Persuasive Language

Persuasive Language

Read and Respond

Argument

When you argue, you are giving reasons for or against something. You might make an argument in school for a paper or presentation. Or you could make an argument at home when you're talking with friends and family. You're much more likely to make a strong point with your argument if you prepare. You will also make a strong point if you provide a lot of solid evidence to back up, or support, your claim.

COUNTERCLAIM

Smiling can be a great strategy to use when presenting an argument in person. In writing, there are other strategies you can use to be persuasive. You can use facts to support your claims. You can anticipate a counterclaim. This means you can imagine what someone may argue against your claim and then write about those concerns.

EMOTIONAL APPEAL

When you are trying to persuade someone, appeal to your listener. Make your argument about the other person and not just about yourself. For example, if you’re selling lemonade, saying, “Buy my lemonade because I’m awesome” is not a strong argument. Instead, give the other person examples of why buying your lemonade will benefit them. “It’s a hot day, and you won’t be thirsty if you drink my lemonade!” is an argument that appeals to the listener. (PATHOS)

REASONS - BE SPECIFIC

Weak arguments might be very general instead of being specific. If Elsie had said that the camping trip would be “fun,” she would not have been as convincing. Instead, she is specific about why the trip would be fun for her.

Questions

LET'S REVIEW WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT PERSUASIVE LANGUAGE

Multiple Choice

People use persuasive language to ________.

• teach someone how to do something

• convince someone to act or agree

• encourage someone who's feeling down

• paint a picture with words

Multiple Choice

After reading a strong persuasive message, a person would most likely ________.

• learn how to do something

• feel happy

• agree with the message

• start to cry

Multiple Choice

Which of the following would be the strongest argument to persuade you to buy a new video game:

• The video game is expensive.

• The video game is almost as fun as the ones you have.

• The video game has OK graphics.

• The video game won an award for Game of the Year.

Multiple Choice

A salesperson uses persuasion to make you ________.

• buy a product

• do research

• learn how to do something

• feel happy

Multiple Choice

The goal of an argument is to ________.

• entertain someone with a good story

• learn something

• get someone to see your point of view

• sound smart

Multiple Choice

Read the passage below. What is the child trying to do?

Hey mom, I really think we should make my bedtime half an hour later. Everyone in my class goes to sleep later than I do. I don't think I need as much sleep as I used to. Each night I lay awake for a long time before I go to sleep.

• give reasons to support his argument

• entertain his mother

• teach his mother how to do something

• get to sleep before his mother

Multiple Choice

Which of these statements would be the weakest argument to persuade your parents to let you see a movie:

• You saved up your allowance so you could buy the ticket for yourself.

• You have a ride to and from the movie theater with a friend's parent.

• It's not a school night.

• The movie is a little violent.

Multiple Choice

Ismael wants to go on vacation with his friend's family.

What's the best way he can persuade his parents to say yes?

• He can tell them that he will be sad and stay in bed if he can't go.

• He can explain that the vacation will be educational and safe.

• He can say that he'll hate his parents if they don't let him go.

• He can ask them for the money that he needs for the trip.

Multiple Choice

Karla is giving a speech about why students should have class pets.

What should she do to persuade her audience?

• keep repeating the same thing until everyone agrees

• tell her audience that she's a really good student, so they should agree with her

• give specific examples of pets that are clean and easy to take care of

• tell her audience the story of how her cat died

Multiple Choice

Read the statements below. What is the statement in bold?

Dad, I want to start a babysitting business. It will teach me to be responsible. I can babysit after school and get paid. I promise to get my homework done, too.

• a point of view

• a disagreement

• a reason

• a conclusion