Lowell Writing Center: LC-406B, 978-656-3365 Bedford Writing Center: LIB 7A, 781-280-3727

Argumentative vs. Persuasive Writing

Subtle, but Significant, Differences

Goal of ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING:

To get reader to acknowledge that your side is

valid and deserves consideration as another

Starting point of argumentative writing:

Research a topic and then align with one side.

Viewpoint used in argumentative writing:

Acknowledge that opposing views exist, not

only to hint at what a fair-minded person you

are, but to give you the opportunity to

counter these views tactfully in order to show

why you feel that your own view is the more

Doesn’t need an audience to convince. The

writer is content with simply putting it out

there.

Attitude of argumentative writing:

Simply to get the reader to consider you have

an idea worthy of listening to. The writer is

sharing a conviction, whether the audience

ends up agreeing or not.

General technique of persuasive writing:

Blends facts and emotion in attempt to

convince the reader that the writer is

“right.”(Often relies heavily on opinion.)

Starting point of persuasive writing:

Identify a topic and your side.

Viewpoint used in persuasive writing:

Persuasion has a single-minded goal. It is

based on a personal conviction that a

dismissed/refuted.)

Audience of persuasive writing:

Needs intended audience. Knowing what they

think and believe, the writer “attacks”

attempting to persuade them to his side.

Attitude of persuasive writing:

Persuasive writers want to gain another

“vote” so they “go after” readers more