Opinion is what you think, persuasion is how you try to make someone else agree with you, and argument is when both sides try to convince each other.
Opinion is like your favorite ice cream flavor, it’s just what you like. You might say, “I think chocolate is the best,” and that’s totally fine. No one has to listen or agree.
Persuasion is like trying to get your friend to choose the same flavor. Maybe you say, “Chocolate is so good, you’ll love it!”, you’re using words to make them want to agree with you.
When It Gets Friendly (or Competitive)
Argument happens when both of you try to convince each other. You might say, “No, vanilla is better,” and your friend says, “No, chocolate wins!” Now it’s a back-and-forth, like a game where everyone wants to be right.
Sometimes, arguments can make things clearer, just like when two kids try to figure out which toy is the best by playing with them both.
Examples
- A kid thinks chocolate is better than vanilla (opinion), then tries to convince their friend by saying it's the most delicious (persuasion), and finally argues that chocolate has more flavor (argument).
- My mom believes dogs are better pets (opinion), she tells me why I should get a dog instead of a cat (persuasion), and lists all the reasons why dogs make the best companions (argument).
- At lunch, my friend says pizza is the best food (opinion), then tries to convince me by saying it's fun to eat with friends (persuasion), and finally argues that it has more toppings than any other meal (argument).
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See also
- How Does The 7 Building Blocks of Effective Arguments Work?
- How Does Elements of a Persuasive Argument Work?
- How Does The Three Persuasive Appeals: Logos, Ethos Work?
- What is an argument? | Reading | Khan Academy?
- How to Argue - Philosophical Reasoning: Crash Course Philosophy #2?