You can apply the principles of editorial argumentation to personal persuasion.

Give students different roles to play in one of the scenarios. Have class members record the arguments used. You may give two groups the same situation. Ask the class to discuss who used the most persuasive argument? Did arguments follow the least-to-most important order?

• Persuade your parents you should be allowed to go with friends to a concert.
• Persuade your father you should be allowed to drive the family car. You recently put a dent in the front fender or got a traffic violation ticket for driving five miles over the speed limit.
• Persuade your sister to allow you to wear her favorite outfit.
• Persuade the six-year-old boy you are babysitting to eat a healthy dinner.
• Persuade your boyfriend to quit smoking.