Facts & Statistics
What are facts and statistics?
Evidence that supports an argument and makes it believable.
What is emotive language?
Powerful words and phrases that evoke strong emotions.
What is repetition in persuasive writing?
- Where one word or phrase is repeated in a sentence or text.
- Example: "One choice, one action, one future!"
What is alliteration?
It is the repetition of the same sound at the beginning of words.
What is a rhetorical question?
It is a question asked for effect that is not meant to be answered.
Provide an example of a statistic that could support an argument about road safety.
Answer: An example is that "315 people were killed or injured in road traffic accidents in 2016 in Sydney."
Give an example of a phrase that uses emotive language.
Example: "The ponies suffer unimaginable pain as they are left to starve."
Why might a writer choose to repeat a specific idea?
- To stress its importance and keep it in the reader's mind.
- To emphasise a point and make it memorable.
Provide an example of alliteration in a persuasive statement.
Example: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
Give an example of a rhetorical question.
Example: "Can you imagine what it would be like to own a dog?"
Why are facts and statistics important in persuasive writing?
They provide authenticity and support to the argument.
Why is emotive language used in persuasive writing?
- It can make the reader feel strong emotions like guilt or sadness.
- To engage the reader's feelings and reinforce the argument.
Why do writers avoid using too much repetition in a persuasive text?
- Repetition weakens your argument if it is overused.
- Over using repetition dilutes the impact it has.
Why might a writer use alliteration in persuasive writing?
- To focus the attention of the reader on the important messages and to make the article more memorable.
- It creates a catchy rhythm that draws attention to important ideas.
Why use rhetorical questions in persuasive writing?
- They encourage the reader to think deeply about the issue.
- They can provoke thought and engage the reader's interest.
What is the difference between facts and statistics?
A fact is an established, well known truth, like the Earth has one moon.
A statistic is a number that represents a fact or idea, like "the average temperature on Earth is 15°C."
Use emotive language in a sentence relating to the following statements:
- Dogs are better than cats!
- Students should go to school every Saturday!
- All non-electric cars should be immediately banned.
Examples include:
- Dogs shower you with unconditional love, while cats couldn’t care less about you.
- Our children are being robbed of knowledge when they waste precious Saturdays at home.
- Gas-guzzling cars are destroying our planet and stealing the future from the next generation.
Create a sentence where repetition is used for the following topics:
- students should be forced to wear school uniforms
- school children should be banned from all social media
Examples:
- Uniforms are pointless. Uniforms are boring. Uniforms rob students of individuality!
- Danger! Danger! Danger!
Create an alliteration for the following topics:
- students should be forced to wear school uniforms
- school children should be banned from all social media
Examples:
- Wearing winter uniforms won't work!
- Children can choose carefully and be cautious online!
Create rhetorical questions for the following statements:
- Dogs are better than cats!
- Students should go to school every Saturday!
- All non-electric cars should be immediately banned.
Examples include:
- Who doesn't want to own a dog?
- Don't you think students will be too tired to learn if they go to school 6 days a week?
- Do you want a future for your children?