Higher Persuasive- Folio 1 including linking and structure workshop notes

The Difference
Discursive: In a discursive essay you are expected to be neutral, objective and explore all sides. You are giving an overview of the argument, with evidence and will then weigh the arguments against each other.

Persuasive: In a persuasive essay you are expected to persuade your reader to take your side on an argument. You must still show the argument of the other side but you should constantly refute it!

To gain the highest grades, your writing should be stylish and have a clear 'voice' and tone. Use the grade 1 and 2 exemplar essays given to you, and the newspaper articles you have analysed,  as examples of how to do this.

Persuasive Introductions:
 You need to explain why your topic is important, indeed why you are arguing, and you should try to summarise a few main points or give an overview of the topic. It is up to you as to whether you make your point of view clear in your intro or whether you use rhetorical devices to make your reader think about the topic before you begin to persuade them. Make it interesting and catchy to draw your reader in- create a hook.

Hints:
  • NEVER WRITE ‘THIS ESSAY WILL BE ABOUT OR I AM GOING TO DISCUSS/WRITE ABOUT!’

  • Use as many persuasive techniques as possible

  •    You need to back up your points with evidence but you can bend this evidence. i.e. 52% becomes ‘over half’ or ‘the majority’.

 NOTES


•For a reader to understand your essay, it is important to ensure that your essay or speech has a logical progression of events: we want to avoid a style that simply lists unrelated points.

•However, logical progression has to be signalled for the reader. We do this by linking.
A link in a chain or a link between two points, like a bridge over a river, always does two things.
•It links two things by touching one of them at a one point and touching the other at a different point.
• Links work exactly the same way in writing.

Use the sheet of linking words and phrases to help you, but make sure you use them in the correct context!

Try to structure your essay so that it is climatic i.e. leave your strongest points till the end of your main body- that way your essay will have more oomph!


Try to be clever and creative in your writing. Can you use some imagery to really connect with your audience? Extended metaphors (metaphors that are continued/referred to several times throughout a piece of writing) can be extremely powerfull. 

Make sure your line of thought is consistent and clear. Read your essay outloud to yourself- does it make sense, is your line of argument powerful, does everything link together and flow naturally? Have you thought about opposing arguments and refuted them? Have you thought all of your arguments and points through and provided evidence to back them up!! Make sure you do not make sweeping remarks and generalisations- you need proof to be believable! 

LINKING & STRUCTURE WORKSHOP NOTES

An essay is a well researched and logically structured answer to a particular question, usually presented as an argument- in this case it is a question that you have posed yourself and which allows you to argue your side of the argument.

An essay must always be presented in the form of a series of main points which support your direct answer to the question. Each of these points is addressed in a separate paragraph and is supported with evidence, explanation and/or examples. The argument presented in an essay should be supported by referencing authorities in the relevant field. The argument should also form a cohesive whole: this means the paragraphs need to be logically ordered and connections made between the points presented in those paragraphs.
Essays are used as an assessment tool to evaluate your ability to research a topic and construct an argument, as well as your understanding of subject content.

Persuasive essays in particular  are an opportunity to articulate your ideas, but in a certain way: using formal academic style.

Structurally an essay must:
•Have an introduction, at least three paragraphs to the main body and a conclusion!



•Make the topic clear from the start. Remember that there are many parts of any argument. The topic of the essay should be specific to the issue that you plan to address.



•Present facts (statistics, case-studies, expert opinion) that support the side of the argument that you are presenting and persuade for or against.



•Sequence or prioritize the facts in a manner that builds the argument in the most influential way. The presentation of facts (and topic sentences!) should lead to a climax- save your best point for the end!



•Form and state conclusions. The conclusion should never be thought of as just a summary of the essay. If you answer the question, “So, why am I writing this paper to this audience?” you can create a stronger conclusion that does what it was intended to do, persuade. Conclusions should leave the reader feeling some emotion or thinking about your topic! They are an opportunity for you to really hammer things home!

An essay without a coherent and effective structure will not make sense and will not be persuasive!


