Persuasive Writing Tips

TIP #1: Pick a side fast! Once you have, ask yourself the following questions about the side you picked!

Physical: How does it affect the body?

• Elevates your physical fitness?

• Greater stamina?

• Decreased risk of obesity and cardiovascular disease?

• Relieve symptoms of physical ailments?

• Enhance flexibility and muscle tone?

Social: How does it affect relationships?

• Build personal and professional rapport?

• Learn about new cultures?

• Strengthen family dynamics?

• Facilitate conflict resolution?

• Lower the risk of loneliness and depression?

• Reduce the frequency of mood swings?

• Improve communication and interpersonal skills?

Intellectual: How does it affect the mind?

• Improve focus and concentration?

• Improve mental health?

• Challenge you intellectually?

• Improves confidence or vocabulary?

• Wider and more extensive knowledge?

• Advances and extends current skillset?

Financial: How does it affect wealth?

• Greater employability and new skillset?

• Fantastic long term investment?

• Increase employability outcomes?

• Provide more opportunity for growth?

• Teach financial management and maths?

• Gain accounting knowledge and investment strategies?

TIP #2: Use better words than 'bad' and 'good'.

PERSUASIVE

TIP #3: Elaborate your arguments!

Instead of:

Finally, you watch Avengers Infinity War for its amazing plot. You have a huge purple alien trying to get six stones to seduce half the population of the universe. Perfect!

Try:

Finally, the Avengers Infinity War has an amazing plot and unique characters with superhuman powers. Your mind will be blown by the humorous yet captivating complications. For instance, one enormous purple alien navigates a gloomy galaxy attempting to obtain six splendid stones to set the universe in flames. This is absolutely the perfect film to end a monotonous day. Coupled with suspenseful melody and realistic CGI, you will be holding onto the edge of your seats with gaping jaws.

Instead of:

Married at First Sight is a bad reality TV show because the characters are very annoying and rude. I would not recommend this movie to anyone.

Try:

Married at First Sight fails tremendously to entertain, and represents the derriere of human existence. In the show, a ridiculous panel of “love experts” match up self - absorbed and self - entitled adults for marriage. Instead of celebrating each other for alleviating desperation and loneliness, the characters enter deeper self - absorption, ranting endlessly like broken radio. Not only does the show erroneously convey how love is a formula, it draws attention to poor role models who fail to empathise with others. Unfortunately, the show fails to achieve its primary purposes of entertainment and engagement. For me, each dreadful episode serves as a cautionary tale of narcissistic behaviours and repetitive, grumbling dialogue. If you are feeling unsatisfied or dysfunctional, these derisory characters will boost your self esteem.

TIP #4: Avoid repetition!

Instead of:

Another example is that I have just started the fourth book three days ago and I am already on page five hundred and fifty. This is because I am so interested in the book that I read whenever I have spare time. This is because the Keeper of the Lost Cities hooks you in so tightly you can’t stop reading.

Try:

Trust me when I tell you that Keeper of the Lost Cities will boost your happiness extraordinarily. I was so hooked on the unpredictable and action-packed plot that my eyes were glued to the book for three whole days. When I introduced the book series to my peers, they were engrossed to the point of spending every recess and lunchtime reciting the dialogue. Full of supernatural tales about bravery and courage, you will feel both enlightened and entertained.

TIP #5: Make it Exciting! Be dramatic!

Pacific Ocean’s Greatest Paradise For Sale

From the moment that you step into this mansion, you will realise it is the definition of heaven. Water lovers will smile from ear to ear when they see the luxurious swimming pool large enough to fit African elephants. You can leap off the entertainment rooftop to hang glide across the vast sea. The facilities are cutting edge, with German bots taught to make cuisines inspired by Gordon Ramsay and Uncle Roger.

Unfortunate AirBnB Experience

I walked into an isolated, dilapidated home with wobbly frames. The only guarantee was the stink, caused by the dysfunctional toilet. It was a stressful sinkhole where the brightest minds enter depression and get burnt from the scorching showers. Room service? Not a chance but tiny rats will rob your food crumbs.

TIP #6: Grade your writing!

1. Structure: does your text follow the conventions of text type?

2. Communicative ability: how engaging is your text overall?

3. Vocabulary: using sophisticated vocabulary

4. Grammar and punctuation: make sure you have full stops, commas…

5. Content: how much relevant information you have put it

TIP #7: Practise Makes Perfect!

Here is a list of topics you may want to try out!

• Should homework in schools be abolished?

• Should students be banned from using social media?

• Should students be banned from violent video games?

• Should learning a second language be made mandatory in high school?

• Should Ipads in schools be banned?

• Should fast food be banned from the school cafeteria?

• Should alcohol advertisements be allowed on television?

• Should students take on casual and part time work outside of school?

• Should children be paid for helping out with household chores?

• Should cities offer free public wifi?