Elements of Persuasion

To move your readers you must discover all available ways of persuasion. According to Aristotle, you can persuade your readers using three elements:

    1.   Logos: The appeal to the audience’s reason.

    2.   Pathos: The appeal to the audience’s emotions.

   3. Ethos: The degree of confidence that the speaker’s character or personality inspires in the readers.

Rational Appeal (Logos)	Emotional Appeal (Pathos)	Ethical Appeal (Ethos)
facts          case studies          statistics          experiments          logical reasoning          analogies          anecdotes          authority voices	belief in fairness          love          pity          greed          lust          revenge	trustworthiness    credibility    reliability           expert testimony           reliable sources           fairness

These three appeals can be used separately, or they can be combined to increase your persuasive effect. Whenever you argue a point in writing, you analyze your subject, topic, or issue in order to persuade your readers to think and act in a specific way.

Do you want to learn to write effectively? Join us for our three months intensive writing training.

Call us on 08037724431, 08054259757.

Why do I need to be persuasive?

To be persuasive means to have the power to induce action or belief. 

Persuasive writing moves readers to adopt a certain point of view or approve a course of action.

In recent years, people have learned how to use the skill of persuasive writing to gain influence in the society.

We listen to speeches by Martin Luther King, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and our actions are influenced by their words. They have simply learnt the art of persuasion.

We use persuasion:

·        In the work place, persuasion is crucial in negotiating a contract or a promotion.

·        In personal relationships, it is important to communicate our feelings and subtle aspects of compromise.

·        In marketing and copywriting, you need persuasion to engage your prospects and lead them to buy your products or services.

·        To get a good job, you need to convince your interviewer that you are worth their paycheck.

Persuasive skills are important in writing, marketing, negotiating, and even when wooing a woman.

We will discuss the elements of persuasion tomorrow.

Do you want to learn to write effectively? Join us for our three months intensive writing training.

Call us on 08037724431, 08054259757.

Using Numbers in Writing

I am sure you have wondered, “Are there really any rules when using numbers in writing?’’ 

Well, there are a few standards you should be familiar with, and they are outlined below: 

§ In scientific and technical writing, most numbers are written in figures. This is especially true for statistics and measurements.

o Example: Less than ½ of those polled responded.

§ In nontechnical writing, fractions and numbers 100 and below are usually written out.

o Example: one-half of clowns.

§ For round numbers over 100, like 200, 300, 1,000, 2,000, and 3,000, you can write them out in words. Round numbers can be expressed in two words (two hundred, one thousand). Otherwise, use figures.

o Examples: five thousand (round number), 66,987 (not a round number, so use figures).

§ Use numbers consistently.

o Example: Today, 23 lions and 67 dogs were trained.

o Or

o Today, twenty-three lions and sixty-seven dogs were trained.

§ Use figures in dates and addresses and with abbreviations and symbols. Example: April 14, 1988.

§ Numbers used with o’clock, past, to, till, and until are generally written out.

o Example: seven o’clock, twenty past one.

Do you want to learn to write effectively?

THE READY WRITERS CONSULT can help you develop your

writing skills through our intensive 3-month training,

tailored to your specific requirements. 

We also provide distance learning facilities to our clients, so

they can learn in the most convenient way possible.

For more information, call any of our hotlines:

MTN: 08030538099/08037724431

AIRTEL: 08022137976

GLO: 08072067661

  ETISALAT: 08183944607

  WEBSITE: www.trwconsult.com

Abbreviations

This week we will learn how to use numbers, abbreviations and capital letters when writing. We will begin with abbreviations. 

What is an abbreviation?

An abbreviation is a shortened form of an existing word or phrase.

How do you use abbreviations?

1)   Abbreviate social titles like Mister, Mr.; Missus, Mrs.

2)   Abbreviate title of rank.
     Example: Col. Remi Ashton

Title	Abbreviation
Ambassador	Amb.
Doctor	Dr.
Colonel	Col.
Honourable	Hon.
Lieutenant	Lt.
Governor	Gov.
Major	Maj.
Lieutenant General	Lt. Gen.
Lieutenant Colonel	Lt. Col.
President	Pres.
Professor	Prof.
Representative	Rep.
Superintendent	Supt.

3)   Abbreviate time and dates.

     Examples: A.M. (ante meridian), P.M. (post meridian).

4)   Abbreviate earned degrees.

Degree	Abbreviation
Associate’s Degree	A.A.
Bachelor of Arts	B.A. or A.B.
Bachelor of Business Administration	B.B.A.
Bachelor of Science	B.S.
Masters of Arts	M.A.
Doctor of Philosophy	Ph.D.
Masters of Business Administration	M.B.A.
Masters of Science	M.S.
Medical Doctor	M.D.
Registered Nurse	R.N.

