite experts on the topic: :
"Do they back up what you ;
14. Which source would a reader find more
"The New York Times
Which person would a reader be more likely
to believe?
"Joe Smith from Fort Wayne, IN.
"Dr. Susan Worth, Prof. of Criminology at Purdue
15. Cite credible sources
Cite sources correctly and thoroughly.
Use professional language (and design).
Edit out all errors.
Cummings, J. N., Butler, B., & Kraut, R. (2002). The quality of online social
relationships. Communications of the ACM, 45(7), 103-108.
Hu, Y., Wood, J.

., Smith, V., & Westbrook, N. (2004). Friendships through IM:
Examining the relationship between instant messaging and intimacy. Journal of
Computer-Mediated Communication, 10, 38-48.
16. Don’t misrepresent a quote or leave out important
Misquote: “Crime rates were down by 2002,”
according to Dr. Smith.
Actual quote: “Crime rates were down by
2002, but steadily began climbing again a year
later,” said Dr. Smith.
17. * Don’t lecture or talk down to




* Don’t make threats or “bully”
your reader.
person, “you.”
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Purdue University Writing Lab, Heavilon 226
Check our web site: http://owl.english.purdue.edu
Email brief questions to OWL Mail:
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EFFECTIVE PERSUASION
DANA BISIGNANI
Brought to you in cooperation with the Purdue Online Writing Lab