Writing Techniques in Informative,

Persuasive and Argumentative Texts

Objective: Use a variety of informative, persuasive and argumentative writing techniques. (EN10WC_111h-13)
What is a writing technique? A writing technique is a style an author uses to convey his message in a manner
that is effective and meaningful to the readers. Authors use different writing techniques to fit their purposes for
writing. Understanding the different types of writing techniques is important because you will need to Argumentative
Writing is a writing style in which the author presents the arguments of both sides of the issue. It could be that both
sides are presented equally balanced or it could be that one side is presented more forcefully than the other. The
purpose of the author is to present a case before the readers in a convincing manner. Change your style of writing to
make a connection with your audience.
Types of Writing Techniques:
1. Informative Writing
2. Persuasive Writing
3. Argumentative Writing
An informative essay educates readers on a topic. They can have one of several functions: to define a term, compare
and contrast something, analyze data, or provide a how-to. They do not, however, present an opinion or try to persuade
readers.
Here are the various writing techniques in an informative text:
1. Make the information interesting - Good writers spark their readers’ interest through memorable quotations,
compelling examples, vivid details, strong explanations, and interesting word choices.
2. Get the facts straight when working with sources, when paraphrasing, when using examples, or when relating
details, you have to be accurate and precise.
3. Organize information. The manner by which information can be organized depends on the information the writer
is imparting. It can be: Facts and Statistics, Cause and effect, Definition and examples, Listing of ideas, Sequential.
Informative Text
The best way to beat your enemy is to be familiar with it. At present time, this statement is very applicable. A
new enemy named Covid 19 has been attacking mankind. The best way to prevent and slow down transmission is to
be well informed about the COVID-19 virus, the disease it causes and how it spreads. According to World Health
organization, Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus.
Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover
without requiring special treatment. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular
disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness. To be protected
from infection, frequent washing the hands or rubbing of alcohol and not touching your face are highly recommended.
The COVID-19 virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person
coughs or sneezes, so it’s important that you also practice respiratory etiquette (for example, by coughing into a flexed
elbow).

Persuasive writing contains the author’s opinions and biases as well as reasons. When an author writes in a persuasive
style, he is trying to convince the readers of a position or belief.
The following are various writing techniques in a persuasive text:
1. Balance of fact/statistics and emotional content- Make facts and statistics up if necessary, but keep them
believable.
2. Make opinions sound as if it is fact. Use the imperative form of the verb. This encourages the reader to support
your stand.
3. Use language to stir up emotions in your reader. Make them feel guilt, sympathy, anger, excitement etc., by
choosing your words carefully.
4. Involve the reader and make them think about the issue.
5. Influence the readers by intentionally presenting only one side of the arguments. (bias)
Persuasive Text
Despite the unglamorous inconveniences we experience with mask, there are a lot of reasons why wearing
mask is a very vital health protocol. Whenever we mask our nose and mouth, we protect ourselves and others too from
infection. An infected person may or may not manifest symptoms of COVID-19 so mask will ensure that there will be
no transfer of virus from one to another. Moreover, we don’t know the health condition of anyone near us. If the
person happens to have existing diseases like cancer or diabetes, then they should not acquire the virus because their
immunity is weak. Also, our health care like doctors and nurses, being front liners are very much exposed to the
carriers of virus and so they should be protected by mask. Will you not cringe in fear if you find out that the doctors
themselves are the ones infected? Who will treat the sick people if doctors themselves are carriers of the virus?
Eventually, we want our community to thrive, businesses to open and employees to be healthy so we can go back to
the old normal life we used to enjoy. So with these reasons, I am enjoining you to wear your mask regularly and
properly!

