Beginning of Persuasive Writing

Lesson 1

Remember how Joshua and Caleb tried to persuade the Israelites that God would look after them in the Promised Land? Unfortunately, the Israelites believed the opinions of the other 10 spies - about the giants and walled cities - and ended up spending the next 40 years in the wilderness! We are now going to think about how persuasion works...

Watch 3 advertisements. For each advertisement ask:

What is this ad selling?
Which kind of audience would take notice of this ad?
What is it using to persuade you to buy or believe it?

FACTS or OPINIONS? What are they?

Advertisers have the opinion that their product is the best!

But they use factual evidence and other ways to persuade you that they are correct:

DHL with cat & bird: humour
Toyota: expert

Qantas : emotions

*Advertisers spend a lot of time and money planning advertisements to persuade people to buy their product.

*These advertisements are persuasive - trying to persuade people to believe their opinion

Humour, expert knowledge and emotions are used to persuade people that their own opinion is the best.

Watch the video to revise what an opinion is and how it is different from facts.

We can persuade with our writing as well. Watch the following clip:

Have a look at the page of opinions and play the argument (reason) game.

HOW TO PLAY:

Close your eyes and point to a square. Read what the square says and give 3 reasons to explain why you agree or disagree.

Play with someone else. Can you persuade them to agree with you?

Lesson 2

Remember you watched advertisements in the last lesson and thought about how people like to use humour, emotions or experts to persuade people to do things?

Have a look at three more advertisements:

Please answer the questions about these advertisements:

Which advertisement showed humour and why?
Which advertisement showed an expert on science and why?
Which advertisement showed emotion or feelings and why?

Answers to advertisement questions:

Louie the fly advertisement showed humour. Although he came to a nasty end, Louie was a cute cartoon character and cartoons are designed to make us laugh! This persuades us that Mortein is the best at getting rid of unwanted flies.
Mrs Marsh and the Colgate advertisement showed an expert on science. Mrs Marsh demonstrated how rot can set into an apple and explained that it is like that with our teeth. The fluoride in Colgate can absorb into our teeth like liquid into chalk, to strengthen them against decay. This persuades us to want to use Colgate.
The Apple advertisement showed emotion. This advertisement makes people feel connected with each other while also showing the features and uses of an iPad. The music also helps us to feel emotional about connecting with those we love.

In small groups see if you can come up with 3 reasons why children should or shouldn’t play sport. Read and compare your ideas with the text...

Read: All Children Should Have To Play Sport.

Highlight the different parts of "All Children Should Have to Play Sport":

Find the opinion in the Introduction.
Find 3 reasons or arguments.
Conclusion – notice it finishes with restating the arguments which is also a group of 3 – catchy.

Page updated

Report abuse