Persuasive writing is a sub-category of formal writing that dwells on students’ perspectives on particular matters. Writers use it to take a stance on an opinion or issue, convincing the readers to agree with the specific opinion or idea. Have you ever used a grade calculator? Persuasive writing provides logical arguments together with an emotional appeal to sway readers to a specific point of view. These writing pieces appear in different forms of marketing. Advertisements, brochures, editorials, and reviews are some common examples of writing pieces that use persuasive writing. It helps improve writers’ overall ability, teaching them how to utilize research and facts in an expressive yet concise way.
A writer may utilize the following techniques to improve persuasive writing skills.
Picking the right topic: Writers will do their best persuading when it’s something they truly believe in. Have you ever used a high school GPA calculator? If writers have the option to choose a topic, they should choose one that appeals to their own sensibilities.
Knowing the audience: If writers want to convince the readers to believe and agree with them, they should know who they’re talking to. For instance, if one is writing a persuasive letter regarding why standardized testing should be eliminated from school systems, the audience will likely be parents.
Capturing the reader’s attention: Persuasive writers should present their opinion using a declarative statement that clearly states their point of view. Starting with research findings, facts, or any other evidence that explicitly mentions information supportive of the writing will immediately clue the readers in regarding what the writing will be about, what the writer’s position is, and if they’re interested enough to continue reading to see if they’ll be on the writer’s side.
Researching both sides: To convince the readers to agree with them, writers need to know what they’re trying to get the readers to disagree with. The audience might be fully stuck in their ways, so understanding both sides of the argument and how to efficiently counter the opposition will assuage follow-up questions readers might have that can cast doubt on the writer’s position.
Emphasizing the writer’s point: The use of exaggeration to express exclusivity, urgency, or to make a point is another effective persuasion technique. Writers can use hyperbolic statements to convey an impactful image.
Concluding Thoughts
Persuasive writing is created to serve a specific purpose – to convince the reader to agree with the writer on a particular topic. The writer’s extensive knowledge of both sides of the argument serves as a powerful tool in capturing the audience’s attention. By using exaggeration as a persuasion technique, emotive language, empathic delivery and supporting evidence, the writer is able to tap into the reader’s sensibilities, guiding them towards the same conclusion. Persuasive writing is niche-sensitive, and requires that the author carefully consider the topic and the audience. At its core, persuasive writing is like a beacon, drawing the reader’s attention towards a particular conclusion. I have to admit that out of all of the styles of writing, persuasive writing is my favorite