Argumentative Writing is a writing style in which the author presents the arguments of both sides of the issue. It
could be that both sides are presented equally balanced or it could be that one side is presented more forcefully than
the other. The purpose of the author is to present a case before the readers in a convincing manner.
The following are various writing techniques in an argumentative text:
1. Have a focus or emphasis. Perhaps you have three to five good reasons for your position. When using this
technique, you present one reason as being the strongest and most important, and you spend more time developing and
emphasizing it.
2. Acknowledge the other person's argument, and try to overcome it with counterarguments of your own. This
technique is effective because it communicates that you understand both sides of the issue. It makes you sound more
credible and knowledgeable on the topic, and therefore more believable or convincing.
Argumentative Text
COVID-19 19, which has proven to have serious, life-threatening complications has affected us mentally,
economically and socially. Stopping this pandemic requires using all the tools available such as social distancing,
wearing of mask and face shield and frequent hand washing. However, these health protocols are not enough to stop
the virus from spreading. Vaccination is the best tool to stop the pandemic. Vaccines will work with the immune
system so it will be ready to fight the virus once a person is exposed. Even if the herd-immunity threshold is not
reached, every additional person vaccinated is a person who not be spreading virus than. A person exposed to less
virus is also a person less likely to get sick, to go to the hospital, or to die. Unfortunately, there are people who refuse
to be vaccinated. They think that vaccine is not safe and effective because of the different controversies attached to it.
They may have reasons to be doubt however, they should know that these vaccines underwent clinical trials and must
first show they are safe and effective before any vaccine can be authorized or approved for use. Thus, COVID-19
vaccination is a safer way to help build protection.

Learning Tasks
Activity 1. Analyze the following texts. Put a check if the writing technique is present in each text. Write a specific
answer when asked.
A. The internet is a one-stop shop of information and communication. The web gives students access to a tremendous
amount of research from the comfort of school or home. For example, if students want to know about fashion, they
can easily go to a search engine and find all of the resources they could possibly want or need on the topic. Next, the
internet allows instant communication with access to everything from email to Skype. Students who have access to the
web can communicate with parents and friends during breaks, resolving issues or letting parents know about a
schedule change. Finally, the internet will train students to compete in the highly-competitive and technologically-
savvy world. Clearly, the internet has made life instantaneous and convenient.
The informative text:
1. made the information interesting using strong explanations, and interesting word choices.
2. presented the facts straight when working with sources, when paraphrasing, when using examples, or when
relating details.
3. organized information appropriately.
4. How did the author organize the information in the informative text?

B. I told mother that I prefer money over packed meal for my baon. One reason is that a packed lunch is no longer
warm during recess time unlike the freshly-cooked food served in the canteen. Another reason is that I find it a hassle
to bring my food container to the canteen and back to my bag after eating. It is much convenient for me to just use the
utensils in the canteen and leave the clearing ang washing to the canteen crew. Also, I intend to save up from my baon
because I am planning to buy something from my savings later. Most importantly, I am relieving my mother of the
time and effort she needs to spend in preparing my packed lunch. How about you? Do you also want to have a chill
student life without having to worry about food spilling in your bag?
The persuasive text:
1. presented balance of fact and emotional content
2. made opinion sound as if it is a fact
3. used language to stir up emotions in your readers to make readers feel the same way as the writer
4. involved the readers and made them think about the issue by using pronouns “you and we”
5. presented only one side of the arguments (bias) to influence the readers’ belief
C. Parents, doctors, and media-effects researchers say that online games are destructive. They accuse online games of
distracting students from schoolwork. There are many reported cases of students missing their classes just to play
video games. These students tend to become rough and aggressive because the kind of virtual games they are addicted
to are too violent. Although there is no actual person to person contact when they fight, undesirable traits are also
developed in them like trash talking and insensitivity to other’s feelings. Most of all, video games addiction can be
hazardous to health. Players tend to be so engrossed in winning the game that they already missed their meals and
even the call-of-nature, not to mention the eye strain and lack of movements as they are glued to the computer table
for long hours. Defenders of computer games counter that the games do have positive aspects. They note that the
games help improve eye-hand-brain coordination, develop reasoning, and improve perception of space. They may be
true at some point, but these positive aspects can only be achieved if playing online games is done in moderation.
The argumentative text:
1. presented one reason as being the strongest and most important, and spent more time developing and emphasizing
it. (Focus/Emphasis)
2. acknowledged the other person's argument, and tries to overcome it with counterarguments of his own.

