Integrating Mood and Modality to Empower Persuasive Writing Skills in Middle School Students

I. Background
Teaching and mastery of persuasive writing in middle school are important for developing students' abilities to think critically, articulate their ideas, and effectively influence the audience. Beyond the classroom, this skill prepares students to navigate and meaningfully contribute to academic discussions, social interactions, and professional settings.

Despite the importance of persuasive writing, it demands more than simply expressing opinions, which presents unique challenges for learners. It necessitates a strategic use of language to engage the audience and elicit a favorable response. Students must learn to navigate the complex balance between logic and emotion, crafting arguments but still maintaining clarity and credibility. In order to address these challenges, one of effective approach is the framework of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL).

Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) provides a framework for understanding and teaching language in persuasive writing, focusing on the functional aspects of language and serving to make meaning in specific contexts, specifically by integrating the concept of mood and modality, which serve as powerful tools for shaping interpersonal meaning and engaging readers.

Mood plays a important role in facilitating interaction and establishing relationships between the writer and the audience. Whether offering information, demanding input, or giving directives, mood determines the type of exchange. Through the careful selection of declarative, interrogative, imperative, and exclamative moods, writers can adjust their tone and intent to align with their communicative goals. On the other hand, modality improves the depth of written communication by expressing attitudes, judgments, and degrees of certainty or obligation. Integrating modality into their writing, students can improve their arguments with a sense of authority or relatability, tailoring the messages to persuade diverse audiences effectively.

The integration of mood and modality in persuasive writing offers a dynamic interplay that enhances the impact of students' arguments. Understanding this concept, middle school learners can refine their ability to craft texts that are not only reliant on logic but also add emotion and ethics compellingly. This foundational skill not only empowers students as communicators but also prepares them to engage critically in the real-world context, making persuasive writing an essential component of comprehensive language education.

Therefore, the aim of this article is to explore the application of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL), specifically the concepts of mood and modality, to enhance middle school students' mastery of persuasive writing. By integrating mood and modality, educators can equip students with the tools to create more powerful and compelling persuasive texts, effectively improving their communicative competence.

II. Understanding Mood and Modality in SFL
1. Definition of Mood
In Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL), mood is a core component of the clause that realizes interpersonal meanings, enabling interaction between speakers and listeners. It determines the type of exchange being conducted, such as giving or demanding information or goods and services.
The mood structure of a clause consists of:
a) Subject: The participant responsible for the action or state described in the clause.
b) Finite: The element that anchors the clause to a specific time (tense) or expresses modality (probability, obligation, inclination).
The rest of the clause outside the mood is called the residue, which includes:
a) Predicator: The verb expressing the action or process.
b) Complement: Additional information that completes the meaning.
c) Adjunct: Optional elements that add contextual information (time, manner, cause, etc.).
The functions of Mood are as follows below:
a) Declarative Mood: Provides information.
b) Interrogative Mood: Seeks information (yes/no or WH questions).
c) Imperative Mood: Issues commands or requests.
d) Exclamative Mood: Expresses strong emotions or emphasis.

2. Examples of Mood Types (with analysis)
a) Declarative Mood (Giving information):
Example: "Sandi reads a lot."
Subject: Sandi
Finite: Reads
Predicator: Reads
Complement: A lot
Analysis:
The speaker provides factual information using a declarative structure.
The finite ("reads") anchors the clause in the simple present tense, indicating a habitual action. This construction builds credibility by presenting the subject as someone who consistently engages in reading.
b) Interrogative Mood (Requesting Information):
Yes/No Interrogative:
Example: "Does Sandi read a lot?"
Finite: Does
Subject: Sandi
Predicator: Read
Complement: A lot
Analysis: The finite ("does") precedes the subject ("Sandi"), which is typical of yes/no questions. This structure forms a direct inquiry about Sandi's reading habits, prompting confirmation or denial.
c) WH-Interrogative:
Example: "Who did you meet in the hotel?"
WH-word: Who
Finite: Did
Subject: You
Predicator: Meet
Complement: In the hotel
Analysis:
The WH-word ("Who") seeks specific information about the identity of the person met. The finite ("did") anchors the clause in the past tense, forming a question about a completed action. The structure positions the WH-word at the beginning to emphasize the demand for precise details.
d) Imperative Mood (Issuing commands or making requests):
Example: "Come to me and discuss your thesis."
Predicator: Come
Adjunct: To me
Complement: And discuss your thesis
Analysis:
The clause lacks a subject, typical of imperatives.
The speaker directly commands the listener to perform an action.
e) Exclamative Mood (Expressing strong emotions):
Example: "What a wonderful present this is!"
Analysis: The clause emphasizes emotional appreciation through the exclamative structure.

3. Definition of Modality
Modality expresses the speaker's attitude or judgment toward a proposition or action. It represents the middle ground between absolute affirmation (yes) and denial (no). In SFL, it is categorized into two main types:
Types of Modality:
a) Modalization: Applies to statements and questions, indicating:
Certainty: Degree of confidence in the proposition.
Probability: Likelihood of the proposition being true.
b) Modulation: Applies to commands and offers, indicating:
Obligation: Degree of necessity or requirement.
Inclination: Willingness or desire to act.
Orientation, Value, and Polarity.

Polarity consists of three types:
Subjective: Based on the speaker's perspective (e.g., "I think").
Objective: Based on general truth or external factors (e.g., "It is obvious").
Value: The intensity of modality (low, median, high).
Polarity: Positive or negative stance.

