The Importance of Being Persuasive

Marikit Tara Alto Uychoco

The world we live is in filled with people, products and movements that aim to persuade, individuals and
groups toward their own ends. This is seen in television, commercials, political speeches, election
campaigns and homilies in church. This is done even in the institutions that are closest to us, such as the
school and the family. Everywhere, everyone wants us to do something, whether it is to follow the Ten
Commandments, to buy the latest gadget, or to go against an ideology.

The truth is, many of the arguments and positions that we are given can be unreasonable deceitful, or
just plain wrong. Sometimes we can have the uneasy feeling that we are being forced into believing or
doing something that isn’t right and many times that feeling would be proven to be true. It is important
to be able to fully articulate the problems and concerns one may have when it comes to grappling with
several positions to discover their societal and political significance and to be able to use this skill in
every instance of our lives. According to Walter Lipman, we need to hear the opinion of others, since
“freedom of discussion improves our own opinions” ( Malaya and Uychoco 1999.8)

You are at the point in your life, where your parents can no longer shelter you from the evils of this
world, and the best weapon you have in this competitive and chaotic society is your mind. The ability to
appreciate and create sophisticated positions in this world is one that will guide you in every
endeavour, whether it is in choosing the right university, profession and later marriage partner.

One does not have to be a lawyer or a politician to be able to analyze arguments and positions. These
skills regarding argumentation and persuasion have been put to good use by parents, teachers, priest,
reporters, writers and businessmen, in short, anyone who wants to persuade, influence or control
anyone else. Among the Greeks, the Art of argumentation, rhetorike, was an essential part of a liberal
education.
As citizens of the nation, it is imperative that we are equipped with the skills necessary in
understanding, analyzing and constructing these different positions. This is an academic exercise that
when acquired correctly, should be applicable to your understanding of the world. According to former
US President Bill Clinton, “ For any country to succeed in the long term, it is imperative that citizens
understand the workings of government and also become active participants in it... We must take every
opportunity to examine our political life and to debate the grand issues of our time”(qtd. In Malaya and
Uychoco 1993:13).

Comprehension Questions:
1. Do you agree with the essay? Why or why not?
2. What are the instances when you felt you were doing or believing something wrong, but was
not able to fully explain or say why you felt that way?
3. What issues do you think are important in your life? Why is it important to analyze them?
4. Why is it important for citizens of the nation to be able to analyze an argument?
5. Do you think you should analyze the positions or arguments that come from one’s parents,
teachers, or religion? Why or why not?