Using Writing Strategies to Influence Opinion.

Viktor Zhytovoz

Professor Priscilla Mainardi

English Composition 101

December 4, 2015

On my honor, I have neither received nor given any unauthorized assistance on this assignment.

Using Writing Strategies to Influence Opinion.

Freedom of the press is one of the main principals of any democracy which guarantees that everyone has the right to circulate personal opinions in print without censorship by the government. This freedom to express different opinions using different writing strategies cannot be denied or restricted even if the content of this opinion is not supported by the majority of the society. This principal allows an author to choose different writing techniques and apply them to a specific topic because a correctly selected writing technique can effectively convince readers of the author’s belief sometimes even more than the content of the article. Examples of different types of writing techniques can be viewed in the articles: “School Is Bad For Children,” by John Holt which seriously discusses the idea that current schooling system is bad for children; Glenn Sacks, in his article, “Stay-at-Home Dads” refutes the gender role stereotype that men are not capable of being a “housewife” and taking care of children; Steven Pinker, in his article “Mind over Mass Media” considers only the positive affect of the new media technologies on people’s mental development. The authors all choose very controversial topics for their discussions; however, we must ask the question, why are the articles so convincing?

The answer is in each author’s ability to pick a correct writing strategy which effectively overcomes possible objections from the readers John Holt effectively appeals to the reader’s emotions: the adult’s childhood memories and parental worrying about their children, while Glenn Sacks effectively describes personal experiences of switching of gender roles as a lifestyle within his family, discussing the advantages and disadvantages of...