PAPER 1 :

TO ARGUE
AND TO
PERSUADE
BY GROUP 3 Transactional writing paper 1 question 6 & 7
:
 TABLE OF CONTENT
WRITING TO WRITING TO
ARGUE PERSUADE
01 Language features
Structure
02 Language features
Structure

ARGUE VS
PERSUADE SAMPLES
03 main key differences between 04 Sample questions and
writing to argue n persuade answers
 TO
ARGUEWhat is writing to argue?
Writing to argue is when you try to convince someone to do something. You could be
trying to promote your own point of view. You can use many of the language
features for writing to persuade. The difference between persuading and arguing is
that you provide the opposing argument and suggest why it is incorrect.
 LANGUAGE TECHNIQUES
Use some of these phrases to help you organize your ideas and write a
convincing argument:

1) To introduce your ideas/arguments. You need clear arguments for your point of
view. Remember to plan these prior to writing. Use the following phrases to help
you:
I firmly believe….
In my opinion…..
Everyone must agree that……
2) To reinforce/ add to your ideas. It is important to expand and develop your ideas.
Remember to use the following phrases:
In addition I think…….
Current research shows….
Statistics prove………..
3) Connectives to help organize points logically. Structuring your ideas clearly is really
important. These phrases might help:
Firstly….. Finally…….
Secondly…… To conclude…….
 CONTINUATION . . .
4) To introduce opponents’ views. In writing to argue, you should aim to provide the counter argument. This
recognizes the other viewpoint. These phrases help:
However, others may argue that..
It could be argued that……..
On the other hand,…….
5) To counteract opponents’ views. Once you have mentioned the counter argument, you must state why
you believe it is incorrect. These words might help:
It has been proved that…….
It is still my view that……
In spite of….. I still feel…..
6) To end your argument. This suggests that you have looked at both sides of the argument. These phrases
might help:
Taking everything into account…….
I firmly believe that………
To conclude, I definitely believe ….
My overall view remains that…
STRUCTURING AN ARGUMENT
When you are writing an argument, it is important to start with a plan which starts with a list of views both
for and against the topic.

● Start with a clear opening that explains what the argument is about and where you stand on it.
● Write a series of structured 'body paragraphs' that present the debate, that is, the differing sides of the
argument – but in each case use this to show how your viewpoint is the best one to take. For example,
'It is true that the town is crowded with parked cars and that many of these are from workers at local
businesses. This means that a new car park would be welcome to relieve the congestion and pollution
in town; however, to take away a green space that is the home of the town’s war memorial and such a
popular walking spot for the young and elderly is surely the wrong way to go about it.‘
● A strong conclusion that very briefly summarises the strongest point from each side of the argument,
before restating the writer’s view as the best compromise to follow.

You can see from the example how the use of a connective can help the argument to flow smoothly and
seemingly logically: '…in town; however, to take away a green space…'. There are many connectives and
they often work well after a semicolon as this creates a useful 'pause and emphasis effect'.
 PERUAD
E
What is writing to persuade?
Persuasive language is when you try to convince someone to do
something. You could be trying to change their mind about a topic.
 LANGUAGE TECHNIQUES
1) Emotive Language :
Emotive Language is very effective. It is language that makes us feel something, for example sad or happy .
What is the difference between a house and a home? The word ‘house’ gives us a picture simply of a building made
of bricks and mortar, but the word ‘home’ creates an image of a place of security, comfort, family and love.
Emotive vocabulary is very persuasive as it plays on the audience’s emotions.

“Day after day, in temperatures of up to 128F, weary little donkeys are suffering and collapsing for want of a drink.
Weighed down by back-breaking loads, exhausted by the heat and often in agony, the little brick kiln donkeys keep
trudging patiently onwards.”
The donkeys that carry loads in Pakistan’s kilns are often thirsty . What effect do these words have on you?
They make us feel sorry for the donkeys; filling us with empathy. You feel as though you want to do something to
help, which makes the emotive language persuasive.

2) Repetition and list of 3 : “Don’t ever do that again!”

“Don’t ever, ever, ever do that again!”
What effect does repeating the word ‘ever’ have on the audience?
Repeating a word or phrase, especially three times emphasizes and reinforces the point being made, which makes it
persuasive. You can repeat an adjective, phrase or structure up to three times.
 CONTINUATION . . .
3) Alliteration
Alliteration is used to create rhythm or sound effects.
In the poem ‘The Eagle’, the poet describes the bird in the following way:
“He clasps the crag with crooked hands”
In this example, the repeated hard ‘c’ sound creates a mental image of the eagle’s tough, gnarled claws and the scratchy
sound they make against rock. This is persuasive because it grabs the audience’s attention.
4) Rhetorical Questions
Rhetorical questions are questions which do not really need an answer. Examples include:
“Who do you think you are?”
“What time of night do you call this?”
Rhetorical questions force the reader to think about a possible or obvious answer.
5) Pronoun usage
Find the difference between: “You must do a good deed and donate money to the charity”
and
“Donating to the charity is a good deed”
Find the difference between: “You can’t help but be moved by these images of suffering”
and
“We can’t help but be moved by these images of suffering”
Pronouns can be used as ‘Team Building vocabulary’ and aim to draw the audience in and make them feel involved in the
issues. The audience is now part of the discussion, not an outsider. The feeling of inclusion persuades the audience the other
person is on their side.
ARGUE VS PERSUADE
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
SAMPLE ANSWERS
Thank you 