What is a persuasive essay?

The purpose of a persuasive essay is to convince people to agree with you

Have I seen persuasion before?

Yes, a person encounters persuasion everyday of his or her life.

• Parents- Want the best for their children by giving them advice

• Friends -Try to convince you to do something• Commercials-Want people to think that their

product is the best• Boys- Want girls to believe that there is no

other guy better than him

How do I create a good persuasive essay?

• Understand/know the audience that you are speaking to (adults, teachers, parents, police officers, grandparents, church members)

• Make sure you support your claim/opinion• Know the disagreements that people may

have with the claim/opinion• Know a counterargument to defend the

claim/opinion

How do I create a good persuasive essay?

• Be clear about the claim/opinion that is taken• Be able to defend the claim/opinion• Cite experts on the topic you choose-Use what they say to back up your claim-Use their information to challenge/refute the

other side of the argument.

What are the types of arguments used in persuasive essays?

• Ethical Arguments (Ethos)- Establishes credibility with an audience by being fair, respectful, and knowledgeable about a topic. (Your not trying to prove a point. The speaker or writer is a source of information)

• Logical Argument (Logos)- The speaker or writer has good reasons and evidence to support a claim/opinion. The writer or speaker need to be reasonable.

• Emotional Arguments (Pathos)- The speaker or writer needs to make an emotional connection with the audience.

Put it all together

• When a writer or speaker establishes credibility (ethos)

• When a writer or speaker has good reasons with support/evidence (logos)

• When a writer or speaker makes an emotional connection with the audience (pathos)

The writer or speaker has made a persuasive argument.