Power+Point+Master+plans+and+The+Art+of+Persuasion

 Power Point Presentations-Planning Sheet

“The Master Plan” Group Members:

Movement:

(Meaning=how will you convince Mr. Flowerchild that your Movement was the most influential during the 1960s and today?)
 * What is your group’s main argument?


 * Create index cards that are numbered in order with the name of each speaker -if you plan on speaking during your powerpoint presentation. **Each group is responsible for OPENING COMMENTS and CLOSING COMMENTS at a minimum!**

Concerns:
 * What concerns do you have as a group? Do you all understand your research well enough to be able to persuade Mr. Flowerchild of the importance and value of your Movement?

Solutions:

**BE ORGANIZED and remember to GO OUT WITH A BANG!**

**SEE PERSUASIVE TECHNIQUES ON NEXT PAGE**

For the PROS! Repetition Talk to anyone well versed in __ [|learning psychology] __ __,__ and they’ll tell you repetition is crucial. It’s also critical in persuasive writing, since a person can’t agree with you if they don’t truly get what you’re saying. Of course, there’s good repetition and bad. To stay on the good side, make your point in several different ways, such as directly, using an example, in a story, via a quote from a famous person, and once more in your summary. Reasons Why Remember the power of the word [|because]. Psychological studies have shown that people are more likely to comply with a request if you simply give them a //reason why//… The strategy itself does make sense if you think about it. We don’t like to be told things or asked to take action without a reasonable explanation. When you need people to be receptive to your line of thinking, always give reasons why. Consistency Consistency in our thoughts and actions is a valued social trait. We don’t want to appear inconsistent, since, whether fair or not, that characteristic is associated with instability and flightiness, while consistency is associated with integrity and rational behavior. Use this in your writing by getting the reader to agree with something up front that most people would have a hard time disagreeing with. Then rigorously make your case, with plenty of supporting evidence, all while relating your ultimate point back to the opening scenario that’s already been accepted. Social Proof Looking for guidance from others as to what to do and what to accept is one of the most powerful psychological forces in our lives. It can determine whether we deliver aid to a person in need.

 Examples of [|social proof] can be found in testimonials and outside referrals, and it’s the driving force behind social media. But you can also casually integrate elements of social proof in your writing, ranging from skillful alignment with outside authorities to blatant name dropping. Comparisons <span style="color: #2f2e2e; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> [|Metaphors, similes and analogies] are the persuasive writer’s best friends. When you can relate your scenario to something that the reader already accepts as true, you’re well on your way to convincing someone to see things your way. <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">Agitate and Solve <span style="color: #2f2e2e; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">This is a persuasion theme that works as an overall approach to making your case. First, you identify the problem and qualify your audience. Then you agitate the reader’s pain before offering your solution as the answer that will make it all better. <span style="color: #2f2e2e; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">The agitation phase is not about being mean; it’s about [|empathy]. You want the reader to know unequivocally that you understand his problem because you’ve dealt with it and/or are experienced at eliminating it. The credibility of your solution goes way up if you demonstrate that you truly feel the prospect’s pain. <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">Prognosticate <span style="color: #2f2e2e; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Another persuasion theme involves providing your readers with a glimpse into the future. If you can convincingly present an extrapolation of current events into likely future outcomes, you may as well have a license to print money. <span style="color: #2f2e2e; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">This entire strategy is built on credibility. If you have [|no idea what you’re talking about], you’ll end up looking foolish. But if you can back up your claims with your credentials or your obvious grasp of the subject matter, this is an extremely persuasive technique. <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">Address Objections <span style="color: #2f2e2e; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">If you present your case and someone is left thinking “yeah, but…”, well, you’ve lost. <span style="color: #2f2e2e; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Addressing all the [|potential objections] of at least the majority of your readers can be tough, but if you really know your subject the arguments against you should be fairly obvious. If you think there are no reasonable objections to your position, you could be in for a shock! <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">Storytelling <span style="color: #2f2e2e; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> [|Storytelling] is really a catch-all technique—you can and should use it in combination with any and all of the previous nine strategies. But the reason why storytelling works so well lies at the heart of what persuasion really is. <span style="color: #2f2e2e; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Stories allow people to persuade themselves, and that’s what it’s really all about. You might say that we never convince anyone of anything—we simply help others independently decide that we’re right. Do everything you can to tell better stories, and you’ll find that you are a terribly persuasive person.