Persuasive Essay Introductory Questions

Name       Hour      

Answer the following questions with as much detail as possible (you’ll be asked to share these things
with others). These questions are to get you thinking about beliefs and persuasion. To believe something
means you think that thing is true, correct, right or the best. To persuade means to get someone to
believe (or do) something new or different than what they currently believe (or do).
You DO NOT need to use complete sentences to answer these questions.

1. What are some things you believe (and think are important) that not everybody else agrees about?
     
2. Why do you believe the things you believe (how did you end up having the beliefs that you now
have)?      
3. What makes it hard for people to change their beliefs about something?      
4. What makes it easy for people to change their beliefs about something?      
5. What are the differences between facts, beliefs, and opinions?      
When somebody convinces somebody else to change their mind about something, it is called
persuading—people can persuade other people about things.
6. Why do people try to persuade other people?      
7. How do people try to persuade other people (what different ways are there to persuade)?      
8. Have you ever been persuaded? (select “yes” or “no”) yes
a. By whom?      
b. How did they do it?      
9. Have you ever tried to persuade someone else? (select “yes” or “no”) yes
c. Who?      
d. How did you try do it?      
e. Was it successful? (select “yes” or “no”) yes
i. Why?      
10. What do you think are the best ways to persuade others?      
11. What do you think are the worst ways to try persuade others?      

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