randomwisdom.com

Wow, I never expected such a backlash to the last posting. I'll leave the post open, in case any of you still want to write further comments. But for the time being, let's move on, shall we?

It seems that quite a few people posting on the Internet these days have trouble writing a persuasive argument. (This isn't a personal attack against anyone in particular.) A persuasive argument is couched in a manner that makes people both understand and respect your viewpoint as a writer. It fleshes out a point of view, and always adds something constructive. A well-written persuasive argument can enflame, pacify, give instruction, reverse opinions, and broaden minds.

The following are some helpful guidelines for making persuasive arguments. Most of them apply not only to comments on weblogs, but also for email or even letters to Congress.

Pay attention to details.
If you spell everything correctly, use proper punctuation, write in sentences, and capitalize your writing properly, your post will stand out. I would hazard a guess that most readers subconsciously judge an author's intelligence by whether or not they can spell. One typo isn't going to ruin your point, but numerous small flaws only lessen the impact of a good argument -- use a spell-checker to ensure you don't fall into this trap! Of course, once you understand all the rules, you can start bending them a bit -- but you have to prove to your reader that you know them first. Prove to me that you have a solid grasp of the English language, and I'll take your argument much more seriously.

Use facts and quotes correctly.
A well-placed fact gives backbone to any argument, but only if used correctly. It's no good to just post a link to an article if you're not going to explain how it relates to the issue at hand. Copy and paste using quotation marks, mention the name of the source you're quoting from, and link the name of the source to the original article. If you don't know how to make a hypertext link, look it up! If you're going to refute someone else's article, make sure they actually said what you're trying to refute. If they said something ambiguous, call them out on it! But it makes you look quite foolish if you accuse someone of saying something that they didn't actually say.

Know your audience.
For example, if you're writing a politically liberal post in a pro-gun forum, you are likely to encounter very stiff resistance; you may need to break your arguments in slowly and indirectly. Addressing your audience also implies that you're sticking to the question or issue at hand; your readers want to read arguments relating to the topic under discussion, so give them what they want.

Avoid direct personal attacks.
Direct personal attacks (flames) are counterproductive. Assuming your post doesn't get moderated into oblivion, calling people names in public does nothing to advance your line of reasoning. Even worse, you've destroyed any respect the reader might have had for your point of view. If your only purpose in making a post is to call someone something nasty, you need to analyze your initial emotional response. Did they personally insult you? Simply state it, and don't let it degrade further. Does your opponent have a valid point. Try to counter it with logic if you can. Did they just state something that can't be proven (e.g. theological arguments or personal experience)? If you have to counter with an insult, it had better be witty or whimsical enough that it shows your composure. Don't lose your cool.

Read everything over before you hit the Post button.
Did you pay attention to details? Did you use your facts and quotes properly? Did you address your audience? Are you sure your post isn't fueled by a spontaneous urge to lash out? Read over your whole post again. Do your arguments make sense? Remember, in many cases, you can't unpost or fix things once you post, so make sure it's right BEFORE you send your words on their way.