How to Write a Persuasive Response

How to Write a Persuasive Response

Many written responses are designed to convince their audiences that certain actions are needed. This type of communication is called Persuasive Writing.  In Social Studies, you will often be asked to "take a position", "argue for/against" an issue, or otherwise convince the reader your position is the most important or valid.

Persuasive writing includes concrete evidence and strong supporting reasons, and it is designed to persuade readers to support a certain position or convince them to take action. Some of the techniques you have read about in How to Detect Bias and Fake News may be useful in persuasive writing. Be careful not to be excessive when writing to persuade. You don't want to irritate your audience because that could result in no response, or even a negative response.

Before you begin writing, there are a few factors you must consider.

• Audience: Who is listening or reading your response? Consider that this is an educational environment, and the manner in which you write/speak needs to be appropriate. In addition, your audience's beliefs, values, and attitudes can determine how you elect to approach a topic or issue. Be sure to use an appropriate tone and suitable vocabulary. For example, forcefully criticizing the actions of an agency or organization you are trying to persuade can turn its people off. If you lose your audience before they've read/heard your points, you won't achieve your goal. Do not use obscenities, slang or wild assumptions that may make people dismiss your ideas.

• Research/Evidence: Do you have specific and supporting points to help strengthen your arguments? Consider including specific evidence such as statistics, current or historical events, news articles, textbook content, or other legitimate sources.  

• Selection and omission: When you are writing to persuade, do not use all the information at your disposal. For example, if you have information that does not support your position, leave it out! Perhaps you are writing to your school board to convince them not to use pesticides on your school grounds. In conducting your research, you discovered the pesticide used is manufactured by a local company that will lose business without the contract from the school board. You do not need to use that information. Instead, concentrate on a central issue, such as the negative environmental impact and possible health risks to children.

• Emotional language: You are trying to convince your audience. Sometimes, appealing to their emotional connection to the central topic or issue can be powerful in convincing them to accept your position. However, there must be a balance between appealing to the reader/viewer's good nature and being inflammatory or irrational. Make sure you root your discussion in credible sources and explain your position clearly.
  

• Convincing arguments: When you think about your audience, think about what might influence them. Public opinion? Losing or making money? Sustainability? Ideology? Use whatever works!