Persuasive text
Persuasive text is a form of writing aimed at convincing readers to adopt a particular viewpoint or take specific actions regarding an issue. Writers clearly present their opinions and support them with relevant evidence, employing rhetorical strategies to strengthen their arguments. The classical rhetorical appeals—ethos, pathos, and logos—play a crucial role in persuasive writing. Ethos establishes the author's credibility, pathos connects emotionally with the audience, and logos provides logical reasoning through well-researched evidence. Effective persuasive texts typically include an introduction, a thesis statement, supporting facts, consideration of counterarguments, and a compelling conclusion that encourages reader alignment or action. Various mediums, such as advertising, personal letters, and online petitions, utilize persuasive writing techniques to influence diverse audiences. Authors strategically use tones like humor, satire, or sincerity to enhance their message, ensuring their arguments resonate with readers and address their needs. Overall, persuasive texts are integral to both formal education and everyday communication.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Persuasive text
In persuasive text, writers seek to present an argument on topics in such a way that readers will accept the point of view as legitimate. The objective of persuasive text is to change readers’ minds or influence their actions regarding the issue. Authors’ opinions are clearly stated and supported by citable, relevant evidence. To corroborate their points of view, authors often incorporate substantiating evidence as well as possible contradictory evidence, which they then critique to further validate their stance. These rhetorical strategies help authors build a strong argument. Persuasive texts are frequently found in advertising campaigns.
Overview
In composing persuasive texts, authors employ rhetorical devices to make their position credible, emotionally effective, and logical. Such rhetorical devices are often referenced by their ancient Greek names: ethos, pathos, and logos. Ethos pertains to disposition or character. Authors aim to solidify their credibility in readers’ minds by establishing themselves as reliable experts on the subject; this can be accomplished through a lucid, unwavering, and factual presentation of their position. Pathos is defined as a quality of emotion that invokes pity. In the attempt to persuade an audience, authors strive to make an emotional connection with them. Finally, logos refers to logic. Authors employ logos through their use of evidence to provide a reasonable argument for their claims. Ethos, pathos, and logos are the classical and modern pillars of effective persuasive texts.
The elements of a persuasive essay usually include an introduction to the topic; a thesis statement (the author’s stance); facts that support the stance; consideration, assessment, and refutation of counterarguments; and a conclusion that urges readers to align with the perspective of the author or to take action on an issue. In a strong persuasive text, authors anticipate readers’ responses and construct arguments that directly address the needs and expectations of an audience.
One of the most important characteristics of persuasive texts is the manner in which authors use information as evidence for their argument. To bolster their claims and persuade readers to adopt their perspective, authors employ various forms of evidence, including data and statistics gathered from both formal and informal research as well as personal anecdotes. Depending on their purpose, authors can employ strategic tones for their argument, including humor, satire, irony, and sincerity.
Persuasive texts are written for many purposes and for many different audiences. Personal letters are often written to someone who holds power or influence, such as an elected official, an editor of a publication, or an employer. Online petitions are a common form of contemporary persuasive texts. These texts develop a measurable popularity, as people sign their names to support and identify with the cause. The world of advertising relies heavily upon persuasive texts. Composed for large audiences, these texts usually try to persuade consumers to purchase certain brands and products. In the case of advertisements, the writing is often short, complemented by images that enhance the message. Persuasive texts are also common assignments given in high school- and college-level writing classes.
Bibliography
Camp, Lindsay. Can I Change Your Mind? The Craft and Art of Persuasive Writing. London: Black, 2007. Print.
Fahnestock, Jeanne. Rhetorical Style: The Uses of Language in Persuasion. New York: Oxford UP, 2011. Print.
Gass, Robert H., and John S. Seiter. Persuasion: Social Influence and Compliance Gaining. 5th ed. Boston: Pearson, 2013. Print.
Graff, Gerald, and Cathy Birkenstein. They Say / I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing. 3rd ed. New York: Norton, 2014. Print.
Lunsford, Andrea A., and John J. Ruszkiewicz. Everything’s an Argument: With Readings. 6th ed. Boston: Bedford, 2013. Print.
Newkirk, Thomas. Minds Made for Stories: How We Really Read and Write Informational and Persuasive Texts. Portsmouth: Heinemann, 2014. Print.
Perloff, Richard M. The Dynamics of Persuasion: Communication and Attitudes in the Twenty-First Century. 4th ed. New York: Routledge, 2010. Print.
Weston, Anthony. A Rulebook for Arguments. 4th ed. Indianapolis: Hackett, 2009. Print.