What are Persuasive texts?
Persuasive text characteristics
Four main characteristics:
Analytical exposition: An analytical exposition attempts to convince a reader to accept a particular point of view or theory by persuading them to think a certain way (Humphry, Droga & Feez, 2012).
Hortatory exposition: The purpose of a hortatory exposition is to persuade a reader into acting a certain way (Humphry et al., 2012).
Discussion: Through making judgments and recommendations, discussions look at an issue from a range of perspectives (Humphry et al., 2012).
Challenge: Challenges argue against a point of view in order to persuade the reader towards a different opinion (Humphry et al., 2012).
Strategies for writing Persuasive texts:
A method called “POW”, allows a writer to pick an idea, organise the idea and finally write and say more about the idea (Benedek-Wood, Mason & Valasa, 2009).
POW
The "TREE" strategy is a four stage mnemonic strategy that outlines the characteristics of a persuasive text (Grahem, MacArthur & Fitzgerald, 2007).
The “TREE” strategy focuses on the topic sentence, reasoning, explanation of the reasons and the ending (Grahem et al., 2007).
TREE
- Do I have a counterargument?
- Does it change my belief?
- Will my readers believe this?
- Reasons and explanations provide the base for a belief, like the roots of a tree.
(Benedek-Wood et al., 2009)
The importance of Persuasive writing in the classroom
- The purpose of persuasive writing is to influence the reader (Rossbridge & Rushton, 2011).
The writer may draw on their personal knowledge, experience or knowledge about a particular subject or issue (Rossbridge & Rushton, 2011). - Persuasive writing was predominately found in newspaper articles and advertisements however this text type is prevalent in our daily lives as a result of the evolution of technology eg Tweets and other sources of social media (Rossbridge & Rushton, 2011).
Persuasive text characteristics
Four main characteristics:
Analytical exposition: An analytical exposition attempts to convince a reader to accept a particular point of view or theory by persuading them to think a certain way (Humphry, Droga & Feez, 2012).
Hortatory exposition: The purpose of a hortatory exposition is to persuade a reader into acting a certain way (Humphry et al., 2012).
Discussion: Through making judgments and recommendations, discussions look at an issue from a range of perspectives (Humphry et al., 2012).
Challenge: Challenges argue against a point of view in order to persuade the reader towards a different opinion (Humphry et al., 2012).
Strategies for writing Persuasive texts:
A method called “POW”, allows a writer to pick an idea, organise the idea and finally write and say more about the idea (Benedek-Wood, Mason & Valasa, 2009).
POW
- P Pick my idea
- O Organise my idea
- W Write and say more
The "TREE" strategy is a four stage mnemonic strategy that outlines the characteristics of a persuasive text (Grahem, MacArthur & Fitzgerald, 2007).
The “TREE” strategy focuses on the topic sentence, reasoning, explanation of the reasons and the ending (Grahem et al., 2007).
TREE
- T Topic sentence – “What do I believe”
- R Reasons – Three or more.
- Do I have a counterargument?
- Does it change my belief?
- Will my readers believe this?
- E Explain Reasons.
- Reasons and explanations provide the base for a belief, like the roots of a tree.
- E Ending – Wrap it up.
(Benedek-Wood et al., 2009)
The importance of Persuasive writing in the classroom
- O’Neil (2012) states that the skill of persuasive writing is the foundation for a range of other genres such as discussions, arguments and comparative analysis.
- This form of written communication is central to expressing and demonstrating student’s ideas which may assist student's in their future education and employment (Benedek-Wood et al., 2009).
- Persuasive text writing enables students to transfer content from other learning areas which increases their overall learning and development (Benedek-Wood et al., 2009).