Let’s start with the introduction…

•The introduction should present the topic of your paper. In academic writing, the introduction most often begins with a general reference to the topic so that people understand why your topic is important and relevant, and so that they understand a little about the subject as a whole before you focus in on your issue. You should then narrow down to your particular focus within four to six sentences. Your focus/topic should be clear, concise, well stated and identifiable. In other words, the reader should have no question about what will be discussed within the paper.

Introductions should also have:

a "hook " to catch the reader's attention. Some ‘hooks’ include:
  
1.  Opening with an unusual detail: (Manitoba, because of its cold climate, is not thought of as a great place to be a reptile. Actually, it has the largest seasonal congregation of gartersnakes in the world!)

2. Opening with a strong statement: (Cigarettes are the number one cause of lighter sales in Canada!)

3. Opening with a Quotation: (Elbert Hubbard once said , "Truth is stronger than fiction.")

4. Opening with an Anecdote: An anecdote can provide an amusing and attention-getting opening if it is short and to the point.

5. Opening with a Statistic or Fact: Sometimes a statistic or fact will add emphasis or interest to your topic. It may be wise to include the item's authoritative source.

6. Opening with a Question. (Have you ever considered how many books we'd read if it were not for television?)

7. Opening with an Exaggeration or Outrageous Statement. (The whole world watched as the comet flew overhead.)

8. Opening with a hypothetical example illustrating your topic and view on your topic. (‘Imagine you were a small innocent child constantly surrounded by the smoke of your parents…’ or ‘Picture this. Africa. Botswana. A city surrounded by sand. You are 12. You have no water and very little food.’
The Main Body
 
The main body is where you state your case. In this section of your essay you need at least three paragraphs and at least one paragraph should be dedicated to each element/ main point of your argument. These should be sequenced in a climatic order. This is the simplest persuasive structure.
 
Each paragraph must be based on a solid reason to back your argument stated in your introduction.


 Since almost all issues have sound arguments on both sides of the question, a good persuasive writer tries to anticipate opposing viewpoints and provide counter-arguments along with the main points in the essay. At least one of the three paragraphs should be used to discuss opposing viewpoints and your counterargument.

A different/more complex structure?

Ad Herennium and Ethos, Logos and Pathos
 
Ethos- appeal to character- here’s what I’m going to do and why. Here’s why it is important- to all of us!

Logos- appeal to their reason- the way one point leads onto another to prove that there can only be one conclusion- yours!

Pathos- appeal to emotions- aiming to ensure your reader or audience shares with you the emotions you want them to

Ad Herennium is a rhetorical handbook which sets out six parts to an argument. These convey the argumentative structure of essays and articles across a huge range of subjects, so you can apply this to other essays you will have to write at school and beyond. 
The six parts are:
       1.Exordium- where you set out your stall. It’s the point at which you establish your bona fides as a speaker/writer, grab the audience’s attention and hope to keep it. The strongest upfront ethos appeal will come here ( an appeal to character- here’s what I’m going to do and why).

i.e. your intro!!!!

2. Narration- where you levelly and reasonably set out the area of argument and the facts as generally understood.

You can include this in your intro, but if it is a complicated topic then you may need a paragraph on its own to explain it.

3.Division- where you set out what you and your opponents agree about, and the areas in which you disagree. It is imperative that you research your opponents and any possible views that oppose the elements of your argument. This section will make your argument that much stronger if you can show that opposing ideas have been considered.

i.e. ‘There are many people who think that genetic-engineering is the way forward for the world. They believe that…Dr Stevenson stated… They also think. I simply cannot agree. Who gave scientists the right to play God?’

4.Proof- where you set out the arguments supporting your case. This is where the logos comes into force (logos is the stuff of your argument: the way one point leads onto another to prove that there can only be one conclusion- yours)

‘Surely a baby is not a handbag or a pair of designer shoes? Yet some people believe we should be able to treat a baby this way. In California…’  
     5.Refutation- more logos. This is where you smash your opponent’s arguments into tiny tiny little pieces. During this section of the essay, you will reinforce the elements of your argument that refute the opposition’s argument and expand on them. This section will make your argument that much stronger if you can show that all opposing ideas have been disproved. It may take you more than one paragraph to do this!

