Top Persuasive Techniques for 11+ Success
Use persuasive techniques confidently and appropriately—learn what they are, how to use them, and when to stop.
Core Techniques with Examples
Rhetorical Questions
Invite the reader to agree with you.
“Do we really want our playground littered with plastic?”
Rule of Three
Groups of three feel complete and memorable.
“Safer, cleaner, happier.”
Facts & Statistics
Use simple, plausible numbers.
“Last term, our school threw away 400 plastic bottles.”
Expert/Authority
Reference a credible source.
“Our science department confirms recycling bins halve waste.”
Emotive Language
Select words to trigger feeling—use sparingly.
“Every wasted meal is a missed chance to help someone.”
Anecdote
A tiny story to make it real.
“On Monday, the bin outside Year 6 overflowed before lunch.”
Direct Address
Speak to the reader: you/we/our.
“Together, we can fix this.”
Counter & Rebuttal
Anticipate objections; answer calmly.
“Some will argue it’s expensive; however, grants reduce costs.”
Sentence Stems
“We must…”, “It is vital that…”, “Consider this…”, “If we continue to…, then…”, “Surely we can agree that…”, “Imagine a school where…”, “The evidence is clear: …”
Pitfalls to Avoid
- Overloading with devices—choose a few that fit your argument
- Fake statistics or wild exaggeration—keep it plausible
- Insults or sarcasm—stay respectful and mature
- Vague claims—always add a concrete example or reason
Practice
Transform: “School lunches should be healthier.”
Rewrite using a rhetorical question, one statistic, and a rule of three.