Lesson overview

Introduction
Argument
Middle years and up
Persuasive writing
Editorial
Essay
Advertising
Speeches
Politics
Advocacy
Persuasion is social, so effective persuasive writing relies on a solid understanding of people and context. In this lesson, we'll learn to evaluate five aspects of persuasive or rhetorical situations: speaker, speaker, issue, audience, goal, & timing. Using examples ranging from ancient letters to modern ads, we'll practice asking & answering questions about each aspect, in order to build a complete picture of the persuasive context and make informed strategic choices.