Orals 1 pov tips (a)

Using Language to Persuade - Unit 2

Presenting your point of view Presenting your point of view on an issue gives you the chance to express your own opinions and judgements.

Everything you have learnt about analysing persuasive language is extremely relevant: as with all the examples of persuasive writing you have looked at, you will need to construct a sound and coherent argument, provide strong examples and evidence, and use a range of persuasive techniques to help persuade your audience to agree with you.

You will also need to thoroughly research the issue so that you are well informed and understand all of the different arguments and viewpoints. A strong rebuttal of the viewpoints you disagree with is a crucial part of presenting your own position on an issue.

Your point of view can be written as an essay or in any of the newspaper forms you have studied, such as a letter to the editor or opinion piece; it can also be given as an oral presentation, usually in the form of a speech to your class.

What is an issue?

To present your point of view you will need to study an issue that is being debated (or has recently been debated) in the Australian media. An issue is a controversial subject that has caused a stir or a debate, with at least two clearly defined opposing 'sides' or viewpoints. An issue can be in the media for a short period of time, or it can recur over several years. An issue comes about when public interest is aroused and divided. This can happen when: •

a high-profile person promotes a cause and generates interest in an issue

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a change in government policy affects people's security or general welfare

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a catastrophic event occurs

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a major report is released

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a controversial opinion appears in the media.

Your issue: ________________________________________________________________________________ Once you have chosen your issue, gather information on it from a range of sources, including newspapers, magazines, the internet, and television and radio programs. Draw up a table with the following headings to collect all of your information in one place:

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Using Language to Persuade - Unit 2 SOURCE AND DATE OF TEXT TITLE OF TEXT AND WRITER'S NAME

WRITER'S POINT OF VIEW AND MAIN ARGUMENTS

Six steps to writing your point of view This section gives you a six-step process for developing your point of view on an issue. It assumes you have already selected an issue and read as many viewpoints on it as you can. Remember, your point of view is not just your opinion 'for' or 'against' an issue: it also includes your reasons for holding this opinion, your reasons for rejecting opposing viewpoints, and the examples and evidence that support your view. The more carefully and thoroughly you prepare your arguments and evidence, the more effectively you will present your point of view.

STEP 1: BRAINSTORM Brainstorm your ideas and write them all down. Have a look at these ideas to see if any stand out for you, then explore the possible arguments you could develop around these ideas.

STEP 2: DECIDE YOUR ARGUMENT, AUDIENCE AND FORM Decide these in the following order: •

Contention: What is your view on the issue? What do you want your audience to agree with?

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Audience: To whom are you writing or speaking? How best can you communicate your ideas to your audience?

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Form: Is your piece an essay, an editorial or a letter to the editor? Which form will be the most persuasive?

STEP 3: PLAN Use the table below to organise your ideas. Remember that a well-balanced point-of-view piece will show evidence that you have considered both sides of the issue. So make sure you include at least two or three arguments against your contention, and work out how you are going to rebut them (explain why you think they are wrong or less compelling than your own arguments).

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Using Language to Persuade - Unit 2

CONTENTION: ARGUMENTS FOR

EVIDENCE

ARGUMENTS AGAINST

REBUTTAL

Now number each point to indicate the order in which you will discuss them.

STEP 4: WRITE A FIRST DRAFT A good structure will look something like this: •

Introduction - Identify the issue; give some brief background information; state your main contention.

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Body paragraph 1 - Your first (strongest) argument.

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Body paragraph 2 - Your second (next strongest) argument.

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Body paragraph 3 - Your third (next strongest) argument.

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Body paragraph 4 - Explanation of arguments against your point of view.

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Body paragraph 5 - Rebuttal of arguments against your point of view.

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Conclusion - Restatement of your contention; summary of arguments.

STEP 5: EDIT YOUR WORK •

Is your writing clear and fluent throughout?

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Is each paragraph linked to the next?

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Are the sentences varied?

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Is the language appropriate for the audience?

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Is your argument supported with evidence?

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Have you included effective persuasive techniques?

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Have you rebutted opposing arguments?

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Using Language to Persuade - Unit 2

STEP 6: WRITE THE FINAL DRAFT Make the changes from step 5, and then re-read your final draft, making sure your writing flows and your point of view is sustained throughout.

