GCSE English Language (Eduqas)

Topic Summaries

WRITING SKILLS: Persuasive writing skills

Persuasive structure

What to do How to do it
Clear sequence of ideas
  • Write dot point plans to make sure your ideas flow logically. You can start by focusing on the problem then move on to the solution.
  • Take your audience on a journey e.g. ‘here’s what’s going on’ → ‘here’s why you should care’ → ‘here’s what you should do about it.’
Easy to follow
  • Signpost your arguments (e.g. ‘Firstly, I’m going to explain how we got into this mess. Secondly, I’m going to prove to you who’s responsible. And finally, I’m going to tell you how we can fix it.’
  • Refer forward or back to other arguments (e.g. ‘as I have already established’ or ‘as I will explain later’).
  • Use linking words like ‘furthermore,’ ‘by contrast,’ ‘therefore’ etc. at the start of sentences to show the link between one idea and the next.
Show causality
  • Write ‘cause and effect’ statements that link an action with an outcome in order to make the audience understand it as good or bad. E.g. ‘if we support X, we will be rewarded with Y!’ or ‘if we allow X to happen, no doubt further disasters like Z will follow!’
  • Use linking words like ‘thus,’ ‘as a result,’ ‘consequently’ etc. to demonstrate how one thing affects another.
  • Use techniques like listing, asyndeton, and anaphora to show a chain of causation (e.g. ‘Time and time again, we expect better, demand better, deserve better. But time and time again, we are let down.’)
Persuade, don’t inform
  • Add emphatic adjectives and adverbs to convey the emotion you want to evoke in readers (e.g. if you want them to feel outraged, don’t just say ‘this is a breach of privacy’ – say ‘this is a disgusting breach of privacy and a callous disregard for human rights’).
  • Avoid using ‘I think’ or ‘in my opinion’ to make arguments stronger and more direct.
  • Use the same emotions you want the audience to feel (e.g. if you want them to be frustrated, sympathetic, or hopeful, you should sound frustrated, sympathetic, or hopeful too).
Engage the audience
  • Open with a hook (e.g. a single word, a short phrase, an unexpected sentence) to capture attention
  • Make the topic more relevant or personal for your audience (e.g. through an anecdote).
End with inspiration!
  • No matter your topic, the end of your speech should aim to motivate the audience to support your argument.
  • Use a call to action and imperative statements.

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