Balloon Debate Persuasive writing skills worksheets

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• mavo, havo
• Leerjaar 1

FACT AND OPINION

A fact is information that can be proved to be true. For example: 'Chocolate is made from cocoa beans.'

An opinion is one person's point of view. For example: 'You can't beat Belgian chocolate.'

Sometimes opinions are made to sound like facts - particularly when a writer is trying to persuade a reader.

Tiger Chocolates are a blend of different moods.

Soft cream centres coated in milk chocolate Will charm and sooth you,

Whilst the spicy nut centres Surrounded in dark plain chocolate Will take you to exotic worlds.

With ingredients from around the world,

Tiger Chocolates are the finest confectionery you'/1 ever taste. The matt black box and amber ribbon

Hide a tempting combination of tastes.

They make the perfect gift- particularly to yourself.

There's a Tiger Chocolate to suit you - whatever your mood

Underline all the phrases that are opinions

COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES

Adjectives describe things, e.g. a brave man.

Comparatives compare things, e.g. a braver man. Comparatives often end -er, but sometimes have the word more in front of the adjective, e.g. more nervous.

Superlatives state that something is the best, e.g. the bravest man. Superlatives often end -est, but sometimes have the word most in front of the adjective, e.g. most nervous.

THE SPOOKIEST OF HOLIDAYS

Fancy a holiday with a difference? Come and experience a most unusual holiday at Ghostly Manor. Nothing could be more exciting.

This sixteenth-century manor is teeming with the oldest and most respected ghosts in the country. Come and see for yourself

Open throughout the coldest months of the year, we offer special weekend haunts, for the more daring holidaymaker. We doubt you'l1 find a holiday more spine-chilling at any time of year.

All bedrooms are fitted out to the highest standards, with creaking doors, the creepiest looking portraits and custom-built cobwebs. All designed so you'l1 have the worst night's sleep of your life.

underline with different colours the comparatives and the superlatives

what were the comparative adjectives in the text?

What were the superlative adjectives?

RULE OF THREE

REPETITION

Persuasive texts use the 'rule of three', where a statement or word is repeated three times to reinforce the message.

Remember Tony Blair in his speech about 'Education, education, education'?

Sometimes repetitions are used to make you remember a word or phrase. When you hear that repetition again in the future, you are likely to associate it with the product.

Tiger Chocolates are a blend of different moods.

Soft cream centres coated in milk chocolate Will charm and sooth you,

Whilst the spicy nut centres Surrounded in dark plain chocolate Wil/ take you to exotic worlds.

With ingredients from around the world,

Tiger Chocolates are the finest confectionery you'/1 ever taste. The matt black box and amber ribbon

Hide a tempting combination of tastes.

They make the perfect gift- particularly to yourself.

There's a Tiger Chocolate to suit you - whatever your mood

Read the text again and find where there are repetitions

Rhetorical Questions

Rhetorical questions are used in persuasive texts to make you think, but they do not require an answer .

THE SPOOKIEST OF HOLIDAYS

Fancy a holiday with a difference? Game and experience a most unusual holiday at Ghostly Manor. Could anything be more exciting?

This sixteenth-century manor is teeming with the oldest and most respected ghosts in the country. You wouldn't want to miss il­ would you?

Open throughout the coldest months of the year, we offer special weekend haunts, for the more daring holidaymaker. We doubt you'/1 find a holiday more spine-chilling at any time of year.

All bedrooms are fitted out to the highest standards, with creaking doors, the creepiest looking portraits and custom-built cobwebs. All designed so you'/1 have the worst night's sleep of your life. Do you want to be scared to death?

NOW - how many rhetorical questions did you find and what effect did they have on you?

REMEMBER - PERSUASIVE TEXTS USE:

REPETITION 

EXAGGERATION

RHETORICAL QUESTIONS 

COMPARATIVES

SUPERLATIVES

FACTS 

OPINIONS

1. By donating a small amount every month, you will build security, build strength and build a future.

2. Come and experience a most unusual holiday at Ghostly Manor.

3. Open the door, start the engine and drive the world.

4. lf you don't help, who will?

5. Throughout the coldest months of the year, this is open every day.

6. Spicy nut centres coated in plain dark chocolate.

7. The most ghostly holiday ever. You wouldn't want to miss it- would you?

8. They make the perfect gift- particularly to yourself.

9. The best flavour, the best crunch and the best price - ever!

10. Close the washing machine door and say goodbye to all your troubles.

Read the extracts and for each one, identify the persuasive technique used.

1.build....build....build..... repetition

2. Superlative- the most unusual holiday

3. exaggeration

4. RHETORICAL QUESTION

5. superlative - fact

6. fact

7. rhetorical question

8. opinion

9. superlative - exaggeration

opinion, exaggeration

Do exercise page 6

Everyone should visit Spain, at least once in their life, because it is an incredibly beautiful place. Spain is a country that is full of beautiful architecture that ranges back both to the Caliphates and to the Christian kingdom. Spain also has a rich history of music and dance, and

anyone who enjoys dancing will have a good time in Spain. Spain also has some of the most delicious food, which includes a variety of seafood, soup, and rice dishes. Spain's beautiful scenery, enjoyable music, and mouth-watering food are some of the reasons that everyone should visit Spain.

Everyone should visit Spain, at least once in their life, because it is an incredibly beautiful place. Spain is a country that is full of beautiful architecture that ranges back both to the Caliphates and to the Christian kingdom. Spain also has a rich history of music and dance, and anyone who enjoys dancing will have a qood time in Spain. Spain also has some of the most delicious food, which includes a variety of seafood, soup, and rice dishes. Spain's beautiful scenery, enjoyable music, and mouth-waterinq food are some of the reasons that everyone should visit

Spain.

Which three lines in the passage show that it is a persuasive passage. Say what they are trying to make you do or think.

TASK TWO:

Imagine you are trying to persuade your parents to allow you to stay out late.

Which 4 persuasive techniques would you use?

write them down

For each one, write a sentence which is persuasive.

e.g. Don' t you remember what it was like when you were my age? When everyone else was out and you had to sit in?