When addressing an audience of people who disagree with you (or a mixed audience, some of whom might disagree with you), think about the effects of your word choices on them. Strong, emotional language tends to have an alienating effect on those who disagree. You cannot persuade or convince someone by alienating them. When writing on controversial issues, choose more neutral language.

Example:
How can we rant and rave about the so-called terrorist state of Iraq? I am ashamed to live in this country under the present leadership. The President and much of his staff are blood hungry politicians who cannot fix the problems in their own country and the only way they can get re-elected because they are horrible leaders is to appeal to the will of some people in their party who do onto wish to lok at all the facts and go gun ho into some other country which has done nothing wrong.

What effect is this passage likely to have on someone who supports President Bush in his call for war against Iraq?
 

• Think of the person you are addressing as a very intelligent, passionate person who just happens to disagree with you on this particular issue.
• Find common ground, whenever possible. Itís a good idea to start from there. Sometimes itís best not to state your position right in the beginning of the paper, since that will tend to polarize your readers right away.
• Define terms in such a way that your audience will accept your definitions.
• Consider the likely questions and objections that your audience will have. Anticipate them and address them.