Education Universe Argument Writing

7 Techniques for Persuasive Writing

Introduction

Persuasive writing is one of the hardest types to master, but it’s also one of the most important types of writing in any academic or business career. Persuasive writing can help you convince someone that your point of view has merit or sway them in your direction on an issue that may be controversial within your company or industry. If you’re struggling with how to write an essay, try using these seven techniques for mastering the art of persuasive writing.

1) State your opinion

Stating your opinion or taking a position is where a writer starts with persuasive writing. It helps frame an argument and it creates direction for the reader as to what you are trying to convince them about. It’s not enough to just say that you think something, you have to state why, and present facts to support your opinion. With this in mind, let’s look at some other techniques that can help you write a strong essay

2) Give concrete evidence

In an academic paper that involves persuasion and argument, there must be evidence. A reader can only buy into your points if they are backed up by facts. For example, if you are arguing for gun control legislation, you should provide statistics about how guns contribute to violence in the United States. As a reminder, don’t forget to document the evidence you find using your formatting style such as APA or MLA.

3) Avoid absolutes

Absolute thinking will get you nowhere in academic writing. It should be avoided at all costs. For example, don’t write: The sky is always blue. Instead, write Some days, the sky is blue; other days it is gray. A more practical way of looking at this is to avoid words like “everyone,” “everything,” and “always.”

4) Offer a contrasting point of view

Acknowledging the other side is very important in persuasive writing. You don’t want your reader to be left wondering if there are any points that might weaken your argument. Offer a contrasting point of view and provide reasons why you disagree with it as well. This also helps you avoid alienating the reader/listener.

5) Consider all sides

Before trying to persuade others to see your point of view, it is best to consider all sides. You should take some time to research what others have said about the topic you are writing about and think critically about their arguments. You will find that not everyone agrees with you on everything, so make sure that you address those disagreements respectfully and give a compelling argument for why your opinion should be taken into consideration.

6) Relate your topic to something memorable

Relate your topic to something others might find to be familiar. For example, if you’re writing about how a certain restaurant doesn’t have any vegetarian options, you could mention how one time you were out with your friend who was vegan and they ended up having an allergic reaction because there was no dairy-free option. In addition, it’s also important to make sure that the reader can relate to what is being discussed as well as try not to use technical language so they don’t feel alienated.

7) Use quotes (and paraphrases) from influential sources

Using quotes and paraphrasing information from credible sources is important in supporting your argument. Remember to use a citation, or attribution, at the end of any sentence that includes a quote or paraphrase so readers know where you found this information. (Citation: Lewis, K., Four Techniques to Create an Effective Argument.)

Conclusion

Persuasive writing is a technique used in essays to convince readers that your argument is correct. So, when you are writing an essay, be sure to incorporate these 7 persuasive techniques into your essay and you will have mastered the art of persuasive writing!

Education Universe College Courses

College Hybrid Courses

Perhaps you are curious about what a hybrid course is or is not. Perhaps you are in a hybrid class, and the instructor has asked you to read an article defining the hybrid course structure. Maybe you just stumbled onto this page accidentally and need some reading materials to help you get to sleep. This page provides information on the setup of hybrid courses and a few tips to help you plan for success.

What is a Hybrid Course?

That’s a great question. A hybrid course is a course that has an in-person element and an online element. Sometimes, it is referred to as a blended course. This blend means that the instructor may provide lectures, assignments, and activities inside and outside the classroom (a.k.a. online). Online activities may include but are not limited to readings, videos, assignments, assessments, discussions, and beyond. The point is that each class will be different. You might be asking how that is helpful. Well, there are some perks to this method of course setup.

Perks of Hybrid Courses

Even though each college or an instructor may handle the setup and meeting dates differently, there are a few advantages (and disadvantages) of participating in a hybrid or blended course.

Teacher Access

In general, hybrids provide better instructor access compared to fully online courses. By their very nature of having a classroom component, this is true. Some instructors may use most of the in-person time as instructional time. However, some instructors may provide various instructional and support services when students are in the classroom.

Flexibility

A hybrid course can offer flexibility for students who are uncomfortable with a fully online course or have less time to devote to in-person learning. For example, if one instructor sets up the course where students meet in the classroom one day per week and do other work online for the remainder of the week, students have more flexibility in completing some tasks. Flexibility for working and nontraditional college students can be very beneficial and may even inspire students to remain in school.

