Persuasive writing HV2 - lesson 3

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 2

Lesson 3

In class today:

Persuasive writing

Vocabulary for writing

Emotive language

Writing project planner

Week 2: introduction to persuasive writing

Week 3: Writing arguments

Week 4: Formative writing task

Week 5: Writing vocabulary test

Week 6: Writing arguments - repetition

Week 7: Persuasive writing test

Persuasive writing

What do you remember?

What is the main goal of a persuasive text?

1. To inform the reader
2. To entertain the reader
3. To convince the reader
4. To mock (belachelijk maken) the reader

What do we call the first sentence of a persuasive text?

1. Opening hour
2. Final statement
3. First statement
4. Opening statement

Assignment 1

Translate as many phrases (zinnen) that you see on the next slide into Dutch best you can in 5 minutes. Write the translations you had to look up in an English Word document.

You may work together with your neighbour.

Assignment 2

In the next slide, drag the phrases to the left into the correct category to the right: introduction, arguments and conclusion.

As you can see

Firstly, secondly, thirdly

Introduction

Arguments

Conclusion

I think that 

For these reasons

Besides this

Furthermore

... should be 

Moreover

I am writing to

Assignment 3:

Practice vocabulary

Download the list from the 'studiewijzers' in Som and save it on your computer.

On the next slides, use phrases from the vocabulary sheet to give your opinion in 3 sentences.

Mr. de Boer wants to ban laptop and phone use during the breaks.
Write your opinion:

The government wants to ban TikTok in the whole country.
Write your opinion:

The government makes it illegal for kids under 16 to buy any candy.
Write your opinion:

Some more important vocabulary for persuasive writing

Last week we practised persuasive writing by reading and answering questions about a persuasive text called: "Text messaging is better than talking".

One of the questions you had to answer was about emotive words or phrases.

We will take a better look at emotive vocabulary and its role in persuasive writing in the next slides.

What is Emotive language

Emotive language is the term used when certain word choices are made to evoke an emotional response in the reader.

This kind of language often aims to persuade the reader or listener to share the writer or speaker’s point of view, using language chosen specifically to stimulate an emotional reaction.

What does emotive language do? 

Why do we use it?

Emotive language in literature can help to elicit specific responses to help the reader become more invested in the book, article or add that they're reading, and engage with it more deeply. 

Emotive language is also often used in persuasive writing, to help get the reader/listener on board with a certain point of view.

What are some of the uses of emotive language?

One of the core ways that writers might use emotive language is for dramatic effect. This effect is often utilised in storytelling to help events have more impact, and to help the reader/listener to feel drawn into the story. This is because they understand how the characters are feeling on an emotional level.

Using emotive language for dramatic effect is a great way to make narratives more engaging.

Another key purpose of emotive language is in persuasive writing.

This might take the form of speeches, essays, dialogues, articles, blogs, and opinion pieces. When you use emotive language in persuasive writing, you make the reader/listener feel emotionally involved in the issues that are being discussed. When their emotions are involved - particularly when strong feelings such as empathy or concern are elicited - they are likely to become more invested in the issues. As such, this is a great way to get people to care about issues that you care about, and to help get them on your side.

Example emotive writing

Now that we have a handy emotive language definition to refer back to, let's have a look at what that might look like in practice, by exploring some fantastic emotive language examples. 

The fragment on the next slide is taken from a speech delivered by Martin Luther King Jr., during the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom:

"I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, sons of former slaves and sons of former slave-owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice."

This speech includes a number of examples of emotive language. For instance:

The phrase 'I have a dream' uses personal pronouns, inviting those listening to share in King’s vision of a better world. This phrase is repeated emphatically throughout the speech.

'Brotherhood' is an abstract noun - a word describing an idea or concept. King uses this emotive phrase to appeal to the audience’s desire for the things that 'brotherhood' represents - acceptance, equality, and community.

King also uses metaphorical language, describing the state of Mississippi as ‘sweltering’ with injustice and describing the cool ‘oasis’ of freedom that it could be. 

Using sensory descriptions of heat helps to illustrate the difficulty of the struggle for civil rights, as well as reminding his audience what they are striving for. This section of the speech is intended to motivate civil rights activists to keep protesting for their rights.

Just from this one short extract, we can see how specific word choices contribute to the overall meaning of the speech and encourage people to embrace his message.

Emotive words

So, what kind of words and adjectives can be utilised to help elicit an emotional response? Some words evoke a strong emotional reaction in the majority of readers or listeners. They hold a certain weight that is hard to ignore.

    Adjectives - appalling, wonderful, magical, and tragic.
    Abstract Nouns - freedom, pride, justice, love, and terror.
    Verbs - destroyed, vindicated, saved, betrayed, and adored.
    Emotive Adverbs - angrily, defiantly, proudly, and beautifully.

Find emotive words in this hotel add

I'll hand you a hotel add. Read it carefully and underline or highlight all emotive words/phrases in this add. With which words/phrases does the writer try to convince you to come to this hotel?

You may do this individually or with your neighbour.

Homework for Thursday the 18th of January

• Finish this LessonUp lesson, please!
• Make sure you write at least 3 sentences when you give your opinion about the situations on slide 11, 12 & 13 & that you use words or phrases from the vocabulary list or slide 7.
• Finish the assignment about the hotel add on slide 26 AND bring the add to school again.
• Study the vocabulary list, please!