5)   Abbreviate some historical periods.

     Examples: B.C. (before the birth of Christ), A.D. (Anno Domini), C.E. (common era).

6)   Abbreviate geographical terms.

Place	Abbreviations
Avenue	Ave.
Building	Bldg.
Boulevard	Blvd.
County	Co.
District	Dist.
Drive	Dr.
Island	Is.
Province	Prov.
Road	Rd.
Territory	Terr.
Route	Rte.

Is There a Reason “the Reason Why” Is Considered Wrong?

Many well-meaning writers and editors condemn “the reason why” and “the reason is because” for the crime of redundancy. But that stance (or, at least, part of it) is shaky. “The reason is because” has no supporters, but “the reason why,” despite also being idiomatic, is ubiquitous even among highly respected writers.

Yes, “the reason why” and “the reason is because” are redundant — guilty as charged. In place of “I want to know the reason why you took my book,” one can write “I want to know the reason (that) you took my book,” “I want to know why you took my book,” or “I want to know your reason for taking my book.”

Instead of “The reason is because I thought it was mine,” one can write, “The reason is that I thought it was mine,” “The reason is, I thought it was mine,” “I took it because I thought it was mine,” or, simply, “I thought it was mine.” (“Because I thought it was mine” is acceptable in informal usage.)

“The reason why” has been used frequently throughout the history of Modern English as well as that of Middle English — all the way back to the 1200s. (However, “the reason is because” has no such pedigree.) Only in the twentieth century did prescriptivist grammarians begin to urge writers to, whenever possible, use “the reason that” (or one of the other alternatives mentioned above).

I will continue to avoid combining reason and why in my own writing but will forgive the combination when I am editing that of others — and, of course, it is correct when reason is a verb, rather than a noun, as in “to reason why” — and I will not tolerate “the reason is because” in any form. However, I’m puzzled by why one is accepted and the other isn’t.

In “the reason why,” why is a conjunction linking the noun reason to the phrase “you took my book.” (Equivalent usage includes the phrases “the place where” and “the time when.”) But because is a conjunction, too. And though language maven Bryan A. Garner approves of “the reason why” yet condemns “the reason is because,” a sample sentence in the entry for because in Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, “The reason I haven’t been fired is because my boss hasn’t got round to it yet,” amuses me.

The dictionary uses the condemned redundancy in its example of usage of because. But it’s not the sentence that prompts my mirth; it’s the name of the source of the sample sentence: E. B. White, coauthor of the revered writing guide The Elements of Style.

-      Daily Writing Tips

My Initiation into Achebeism

By Samuel O. Adeyemi

Unlike everyone else, my initiation into the world of Prof. Chinua Achebe did not start with Things Fall Apart; neither did it start with A Man of the People, it started with reading the summary of Anthills of the Savannah.

As an Arts student in high school, Anthills of the Savannah was one of the recommended novels for my set. During that period, there was no money to buy all the recommended text books and novels; and not even the second-hand copies which are easily accessible and cheaper.

Not reading the recommended books is a guarantee for gallant failure! It was a catch22 situation!

As preparation for my exam moved into top gear, I got hold of the summary and digested it. Not quite long afterward, one of my colleagues bought all the recommended novels, plays and poems! I didn’t hesitate to get the books from him and devour it.

Having read the summary on several occasions, it was not hard to understand the plot and themes of Anthills of the Savannah.  Reading the original text served the purpose of broadening my knowledge of the book.

At that time, I used to read after school hours at Henry Carr Public Library, Iloro, Agege, Lagos. The library is a stone’s throw from my school. Though not properly and adequately stocked, I would go round the shelves each day and find some interesting books to read.

I read a number of books in that library. After my house, Henry Carr Library became my second home.

On a particular day, I came across Prof. Achebe’s A Man of the People on the shelf and immediately, I read it from cover to cover. After that, I moved to the next available one, Arrow of God.

In quick succession, with simplicity of language and rich proverbs, I was ushered into the world of Prof. Achebe!

As the curtains draw on the life of this great man of the people, I wish I had met him in flesh and blood!

In honour of this great man, I think the National Assembly and the Presidency should, as an urgent matter of national importance, declare his date of birth a day of literary appreciation in which Nigerians of all ages would have an opportunity to appreciate his life and works.

Also, if a monument is to be named after him, I think the national library should be named Prof. Chinua Achebe National Library. How does that sound? I think it sounds nice!

Samuel O. Adeyemi is a Journalist based in Lagos.

Note: These features reflect the writers' personal views and beliefs; they are not necessarily a specimen of The Ready Writers Consult's opinion.