Notes on Techniques of Persuasion and Writing an Effective Essay

Interpersonal and Critical Thinking Skills

Overview of Critical Thinking
  • Definition: Critical thinking involves analyzing the validity of arguments in a text.
    • Key Skills:
    • Identify major conclusions of the author.
    • Describe and evaluate supporting evidence.
    • Uncover assumptions and values.
    • Determine soundness of causal logic.
    • Deconstructing the use of persuasive language.
Techniques of Persuasion
  • Anticipating Objections:
    • Address potential counterarguments related to your claims.
    • Example: Claim that crime rates are decreasing versus negative evidence showing increasing crime rates. Counter by discussing media portrayal versus statistics.
    • Alternative Causes: Address competing explanations for observed outcomes, such as GPA affecting course ratings rather than class size.
    • Conflicting Assumptions: Identify differing assumptions, such as the applicability of a successful program from executives to lower-level employees.
Structuring Your Argument
  • Dealing with Objections:
    • Introduce potential objections to your argument.
    • Rebuttal: Offer a response to these objections.
    • Example: Addressing the claim that a study abroad should be mandatory for all graduates by questioning its feasibility and impact.
Limits on Claims
  • Acknowledging Limitations: Recognize when your claims cannot be fully supported.
    • Example: Acknowledging the limitations of evidence from specific types of corporations when generalizing to smaller firms.
  • Redefining Terms: Clarify terms to ensure appropriate interpretations, like discussing the implications of being an entrepreneur born outside Canada.
Writing a Persuasive Essay
  1. Outline Your Claim: Clearly state your main argument.
    • Justify your claim:
    • Provide reasons and supporting evidence (3-5 pieces per sub-claim).
    • Use data, expert opinions, and personal experiences as evidence.
  2. Draft Your Essay:
    • Focus on clear, engaging writing.
    • Draft without aiming for perfection initially; subsequent drafts should integrate revisions and avoid plagiarism.
  3. Engage the Reader:
    • Use strong introductory sentences to captivate interest and concluding sentences to reinforce your message.
    • Consider adding visuals to enhance understanding (charts, images).
Importance of Persuasion
  • Writing is a tool for change, aimed at expanding the reader's knowledge and fostering critical discussion rather than promoting propaganda.
  • Creating a narrative that evokes care and interest in issues is vital, focusing on vivid descriptions of real experiences.
Evaluation of Your Essay
  • Evaluation Steps:
    1. Identify your claim and evaluate its clarity.
    2. Assess your evidence using specified qualities (SPAARC: Sufficient, Precise, Accurate, Relevant, Representative).
    3. Use a rubric to score your work across several categories (overall structure, use of counterclaims, and rhetorical effectiveness).