Community

Hybrid or blended classes are unique. While online courses can certainly help students/teachers build an online community, being in person adds a certain depth to the student-student and student-teacher connections. Some in-person component of a class can help build rapport more quickly, increasing a student’s likelihood of staying in school and attending class.

Instructional Materials Access

A well-constructed hybrid course will include online instructional access. Access may contribute to better success in the course. This access may mean that the instructor records lectures for students to access later. Other materials may also be included in the online portion of the classroom. For example, links to articles, YouTube videos, and more may be a part of the online environment.

Increased Success and Tips

While I won’t bore you with reading all of the research out there, I will say that some studies indicate that students who are in hybrid/blended courses tend to be more successful than those in entirely in-person classrooms. Of course, the integration of course materials and the way the course is set up will factor into how success is impacted. I like this benefit since I am an instructor and wish only the best for my students.

Being successful in a hybrid course is much like being successful in a fully online or an entirely in-person class. Here are some tips:

  • Manage time wisely by keeping a calendar with due dates. Yes – do this, but be prepared for schedule changes. I suggest using a digital calendar to help you keep up with periodic adjustments. Write in your times in pencil just in case.
  • Communicate with other students and the instructor. The truth is that we are all human.
    • Communicate respectfully to avoid any problems in the class.
    • Communication also requires contacting an instructor with any concerns as early as possible. Most instructors cannot get back to students immediately. After all, you are not the only student.
    • Communicate clearly. Tell the teacher what class and section you are in if that applies (especially in emails). Ask questions clearly and be direct about your questions/concerns. For example, avoid language like “this week’s assignment.” Instead, provide a specific name like, “Argumentative Essay that is due on August 24th.” You have no idea how much specific details can save you and the instructor time.
    • Keep private things private. Save personal questions about grades or reasons for absences for after class or shoot the teacher an email (note that in high school, this may be a different method).
  • Get the work done on time. This goal is imperative. An instructor usually sets things up to build on each other (if the teacher is wise). If you are missing work, the odds are that the next task will be more difficult. Don’t expect extensions in hybrid, online, or in-person courses. Life does happen, but we all still need to function. In an emergency, ask for special consideration. Just know that the instructor is not required to give it.
  • Maintain a positive attitude. That will take you far in a course and life. It doesn’t mean you walk around with a sunny disposition every day. It just means that you approach classes with an open mind and some level of joy that you are trying to make your life better by earning a degree.
  • Know thy technology. There will never be a time when you will not need to know some portion of technology to participate effectively in an online or hybrid course. Be proactive and learn the skills you need to use in the class. It will be time well spent.

In case you didn’t notice, I’m a fan of hybrid courses and know that you CAN and WILL be successful if you put your best foot forward, at least the majority of the time.

Good luck with your hybrid course!

Education Universe Uncategorized

5 Signs of Credibility

What is Credibility?

Credibility of a source is what makes the information usable and dependable for research purposes. A credible source is one that can be trusted to serve as good information and tends to have several qualities.

Author

The author of an article or other source is important in determining credibility. When examining a printed or online source, it’s helpful to know something about the author. A few good areas to look at regarding the author(s) experience may include: author(s) background, author(s) degree, and/or experience in conducting extensive research in the subject area.

Currency

Whether or not a source is current is extremely important, especially in fields of study that require current research to be effective. A general rule of thumb is that a source be within the past seven years. However, if a student is writing about a field such as information technology or nursing (there are others), sources may need to be more current. In contrast, if a student is writing about the history of a topic, it may be that the information does not need to be current.

Writing Style

Writing style matters. When an author does not pay attention to grammar and/or spelling, it can be a bad sign. Credible sources tend to have authors who check grammar, check spelling, and write in an organized and easy-to-understand way. Additionally, the language used should be fair (lack bias). For example, saying “demonstrators” versus “protestors” makes a difference. One is more bias than the other.

Sources

Make no mistake! A website that doesn’t use sources may not be credible. Researchers should be mindful of sources being used or not used. An author should also be using credible sources. Sources may be listed at the end of an article/source or they may appear as links in online information.

Author of this article: Jackie Gibbons (College English Instructor & Writer)/Sources include the following:

Other sources are available upon request.