"True, gun control legislation in Canada needs to be tightened to prevent the United States from becoming as violent as its neighbours to the south. The proposal that has been submitted, however, does not go far enough. Instead,…[now the writer begins building his side of argument, showing how it is stronger than the opposing sides!]

6. Peroration- The grand finale. If you have the flourishes, prepare to use them now and if you have tears, prepare to shed them. In the peroration, you sum up what has gone before, re-iterate your strongest points and drive to your conclusion. It’s the place for the pathos appeal to reach its height (pathos is the appeal to emotion, aiming to ensure your reader or audience shares with you the emotions you want them to. Make ‘em laugh, make ‘em cry, make ‘em agree with you!)



Digression (optional)- this should come into your proof section. Make another point to back up your argument but at this point in the essay, you may want to include some kind of anecdotal information. You could give information from a personal case study, or from a personal story that is relevant your topic. Keep in mind that this information, like all information presented in the essay, should be factual and well documented with evidence.

Linking and Main body structure


Each and every main body paragraph must have a strong topic sentence that links to the last sentence or content of the last paragraph.
This lets the reader know what you are going on to talk about, but also lets them see how your points link together and creates a flow to your essay so that your argument is a cohesive whole.

i.e.: 
‘Although it was brave of Howard Schultz, the company's chief executive, to go even this far in a country where people are better armed and only slightly less nervy than rebel fighters in Syria, we should note that dealing with the risks of scalding and secondary smoke came well before addressing the problem of people who go armed to buy a latte. There can be no weirder order of priorities on this planet.
But, that's America, we say, as news of the latest massacre breaks – last week it was the slaughter of 12 people by Aaron Alexis at Washington DC's navy yard – and move on. Still, what if we no longer thought of this as just a problem for America and, instead, viewed it as an international humanitarian crisis – a quasi-civil war, if you like, that calls for outside intervention?

Our topic sentences MUST have a phrase that links back to the content of the previous paragraph, and a phrase signals the content of our new paragraph.
Linking words or phrases can aid the flow of this, but you must make sure that they work with the content of both paragraphs!!!
There is no point in writing ‘Moreover’ if you are going on to talk about content that is contrasting or different. ‘Moreover’ signals that you are building on a previous point!

E/E/E

When we focus on an issue and begin to construct our argument, sometimes it is easier to think in terms of the three Es:
 
•First, we explain our point- that’s our topic sentence!
•Then, we expand on the reasons why we think that.
•Finally, we exemplify our point with an example from real life and/or a hypothetical example.
 
Then we should make a statement that hammers our point home and allow for a link to the next paragraph.
 

Think about David Mitchell's argument:

•Explain: people who don't think climate change is a danger should prove to us that it isn't.
•Expand: every scientist thinks climate change at least might be a danger, so if it is possible we shouldn't take the risk and continue to damage the planet.
•Exemplify: (a) if there is a lot of evidence that our house is on fire, we don't carry behaving as if it isn't just because we don't have proof; (b) if there's a possibility that a toy is even remotely dangerous to children, we withdraw it.

Conclusion
 
A piece of persuasive writing usually ends by summarizing the most important details of the argument and stating once again what the reader is to believe or do. 
 
1. Restate your thesis or focus statement.
2. Summarize the main points: The conclusion enables your reader to recall the main points of your position. In order to do this you can paraphrase the main points of your argument. 
3. Write a personal comment or call for action. You can do this: 

•With a Prediction: This can be used with a narrative or a cause and effect discussion. The conclusion may suggest or predict what the results may or may not be in the situation discussed or in similar situations. 

•With a Question: Closing with a question lets your readers make their own predictions, draw their own conclusions.

•With Recommendations: A recommendations closing is one that stresses the actions or remedies that should be taken. 

• With a Quotation: Since a quotation may summarize, predict, question, or call for action, you may use a quotation within a conclusion for nearly any kind of paper.

Good Luck!

Ms B.
 
 





 
 


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