Activity 2. Read each statement given on the first column. On the second column, identify whether the type of text is
informative, persuasive or argumentative. On the third column, specify the writing technique/s you will use to develop
each into a paragraph. The first three items are given as examples.
Sentence Taken from a Paragraph Type of Text Writing Techniques to Be Used
1. The Department of Environment and informative Give accurate and precise information by
Natural Resources (DENR) said that PM2.5, citing the exact source in the DENR (the
a micro particle matter that causes hazardous person or official of DENR who made the
smog, was a major pollutant. claim)
2. Social media is not good to people because persuasive Use of the phrase not good and
it endangers a person’s privacy and safety. endangers a person’s privacy and safety
sounds like a fact but is actually an
opinion.
3. Finally, online learning is better than argumentative Present the strongest and the most
modular because teacher and students are important argument at the last as hinted
able to communicate in real time set up. Even by the transition word finally and the
without leaving their homes, learning writer focused on developing it lengthily.
experience is attained through virtual
engagement via video conferencing.
4. Some are opposing the idea of sex __________________ _________________________________
education to be taught in schools because of _ __
morality issue; however, it is believed that _________________________________
sex will be better understood by young __
people if it will be explained in a more _________________________________
formal way as part of the curriculum. __
_________________________________
__

5. Will you allow these greedy businessmen, __________________ _________________________________

relaxing in their soft beds to continue gaining _ __
money from illegal logging while we, the _________________________________
poor ordinary citizen are slowly sinking to __
death due to the massive flooding caused by _________________________________
quarrying even during an ordinary rain? __
_________________________________
__

6.These are the steps to follow in making __________________ _________________________________

your Facebook account to private setting. _ __
First…Second…Next.. And.. finally.. _________________________________
__
_________________________________
__
_________________________________
__
 7.With 2,288 COVID-19 cases, being the __________________ _________________________________
highest since November 2020, do you think it _ __
is wise to ease up the quarantine _________________________________
classification in the Philippines? __
_________________________________
__
_________________________________
__

8.When you post everything about you in __________________ _________________________________

social media, you can be bashed, you can be _ __
stalked and your identity can be used in _________________________________
crime. Thus, you should not allow social __
media to control your everyday life. _________________________________
__
_________________________________
__

Activity 3. Answer the following questions.

1. If you want to convince the readers of the benefits of being a plantita/plantito, what type of text will you write?
2. What information should be given in an informative text to make the writer and the text credible?
3. When the writer involves the readers to think/feel the same as he is, the writer is writing what kind of text?
4. The mention of opposing view with the writer’s rebuttal or refute to the opposing view is used in what kind of text?
5. The paragraph starts with the sentence, Pets should be allowed in school for a number of reasons. What
organization should the writer use as a writing technique?

Activity 4. Performance Task

Read and understand the informative text below. Use the information given to convince your fellow students
to follow the instructions given in the text. You can present it in a manner you think will be interesting to read. You
can choose from the following options:
a. Campaign poster
b. Comic strip
c. Blog/Vlog
d. A persuasive or argumentative text
e. A brochure or leaflet

Informative text:
1How many times have you experienced reading an assigned material and finding yourself thinking about the
Kdrama you want to watch or becoming excited about your much-awaited get together with your buddy on the
weekend? 2Your attention has been diverted to something else more interesting. 3You ended up dropping the material
and decided to continue with whatever you are engrossed with.
4Everyone will agree if I say that reading requires a lot of focus and concentration. 5Here is a four-step
method which can help you prevent your mind from wandering while reading. 6First, before you attempt to read
anything, look over the length of the material to see if you have time to read it: if not, mark a spot where you intend to
stop. 7Second, read the title and the first paragraph, looking for the main idea of the article. 8Next, read the boldface
headings, if there are any, and the first sentence of each paragraph. 9And finally, read the last paragraph, which will
probably contain a summary of the material. 10By doing this, you condition your mind to 'accept the material you
want to read, and thus reduce mind-wandering.