“How to convince the examination markers to award me with a distinction? How to get my teachers and friends to agree with my point of view?” These are the frequent questions I get from students. While the long answer is in-depth and complex, there is a short answer that I believe will be useful for most students.
Analyse various types of persuasive writing in the media (e.g., the Internet, magazines, newspapers & television) by looking for powerful words, phrases, sentences as well as techniques such as providing convincing reasons, assumptions, repetitions, counterarguments, rebuttals & comparisons that are designed to persuade. This does not merely improve your critical reading skills, but it also enhances your thinking skills.
Develop a good habit of constructing a vivid mind map for making a case. It should include a point that states the position clearly, a clear explanation supported with strong evidence, an evaluative segment that deepens the argument to tie back to your position, and finally, a conclusion that reinforces your position/point. The template is shown below.
Use counter arguments effectively to gain your opponents’ attention and then prove them wrong: Challenge your opponents by fully understanding what people currently believe followed by questioning their beliefs rigorously so that you can convince them to change their position.
Apart from reading secondary research materials, you can talk to 5–10 people (with varying perspectives) about their current beliefs on an issue and create a graph to see patterns in people’s arguments. You can mention these different beliefs at the beginning of your writing before you make your own argument.
Find useful practice opportunities: Utilise authentic opportunities to write persuasive letters, speeches or advertising materials for family, school, or community events.
For example, after a lesson on recycling, you can write a persuasive letter or text message to your family members to convince them to recycle more. Alternatively, you can write to your school librarian and try to convince him or her to purchase a particular book that is useful for the student community.
Understand Facts Vs Opinions: Challenge yourself to differentiate facts from opinions.
A fact is a statement that can be proven.
Examples: My car has been driven for 23 hours; Harry was born on February 11, 1923; The Empire State Building is 1,252 feet tall.
An opinion is someone’s view, or belief, or way of thinking about something.
Examples: Beethoven is the greatest composer who ever lived; Goodnight Moon is the best children’s book ever written; Extraterrestrials exist.
When you are reading, it is important to be able to distinguish between facts and opinions. Written materials such as articles, website information, biographies, and newspapers often contain both facts and opinions.
Being able to tell them apart will significantly help you judge the validity and credibility of a writer’s ideas. It will also help you choose appropriate sources when doing research.
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