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Persuasive Writing 101

Persuasive writing, argumentative writing, debate, and persuasive speaking are all different terms that seek to serve the same purpose, and therefore follow the same basic guidelines. The ability to dominate an argument of ideas, or persuade an audience to adopt your outrage, thoughts, or position on an issue is a powerful skill to possess. It is precisely this reason that this art form has been around for centuries and has served as the cornerstone of the political process. Debate in ancient Greece was an art reserved for the intellects to showcase their intelligence. It was during this time that the great Aristotle engineered the framework of persuasion which still lends itself today as the most practical guideline to follow when writing persuasively.

Unlike many skills, debate can be simplified and learned rather quickly if its principles are understood. Aristotle's On Rhetoric identified three components of persuasion: Ethos, Logos and Pathos. Master these three and you will successfully persuade your audience and reign victorious in debate.

Ethos refers to the credibility of your argument. This must be established first. The most important thing one could do to enhance his credibility is research the topic intensely. A single source will NOT establish credibility for your argument. Also, the sources must be reliable; ones that will not be scrutinized for accuracy on count of their unfamiliar or incredulous nature. Contrarily, it is convincing to use credible news sources, scholarly publications, and professional resources that yield unbiased information or research, whenever possible.

The first question I ask someone when they toss out facts supporting a certain claim - whether I agree with their position or not - is "What's your source?" which I then decide for myself whether it's credible. This is a debater's best offensive and defensive weapon. A persuasive fact backed by a compelling source is a powerful argument. A compelling fact premised on a weak source raises questions and will be pounced on by a good tactician.

The second question I ask is, "Have you cross-referenced?" because if you can't find further support of your claim it may be inaccurate, or other sources may provide different data. Be sure to always cross-reference. This preparation makes your argument official.

Another great way to establish credibility is to use statistics. Face it, numbers don't lie and they can be used to enhance a good point or deflate the

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