- Define and explain Writing to Argue in your own words
- Use key terms such as discourse marker accurately
- Apply what you have learned to new examples and questions
- Avoid the common mistakes learners make with this topic
This lesson focuses on Writing to Argue: persuade readers with structured arguments and rhetorical devices.
Persuade readers with structured arguments and rhetorical devices.
Key ideas
Plan every answer
Spend five minutes planning before writing a single sentence. For an essay, turn the question into three or four points; for a story, map the beginning, middle and end. A plan prevents rambling and guarantees you answer the actual question.
Show, don't just tell
In descriptive writing, she was sad tells; tears slid down her cheeks as she stared at the empty chair shows. Use the five senses — what can be seen, heard, smelled, touched and tasted — and choose precise nouns and verbs rather than piling on adjectives.
Key term — discourse marker: A connective that organises writing: however, furthermore, consequently, on the other hand. They guide the reader through your argument.
Essay question: How does the writer present fear? Plan one PEED paragraph using the quotation 'her feet refused to move'.
Point: the writer presents fear as something that freezes the body. Evidence: choose the short quotation 'her feet refused to move'. Explain: the verb refused personifies her feet, as if fear has taken control of them. Develop: this suggests fear is more powerful than willpower — a message that helps readers recognise their own fear. Write the paragraph in full, linking each sentence back to the question.
Answer: The writer presents fear as a force that paralyses the body. The quotation 'her feet refused to move' personifies her feet, suggesting fear has seized control of them. This develops into a wider message: fear can overpower willpower itself, which helps readers recognise their own experiences of being frozen by fright.
- Writing everything you know about a text Only include points that answer the question. Irrelevant knowledge, however accurate, earns no marks.
- Repeating the same discourse marker Vary however, furthermore and in contrast. Repeating also in every paragraph makes writing sound immature.
Practice
To organise your points and make sure you answer the actual question.
Any three of: sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste.
The central argument of an essay, which every paragraph supports.
Develop.
Quick check
Which of these best defines "discourse marker"?
Give a discourse marker that contrasts two ideas.
Which is stronger: the room was scary or shadows crawled across the walls?
- Writing to Argue: persuade readers with structured arguments and rhetorical devices.
- Plan every answer: Spend five minutes planning before writing a single sentence.
- tone: The attitude your writing conveys — formal, personal, angry, humorous.
- Watch out for: writing everything you know about a text