Readings
Persuasive writing
Persuasive pieces written by students in the practice, published with their consent and credited to them. Each is read for what the writing does rather than for what it scored.
PersuasiveReading to comeShould We Ban Books?LouisA persuasive piece arguing against removing books from school libraries. Callum's reading to follow.
PersuasiveReading to comeSchools Should Balance AIMartinA persuasive essay on the uncritical use of artificial intelligence in schools. Callum's reading to follow.
What is taught against these pieces
The moves taught against persuasive writing, drawn from the practice's own technique record.
- Contention = Position + Reason
- A contention states a clear position, yes, no, or a degree, plus the reason behind it, stated directly and never as a plain yes or no.
- The Persuasive Technique Toolkit
- A standing list of named devices taught as a toolbox: rhetorical questioning, emotive and inclusive language, high modality, hyperbole, analogy, anecdote, statistics, appeal to authority, value judgment, repetition.
- Rebuttal / Imagined Opposition
- Anticipating the strongest version of the opposing case and answering it, rather than arguing against a weaker one.
- Thematic Divide of Supporting Arguments
- Separating supporting arguments by theme so each paragraph advances a distinct line rather than restating the last.
- Don't Qualify a Good Idea
- Removing the hedges that weaken a sound claim, so the argument carries the confidence its reasoning has earned.
These are drawn from the record of techniques used in lessons. The full archive holds every piece published so far, and the Clinic works the same moves at the level of a single sentence.