ENG 2601 STUDY NOTES
APPLIED ENGLISH LANGUAGE STUDIES FURTHER EXPLORATIONS
UNIT 1: ENGLISH LANGUAGE SYSTEMS: PERSUASION AND
NARRATION/RHETORICAL ANALYSIS
WHAT IS AN ARGUMENT? HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM PERSUASION?
• Argumentative piece of writing
➢ Reasoned logical way of positioning your view, opinion/ belief
➢ Argument can take place between 2 people= disagreement over something
➢ Argument with 2 or more people = parliamentary debate
➢ Argument with 1 person/ group position themselves on particular subject to
win others to their viewpoint
PERSUASIVE WRITING ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING
• Persuasive essay- aims at getting readers to • Argument aims at getting readers to see and
agree with a point of view on a particular topic acknowledge that a view is more valid than
another
• Persuasion even based on fact, is driven by • Argument based on fact, will offer reasoned
writer’s opinion and draw on emotion and and credible claims drawing on a wider range
passion, and is therefore subjective of evidence ( and not emotion) to validate
claims
• Wants to convince and win support to its side • Puts view out there for people to consider.
• Aims is to share reasoned views, and not so
much to convince
• In persuasion, once a topic has been identified, • In an argument, research is necessary before a
a side is taken and then presented with writer can take position. i.e. the research
supporting reasons influences the position
EXAMPLES OF PERSUASIVE/ ARGUMENTIVE TEXTS
1) Academic essays
• Students trained on how to present an academic argument
• Common forms = given topic to argue for or against it
Page | 1
, ENG 2601 STUDY NOTES
APPLIED ENGLISH LANGUAGE STUDIES FURTHER EXPLORATIONS
2) Text from an advocacy group
Table 1: Persuasion- Language features
• Emotive language
• Modality words
• Questions
3) Letters
4) Websites
PERSUASION/
ARGUMENTIVE
TECHNIQUES
Appeal
• Strategy used frequently
in logical reasoning and
critical thinking debates
• Appeal to person
emotions – PATHOS
• Appeal to persons
reasoning- LOGOS
• Appeal to person’s
wisdom- ETHOS
Page | 2
APPLIED ENGLISH LANGUAGE STUDIES FURTHER EXPLORATIONS
UNIT 1: ENGLISH LANGUAGE SYSTEMS: PERSUASION AND
NARRATION/RHETORICAL ANALYSIS
WHAT IS AN ARGUMENT? HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM PERSUASION?
• Argumentative piece of writing
➢ Reasoned logical way of positioning your view, opinion/ belief
➢ Argument can take place between 2 people= disagreement over something
➢ Argument with 2 or more people = parliamentary debate
➢ Argument with 1 person/ group position themselves on particular subject to
win others to their viewpoint
PERSUASIVE WRITING ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING
• Persuasive essay- aims at getting readers to • Argument aims at getting readers to see and
agree with a point of view on a particular topic acknowledge that a view is more valid than
another
• Persuasion even based on fact, is driven by • Argument based on fact, will offer reasoned
writer’s opinion and draw on emotion and and credible claims drawing on a wider range
passion, and is therefore subjective of evidence ( and not emotion) to validate
claims
• Wants to convince and win support to its side • Puts view out there for people to consider.
• Aims is to share reasoned views, and not so
much to convince
• In persuasion, once a topic has been identified, • In an argument, research is necessary before a
a side is taken and then presented with writer can take position. i.e. the research
supporting reasons influences the position
EXAMPLES OF PERSUASIVE/ ARGUMENTIVE TEXTS
1) Academic essays
• Students trained on how to present an academic argument
• Common forms = given topic to argue for or against it
Page | 1
, ENG 2601 STUDY NOTES
APPLIED ENGLISH LANGUAGE STUDIES FURTHER EXPLORATIONS
2) Text from an advocacy group
Table 1: Persuasion- Language features
• Emotive language
• Modality words
• Questions
3) Letters
4) Websites
PERSUASION/
ARGUMENTIVE
TECHNIQUES
Appeal
• Strategy used frequently
in logical reasoning and
critical thinking debates
• Appeal to person
emotions – PATHOS
• Appeal to persons
reasoning- LOGOS
• Appeal to person’s
wisdom- ETHOS
Page | 2
