persuasive

Everyday

1. Persuasive means good at making people agree with you or do what you want: a persuasive speaker. tree →
2. Persuasive writing is writing that tries to make the reader believe something or take an action, like an advert, a letter of complaint or a speech. tree →

In the lessons

In English lessons, «persuasive writing» is a main text type: pupils use a clear opinion, reasons with evidence, facts and numbers, rhetorical questions, emotive words, «you», repetition and a strong ending («So join us today!»). In media and online-safety lessons, they learn to spot persuasive tricks in adverts and posts, so they can think for themselves. Phrases: «persuasive letter», «persuasive speech», «persuasive argument», «persuasive techniques».

Examples

• Write a persuasive letter to the head teacher asking for a longer break. tree →
• Her speech was so persuasive that everyone voted for her. tree →
• Adverts use persuasive language to make us buy things. tree →
• A rhetorical question is a persuasive technique. tree →
• He gave a persuasive reason for having a class pet. tree →
• The poster was bright and persuasive: "Save the bees!" tree →

Note

Verb: «persuade» (persuaded, persuading); noun: «persuasion». Spelled with «-suas-». Persuasive is not the same as true: a persuasive argument can still be wrong, so check the evidence.