"To become an accomplished persuader you need at least four things: situations that motivate you to persuade, powerful strategies, knowledge of your subject, and well-developed language skills" (Four Worlds of Writing, 138). I would add a fifth item: a sophisticated and detailed knowledge of your audience.

"At the heart of persuasive writing are three kinds of appeals, which are informal arguments geared to the audience. If an audience is to be persuaded they need to (1) trust the writer, (2) be engaged emotionally, and (3) be convinced by reasons and evidence" (138).

You can establish credibility by showing

1. You are knowledgeable about your subject,

2. You care about your audience’s welfare,

3. You know and respect their point of view, and

4. You can argue fairly and intelligently about the subject.

1. Provide information to show that you have firsthand experience or some other kind of authority on the subject. Don’t brag; simply establish your credentials for writing on the subject.

2. Made reference to your audience’s interests and point of view to indicate that you know and respect them.

3. Identify yourself with your audience in some way. Emphasize your similarities with them and minimize your differences.

4. Choose examples and lines of reasoning (rational appeals) that your audience can relate to. Select your arguments, in other words, by reference to their interests and knowledge.

5. Use specific facts, ideas, and reasoning accurately. You will lose credibility if your audience concludes that your evidence is too general or your information is inaccurate.

The close decision in the Supreme Court on the Ingram v. Write case indicates that corporal punishment borders on violating the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments on punishment and due process.

6. Use correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation. If you do not control the conventions of the language, you throw the rest of your appeals into question because society is quick to dismiss writing riddled with errors.

1. Determine what attitude or emotional state you wish your audience to be in as a result of reading your paper: fear, indignation, exhilaration, pity, joy, sympathy, and so forth. Use examples, analogies, or comparisons that will stimulate those attitudes or emotions.

2. Show that you are sensitive to certain values that are central to the role your audience will play.

3. Use concrete and connotative language to stimulate emotions and attitudes.

"Connotations are the attitudes, negative or positive, associated with particular words, usually contrasting with denotations, their ordinary names. For example, house has a denotation, but it projects no attitude; home has a positive connotation . . . ."

What is the writer referring to in this sentence? "This majestic monument to freedom stands as a shining beacon of hope for every man, woman, and child who longs for a better, freer, life."

"When you persuade, you discuss a subject about which no definitive judgments exist. Conclusions you reach will be probable. A probable judgment is one backed by good reasons, which contrasts with two extremes--unsubstantiated opinion and absolute certainty."

1. Use a compelling example.

2. Set up a model to show how something could be done.

3. Set up an ideal to strive for.

4. Show how one event is the effect or consequence of another.

5. Show that one thing is the means and the other the end.

6. Argue that waste would occur if some action already begun would be abandoned or if some talent or presence is lost.

7. Show the direction of any stage in a long process.

8. Show the connection between persons and their actions or the lack of connection.

9. Use the authority of a person, based on his or her credible actions or experience.

10. Use an analogy, showing how a relationship in one sphere that resembles another supports your position.

11. Classify your subject in a group and show the implications of that membership.

12. Define your subject.

13. Compare or contrast your subject.