Exploring persuasive writing
When you persuade someone in your writing, your aim is to get them to agree with your point of view.
When you are writing to persuade people, it’s important to say why the reader should agree with you. You need to give your reasons, otherwise your reader may not believe you!
A good way to make your writing more persuasive is to think of the following:
**P**ersonal - keep your writing friendly.
**E**motive - use words that make your reader have strong feelings.
**R**hetorical questions - to make your reader stop and think.
**S**ay it again - repeat your message!
**U**ndermine - mention different opinions to yours and say why they are wrong.
**A**necdote - a short, funny real-life story to make your reader feel they know you.
**D**irect - use the words you and your to make your reader feel special.
**E**xaggeration – make a big deal of what you say!
Top tip!
- Rhetorical questions don’t need an answer, but are great for grabbing a reader’s attention. Saying things like ‘Isn’t that amazing?’ or ‘Why would you not want to buy this?’ can be very effective when you’re trying to persuade someone.
YOUR TASK: here
Student Checklist
Persuasive Letter: Recommend Skellig
Name: ___________________________
Class: ___________________________
Date: ___________________________
Before handing in your letter, check your work carefully.
| I have… | Yes | Not yet |
|---|---|---|
| Written my letter with the correct layout: date, greeting, paragraphs, closing and name. | ☐ | ☐ |
| Started with a clear purpose: I explain that I am recommending Skellig. | ☐ | ☐ |
| Mentioned the title of the book and the author, David Almond. | ☐ | ☐ |
| Included a brief summary of the story without giving away too much. | ☐ | ☐ |
| Explained why I am qualified to recommend the book. | ☐ | ☐ |
| Described my favourite part of the book. | ☐ | ☐ |
| Included at least one quotation from the book. | ☐ | ☐ |
| Written about the characters and explained why students may connect with them. | ☐ | ☐ |
| Included some information about David Almond and/or his success as a writer. | ☐ | ☐ |
| Used persuasive language to convince the Headteacher. | ☐ | ☐ |
| Used at least two PERSUADE techniques. | ☐ | ☐ |
| Used formal and polite language. | ☐ | ☐ |
| Finished with a strong final recommendation. | ☐ | ☐ |
| Checked spelling, punctuation and capital letters. | ☐ | ☐ |
| Checked that my paragraphs are clear and organised. | ☐ | ☐ |
PERSUADE Techniques Check
Tick the ones you have used:
| Technique | I used it |
|---|---|
| P – Personal: I sound friendly and genuine. | ☐ |
| E – Emotive: I used words that create feelings. | ☐ |
| R – Rhetorical question: I included a question that makes the reader think. | ☐ |
| S – Say it again: I repeated my main message. | ☐ |
| U – Undermine: I mentioned another opinion and explained why mine is stronger. | ☐ |
| A – Anecdote: I included a short personal comment or experience. | ☐ |
| D – Direct: I used you or your to speak to the reader. | ☐ |
| E – Exaggeration: I made my recommendation sound important and memorable. | ☐ |
Final reflection
The strongest part of my letter is:
One thing I improved before handing it in was:
One persuasive sentence I am proud of is:
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