Persuasive writing: how students argue

Abstract

English persuasive writing is an important skill to be mastered by students as it is highly valued when and if students continue their studies to a higher education level. The objectives of this study are to: (1) identify the distinctive features of persuasive essays commonly adopted by Malaysian students; (2) investigate the problems students encounter while developing their arguments, and (3) to suggest strategies that can improve students’ persuasive writing skills. Seventy-nine essay samples from four secondary schools were selected for the analysis and Toulmin’s Model was employed as the tool for analyzing the essays. The focus of the analysis is to uncover the persuasive elements that the students have applied in their writing. The raw data were gathered by reading each of the essays and labeling the persuasive elements (claim, grounds, warrant, backing, rebuttal and qualifiers) which were identified. Findings from the analysis have indicated that the students applied the basic persuasive elements: claim, grounds and warrant. It was also discovered that the students lacked the optional persuasive elements; qualifier, rebuttal and backing. Students need to be exposed to new or alternative strategies of composing in order to help improve their persuasive writing skills.