Stories for the Non-Believer: Credibility, Bias, and Persuasion

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Session Type: Lightning Sessions

Session Capacity: N/A

Location: N/A

Room: Plaza B

Floor: Lobby Level

As lawyers-in-training, students must not only learn how to develop facts, but also how to turn these facts into a compelling story, often in writing. The readers for these stories are often skeptical or even hostile. So how can students learn to write in a truly persuasive manner? In this presentation, we will cover advanced persuasive techniques from journalism and flash fiction, including the use of a lede, choice of detail, adjustment of sentence structure, and inclusion of graphics. We will also discuss why these techniques work—how they trigger readers' schemas, and focus readers by reducing their cognitive load.