Persuasive Writing
Shape prose so a specific audience updates beliefs and acts. Balance ethos (credibility), pathos (stakes), and logos (reason and evidence); every paragraph must pass the “So what?” test.
When to Use
- Pitches, memos, proposals, changelogs users must adopt, advocacy, or any piece meant to change behavior—not mere documentation.
Workflow
- Audience & belief: Who reads this, what do they believe today, what would change their mind?
- Outcome: One concrete action or decision you want after the last line.
- Strategy: Pick emphasis (trust, urgency, logic) and an arc—often AIDA: Attention → Interest → Desire → Action.
- Draft: One idea per paragraph; lead with the strongest point; concrete evidence over abstract claims.
- Anticipate objections and address them; run “So what?” on each paragraph.
- Sharpen the CTA: single, specific next step.
Examples
Example 1: Internal rollout memo → open with user-visible win, cite one metric + risk mitigated, CTA: “Enable by Friday; reply with blockers.”
Example 2: Skeptical exec → lead with decision they care about, pre-empt “cost/schedule” objection with bounded scope and exit criteria.
1---2name: persuasive-writing3description: Persuasive Writing4---5# Persuasive Writing67Shape prose so a specific audience updates beliefs and acts. Balance **ethos** (credibility), **pathos** (stakes), and **logos** (reason and evidence); every paragraph must pass the **“So what?”** test.89## When to Use10- Pitches, memos, proposals, changelogs users must adopt, advocacy, or any piece meant to change behavior—not mere documentation.1112## Workflow131. **Audience & belief:** Who reads this, what do they believe today, what would change their mind?142. **Outcome:** One concrete action or decision you want after the last line.153. **Strategy:** Pick emphasis (trust, urgency, logic) and an arc—often **AIDA**: Attention → Interest → Desire → Action.164. **Draft:** **One idea per paragraph**; **lead with the strongest point**; concrete evidence over abstract claims.175. **Anticipate objections** and address them; run **“So what?”** on each paragraph.186. **Sharpen the CTA:** single, specific next step.1920## Examples21**Example 1:** Internal rollout memo → open with user-visible win, cite one metric + risk mitigated, CTA: “Enable by Friday; reply with blockers.”2223**Example 2:** Skeptical exec → lead with decision they care about, pre-empt “cost/schedule” objection with bounded scope and exit criteria.
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