Debating on Paper: How to write a persuasive essay to influence others’ opinions
Led by Priya Rao
The content of the course will cover the following topics:
1. The basics of persuasive writing
2. How to conduct your research efficiently
3. Constructing a cohesive argument
4. The “sauce” of persuasion
5. Translating / applying this skill to different contexts and scenarios
Through my eight years as a Global Perspectives teacher and my decade long experience as a debate coach, I have gathered some wisdom on persuasive speech and writing, and I am very excited to share these with the participants of this online course! In this ten-day course, participants will learn the basics of how a Global Perspectives Essay should be written. This course will enable teachers to guide their students through this very crucial and tricky component of the Global Perspectives and Research course. For a more general audience, this course will teach participants the basics of research and persuasive writing, which can be applied to any social science context.
Efficient research begins with formulating a sharply framed research question. It then moves on to sifting through a wide range of sources and selecting those which are credible, information rich and carry a clear opinion on the research question. Students, and even experienced writers often get overwhelmed at this juncture, thanks to the sheer volume of information that is now available at their fingertips. In this course, I will teach you simple techniques to help you manage your research results better and sort through them efficiently before you begin writing.
To construct a cohesive argument, one needs to have a clear understanding of the two sides of the debate that the research question opens itself up to. Thereafter, the writer must set out the critical issues that must be dealt with, supported by the most relevant information collated through research. Adding the sauce of persuasion requires a generous serving of flair and clear-mindedness, which I will teach you to develop and hone through your day to day reading and micro-writing practice. By the end of this course, participants will be able to use their persuasive writing skills in contexts as wide as board examination projects, college course essays, blog/social media posts and also for publication as articles in periodicals. Understanding the requirements of each type of writing task is always the starting point, but efficient research and incisive writing make all the difference between “good” writing and “writing to influence others’ opinions”.
Priya Rao is a graduate of the National Law School of India University, Bangalore. She graduated with honours in the year 2000, then went on to get her Hong Kong Law qualification in 2003, from the City University of Hong Kong. During her decade-long career as a lawyer, Priya has worked at Arthur Andersen in their Direct Taxes team, and with various other law firms and legal services companies such as Rainmaker. In 2014, Priya decided to pursue her dream of becoming a teacher. After obtaining her Cambridge International Diploma in Teaching and Learning, she joined Mallya Aditi International School in Bangalore in 2015, where she teaches AS and A Level Global Perspectives and Research, AS Level Thinking Skills, ISC Legal Studies, and co-heads the Aditi Debating Society. She is a Global examiner for AS and A Levels Global Perspectives and Research. Priya is passionate about helping her learners become clear thinkers and active citizens who can apply their classroom knowledge to the context of the wider world.