Sample structure for your point of view This section gives you a structure for writing an effective point of view piece, with step-by-step guidelines for the introduction and conclusion. You can, of course, vary the structure, but ensure you keep the key elements in each section.

INTRODUCTION Use this four-sentence model to construct your introduction.

Sentence 1: Brief background on the issue Example: In 2008, new laws for P-plate drivers were introduced in states across Australia, including a night-time curfew and the compulsory fitting of alcohol interlock devices for people found drink driving.

Your 1st sentence: __________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Sentence 2: Identify the issue Example: One of the most controversial of these reforms is the restriction against P-plate drivers carrying more than one passenger.

Your 2nd sentence: _________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Sentence 3: One or two main positions on the issue Example: While some people believe it is high time that something was done to prevent so many young drivers being killed in car accidents, others feel that restricting the number of passengers a P-plate driver can carry will result in a range of negative consequences.

Your 3rd sentence: __________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Using Language to Persuade - Unit 2

Sentence 4: State your main contention Example: While it is true that young people are more prone to road accidents than other groups, increasing the compulsory hours of driver education would do more to solve this problem than punitive restrictions.

Your 4th sentence: __________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

BODY PARAGRAPHS You now need to turn your notes from your plan into full sentences. Use the following sentence starters or similar phrases to introduce your points: •

As the preceding/following example shows...

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The research/ statistics/ evidence clearly suggests that...

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Another perspective on the issue is offered by...

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It is also important to remember that...

You should also make use of the persuasive language techniques you studied in the previous chapters. Learning about persuasive techniques has two purposes: to enable you to analyse the writing of others, and to give you the skills for presenting your own point of view in a persuasive manner.

CONCLUSIONS The following model gives you one good way to structure your conclusion.

Sentence 1: Sum up the arguments for your position Use a confident opening phrase such as: •

In conclusion...

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It is clear that...

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As the evidence shows...

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In summary...

Example: As the evidence shows, inexperience is the most significant factor in road accidents that involve young drivers, and is best tackled through increased driver education.

Your 1st sentence: __________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Using Language to Persuade - Unit 2

Sentence 2: Sum up rebuttals of opposing arguments Example: While some people argue for other measures such as restricting passenger numbers, they fail to take into account the negative consequences of these measures, such as the increased likelihood of P-plate drivers drink driving.

Your 2nd sentence: _________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sentence 3: Restate your main contention in different words Example: Clearly, driver education offers the greatest protection for P-plate drivers.

Your 3rd sentence: __________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sentence 4: Look to future perspectives on the issue Example: Next year's road toll figures should tell us whether or not the latest reforms have worked - if they have not, then there can be no doubt left that punitive measures don't work and that education is the only way to reduce P-plater involvement in accidents.

Your 4th sentence: __________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Oral presentations Your school will decide whether you will present your point of view on an issue as a written task or an oral presentation.

Like a written piece, an oral presentation of your point of view should present a sustained and reasoned argument supported by evidence. It can be constructed in a similar way to a written piece, with an introduction, a body and a conclusion.

However, oral presentations also give you a great opportunity to use to your advantage non-verbal elements such as voice, facial expression, gestures and body language. These can all be used to capture and maintain your audience's interest, and to help you persuade them to agree with you.

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Using Language to Persuade - Unit 2

TIPS FOR SUCCESS Use the following tips to make your oral presentation as engaging and effective as possible: •

Use cue cards. Even if you initially write your speech out in full, you should never read directly from your written speech. Instead, learn your speech well so you don't need to rely on detailed notes. On cue cards, jot down the main points you want to make. You will speak much more naturally and engagingly if you aren't reading straight from your paper the whole time.

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Greet your audience. They will feel much more involved and interested in what you have to say if you address them personally.

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Make eye contact. This helps the audience feel that there is a connection between you and them, and makes you appear confident and interested in communicating.

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Have a lively opening. Having your audience's attention from the start is a lot easier than trying to catch it after they've already tuned out. Try telling an anecdote or even a joke, or show the audience how the issue is relevant to them.

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Involve the audience. You can use persuasive techniques such as rhetorical questions and inclusive language, or get them to answer a question by raising their hands.

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