Writing is a talent for some, while it is a skill for others. Which of these two are you? To natural writers, persuasive writing techniques seem to come with style which is developed in time through exploring and reading. Those who go to school, learn it from their teachers and mentors while doing also a lot of reading on the side. To be a writer, reading is a necessary tool to expand one’s facility for language and understanding. But more than anything else, writers must have the gifts of a listening ear, an observing eye and an understanding heart.
The basic skills of writing can always be taught in and learned from schools. More than these, persuasive writing techniques can only be as convincing as you are convinced; it cannot be more than that. Persuasive writing techniques like repetition, supplying articles with data, facts and statistics and of showing interpolations and predictions can all be learned from school. Relating these with real people and circumstances is one you need to learn yourself. You will be educated to be ingenious and crafty, but you must figure these out for yourself. With exploration comes many learning experience which is the best teacher of all.
There are persuasive writing techniques which can be learned while doing persuasive writing and these are Ethos, Logos and Pathos. How are readers persuaded by these?
1. Ethos pertains to who is doing the persuasion. There are people who are authorities and whose opinion matter. An example would be Oprah Winfrey who happened to be one of the most influential women in America today. Her opinion and judgment counts.
2. Logos mean logical reasoning and sensible evidences. One expect convincing readers without supplying hard facts that are credible.
3. Pathos touches on the emotional tone of the written words to appeal to the sensitive side of the readers. Pathos only works once logos and ethos have convinced the readers in due time and with wisdom.
Schools can only technically help the student put together words according to persuasive writing techniques, but the style is something the writer develops on his own. The ones who can leave a mark in this world are those who can feel , listen and see more.
Steve is a writer for the web site Taxes 2012 which provides free tax return options.
