How To Write a Persuasive Letter Using Pros and Cons Charts
It can be difficult to write a persuasive letter for a school assignment.In a persuasive letter, you need to convince a group of people to agree with you.A pros and cons chart is a great way to break down points.You can incorporate the "cons" into your letter if you want to disprove them.
Step 1: Pick a topic that you would like to write about.
It needs to have several sides and be familiar with the topic.If you know all of the different sides of this topic, you can represent them in the pros and cons charts.Write about something that you're passionate about in your school assignment.If you are passionate about the wellbeing of marine animals, you could write about ethics of using them for product testing and experimentation.It's hard to convince someone that you care about something.
Step 2: Word your topic in a way that it is answerable.
This will make sure that your topic is well written.Strong arguments should be used to support your topic.The topic of "Should cigarettes be marketed to teens?" is better worded than the one about "should cigarette marketing be for adults and the elderly?" because it is more specific.The topic of "murder should be legal" is not defensible since there are no convincing arguments for it.
Step 3: To fully understand the topic, you should research both sides.
It's important to research before writing a persuasive letter.Search online for opinions about your topic.Search for articles about your topic on respected online and print news media.There may be valid reasons someone wouldn't approve of the state banning texting in cars.You will never be able to account for or counter these reasons if you don't research them first.The state should ban cell phones in cars, no matter what they are being used for, if many people feel that the legislation wouldn't go far enough.
Step 4: Determine the age of the letter's audience.
The intended audience will affect the tone and content of your letter.Are you writing to kids who are your own age?What is your school's principal?Adults?Is there political representatives and decision makers?You can use a more advanced vocabulary when dealing with an older audience.When dealing with young people, the inverse applies.For an older audience, write something like, "A long-term political commitment to phone-free driving will ensure the survival of many who otherwise could lose their lives to a distracted driver on the phone."This will allow more people to live.
Step 5: Pro and con columns can be filled out on a sheet of paper.
The first and second charts are the "pros" and "cons" columns.There are a number of reasons to support your argument in the "pros" chart.Try to come up with at least five.Bullet points can be used to give evidence.List and provide reasoning against your argument is what you should do on the "cons" side.You are writing about banning cell phone use in cars.Under the pros column is where you can write about saving lives, helping drivers focus on driving, and reducing risk of accidents.
Step 6: Keep your distance from the issue.
The advantage of a pros and cons list is that you can look at issues from a non-emotional, objective stance.It is easy to get caught up in issues like testing products on animals or unsafe driving practices.When making a list, focus on only rational, defensible claims.Writing something like, "I personally dislike it" or "It makes me unhappy" is a very weak reason for making a list of cons.
Step 7: The "cons" can be overcome.
You need to address solutions to the "cons" since you'll try to convince your audience to embrace one side of your chart over the other.Think of flaws in the arguments that would support them, or ways in which the "cons" are misleading or irrelevant to the issue.If you don't believe that the "cons" need to be solved, you can find information that proves those arguments wrong.If you're writing about the issue of texting while driving, you need to address the con that it "over-legislates private behavior."Texting while driving affects more than one individual since many people can be killed by a careless driver who is also texting.
Step 8: You should outline the paragraph layout of your letter.
Bullet points or a numbering system can be used at this point.To maximize the persuasiveness of the letter, you need to figure out what order you want your paragraphs in.You can write an introductory paragraph, followed by a paragraph about pros and cons, and a conclusion paragraph.If you have more pros than cons, you should devote 2 paragraphs to the pros.If you wanted to explain the pros and cons of cell phone use in cars, you could write 1 paragraph describing the issue and then follow it up with an eloquent paragraph explaining your reasons for supporting them.If you want to refuting the cons, you need to write a paragraph describing them.The conclusion of the letter should include a call for action.
Step 9: The letter's topic and stance should be conveyed in a thesis sentence.
If you want, you can place this sentence at the end of your opening paragraph.Simply state your argument is how to write a persuasive thesis.This will let your readers know what you are trying to get them to do.It is important to do this in a persuasive letter so you are not just rattling off a bunch of pros and cons.If you write something like "Marine animals should not be captured for scientific studies since it's unethical to perform experiments on living creatures", readers will know exactly what you plan to persuade them of.
Step 10: Statistics should be included to add a persuasive research component.
Supporting quotations could also be included.Before you come up with reasons to support your arguments, do some research.Using data and quotes will let your readers know that you are trying to convince them of sound and proven ideas and not pulling ideas out of thin air.If you are writing about the need for legislation against texting and driving, you should write something like, "A poll by the Pew Research Center suggests that over 75% of current drivers text while driving and plan to continue."It shows how badly we as a country need a solution.
Step 11: You can add an anecdote to your letter.
Sharing a personal experience is a great way to get someone's attention.Your anecdote could be funny or touching, but it should mainly address the issue you are writing about.Adding an emotional appeal is a great way to increase the persuasiveness of a letter.If you are writing about the issue of marine animal testing, you should write something like, " Dozens of animals are confused and in pain every day because some unethical companies feel the need to unnecessarily test out products."I was shocked by the unethical animal treatment that I observed when I visited an animal testing center.
Step 12: Take the time to read your letter.
Correct any mistakes you see in the letter.Improve your wording and tighten up your arguments when you spot a flaw.If you have the time, read your letter loudly to yourself or someone else.It can help you catch errors that you wouldn't have noticed otherwise.You are ready to turn it in if you wrote the letter for the assignment.Drop the letter in the mail if you are using it to influence policy.