Persuasive Writing

Here is a true-false quiz on which your score should be perfect

The answer to all of the questions above is, of course, “false” Most advertisements—for jogging shoes, candy, cameras eras, dishwashing or laundry detergent, diapers, hamburgers, hotels, markets, or mowers—are intended to persuade people to buy products or services. And candidates for political office give speeches to persuade voters. The debates in Congress are meant to persuade members to vote for this bill or to support that program; therefore, these debates often have a great influence on what happens to you and me. Finally, of course, you have tried to persuade family members or friends with you on some point.

As the quiz shows, we live in a world of persuasion; others attempt to influence us, and we attempt to influence others.

You learned in Writing Compositions, that expository writing is meant to inform. Typical examples of expository writing are instructions (for example, how to make tamale pie), scientific reports, newspaper reports of current events, and explanations of ideas and concepts (for example, the reasons for your political beliefs). Textbooks contain primarily expository writing.

Persuasive writing also gives information, but its main purpose is to cause people to change an opinion and to take an action.

Exposition and Persuasion

The first selection that follows is exposition; it is a report about whaling. The second selection is persuasion; it urges readers to take action to save whales from being hunted to extinction. Exposition:

The Development of Whaling

The Basques were probably the first to hunt whales, possibly as early as the tenth century. However, a large-scale representative in Congress and your senator, urging them to take action on this problem.
Join the fight to save the whales before there are no more whales to save.

Sincerely,

Shan Stapleton