Persuasive Writing

While the CSSE exam most commonly asks for story writing, some prompts may ask you to write a persuasive piece — a letter, a speech, or an argument. Persuasive writing is about convincing the reader to agree with your point of view, and it uses a very different set of techniques to narrative or descriptive writing. Even if the prompt asks for a story, persuasive techniques can be woven into character speeches and dialogue.

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What Is Persuasive Writing?

Persuasive writing aims to change the reader's mind or convince them to take action. You might be asked to:

• Write a letter to a headteacher arguing for longer break times
• Write a speech persuading your class to support a charity
• Write an article arguing for or against something
• Include a persuasive speech by a character within a story

Whatever the format, the goal is the same: make the reader agree with you.

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The AFOREST Toolkit

AFOREST is a helpful acronym for remembering the key persuasive writing techniques: