Persuasion comes in many forms.
- Children use persuasion. "Mom, can I...? Pleeeeease? I will....."
- Parents use persuasion. "Be finished by ..... If you are not, these are the consequences..."
- Rulers and leaders use persuasion. Sometimes the persuasion is gentle. "Come to my feast!" Sometimes it is cruel. "Lop of their heads!"
- Politicians use persuasion. "If you vote for me.... I will...."
- Advertising makes premium use of persuasion. You'll look better, smell better, feel better, be smarter, be richer, be more respected, .... if....... (you buy/use our product).
- God uses the ultimate form of persuasion. He didn't just make promises, he lived them out. "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 8
History / Science / Health
Make a list of persuading words. (See description of List)
Discuss:
- In your study, was persuasion ever used?
- Who tried to persuade whom? Why?
- What tactics were used?
- What was the result?
- How did people feel in the end?
- Was this a Godly form of persuasion?
- Use Biblical examples to back up your ideas.
Imagine that you were one of the characters in your study. Write a paragraph or a dialog (see Dialog) showing the persuasive words you would use to bring about a desired change.
Imagine that you were a creature from your reading. How might you use persuasion? A bear persuading her cub to go up a tree, a cat persuading her kitten to come down from a rooftop, a bird persuading her young to fly, a seal persuading her pup to eat a sea urchin, Balaam's donkey persuading him to quit hitting....
Think of the least desirable person in your study.
- How might you persuade them to change their ways?
- What might you persuade them to do differently?
- How might you persuade them to consider God's ways?
Health and Career Ed
Collect several advertisements. Analyze each and determine what the advertiser is trying to persuade you to do or buy. Determine and what tactics they are using. (What are they openly or slyly promising? fame, wealth, health, happiness...?) Present your findings in a chart, table, visual presentation, note-form, or a series of short paragraphs.
General Persuasive Writing Invitation
For this invitation the student should think of something they feel strongly about. This could be their preference for a family summer vacation, a birthday event, a Biblical doctrine they hold dear, a problem they feel they have a solution for, or anything that excites them. Persuasion is often written as a letter, an advertisement, or a news article.
Here are two links with information on how to write persuasively:
This writing form doesn't have to be long. For primary students one paragraph is sufficient and Gr. K-2 can dictate their persuasion to the parent. Gr. 3 and above should do more of their own writing. Older students (above Grade 4) should write more than one paragraph.