4. Examples of Modality
a) Certainty (Modalisation):
1. High Certainty:
Example: "Iwan will definitely come to the conference."
Orientation: Subjective
Value: High
Polarity: Positive
2. Low Certainty:
Example: "Indonesia may have an opportunity to win."
Orientation: Subjective
Value: Low
Polarity: Positive
b) Probability (Modalization):
Example: "You can possibly say that you do not want it."
Orientation: Subjective
Value: Median
Polarity: Positive
c) Obligation (Modulation):
1. High Obligation:
Example: "We must stop bullying at school."
Orientation: Subjective
Value: High
Polarity: Positive
2. Negative Obligation:
Example: "It is improper to procrastinate writing a thesis."
Orientation: Objective
Value: High
d) Inclination (Modulation):
Example: "I would like to share opinions."
Orientation: Subjective
Value: Low
Polarity: Positive

5. Interplay Between Mood and Modality
a) Declarative Mood + Certainty Modality:
Example: "Iwan will definitely come to the conference."
Analysis: The declarative clause asserts the speaker's high certainty about the proposition.
b) Interrogative Mood + Probability Modality:
Example: "Can we possibly finish the thesis in time?"
Analysis: The interrogative structure expresses a question about probability, with "possibly" indicating medium modality.
c) Imperative Mood + Obligation Modality:
Example: "You must submit the report today."
Analysis: The imperative structure demands compliance with "must" expressing high obligation.
6. Pedagogical Implications
a) Teaching Mood:
Enable students to recognize mood structures to identify clause types (e.g., statement, question, command).
Use declarative and interrogative mood to practice exchanging information.
b) Teaching Modality:
Teach modality to express nuanced attitudes, judgments, and degrees of certainty.
Use modal verbs ("may", "must", and "should") to show varying degrees of probability or obligation.
c) Combined Practice:
Create exercises requiring students to modify mood and modality for different interpersonal effects (e.g., assertiveness, politeness, inquiry).

III. Exploring the Role of Mood in Persuasive Writing
a) Declarative Mood: Informing to Build Credibility and Authority
The declarative mood is essential in providing information or evidence, helping to build the writer's credibility and support logical reasoning. It ensures middle school readers trust the writer's authority by presenting clear and relatable facts. Declaratives provide a factual foundation for arguments, enhancing the writer's authority and reliability.
Examples:
1. Informational Declarative:
"Our school library has added 100 new books this year to help students learn better."
Analysis: The declarative statement presents clear and encouraging information, building credibility with relatable data.
2. Persuasive Declarative:
"This is the easiest way to make your class projects stand out."
Analysis: The declarative emphasizes simplicity and effectiveness, encouraging students to follow the suggestion.

b) Interrogative Mood: Engaging the Reader through Reflection and Dialogue
Interrogative Mood invites the readers to think and reflect, engaging them in the argument. By asking questions, writers can spark curiosity and guide students toward their intended message. Interrogatives provoke thought and curiosity, drawing students into the conversation.
Rhetorical questions are particularly effective for inspiring agreement and self-reflection.
Examples:
1. Yes/No Interrogative:
"Don't you think joining the science club would be fun?"
Analysis: This question assumes a positive response, aligning the reader's thoughts with the writer's perspective.
2. WH-Interrogative:
"What can you do to make your classroom a happier place?"
Analysis: The WH-question encourages students to reflect on their actions and take responsibility.
3. Rhetorical Question:
"Why would you miss the chance to join the coolest team in school?"
Analysis: The rhetorical structure appeals to the reader's self-interest, nudging them toward agreement.

c) Imperative Mood: Motivating Immediate Action with Authority
The imperative mood is crucial for encouraging middle school students to take action. It provides clear and direct instructions, ensuring they understand what needs to be done and why it's important.
Applications in Persuasive Writing:
Imperatives create a sense of urgency and importance, directing students toward specific actions.
Examples:
1. Direct Call to Action:
"Join our art competition today and show your creativity!"
Analysis: The imperative "Join" clearly directs students toward participation, paired with motivational language.
2. Urgent Command:
"Finish your book report by Friday to be part of the reading club celebration."
Analysis: The command emphasizes the importance of meeting the deadline.
3. Softened Imperative:
"Think about how fun it would be to learn a new sport this year."
Analysis: The softened command encourages students to consider the suggestion without feeling pressured.

d) Exclamative Mood: Amplifying Emotional Appeal to Connect with Readers
Exclamative mood heightens emotional engagement in persuasive writing, evoking excitement, wonder, or urgency. It helps create a vivid and memorable impression, strengthening the reader's connection to the message.
Applications in Persuasive Writing:
Exclamatives emphasize exciting opportunities or important ideas, making them stand out.
When combined with emotive language, they create a sense of enthusiasm and connection.
Examples:
1. Expressing Enthusiasm:
"What an amazing adventure we'll have on the school field trip!"
Analysis: The exclamative structure builds excitement and anticipation, appealing to students' enthusiasm.
2. Emphasizing Urgency:
"How exciting it is that the talent show is just a week away!"
Analysis: The exclamative emphasizes the urgency of preparing, encouraging students to act quickly.
3. Emotional Appreciation:
"What a great feeling it is to help others in need!"
Analysis: The exclamative highlights the emotional satisfaction of helping, and fostering empathy among students.

IV. Enhancing Persuasive Writing Through Modality
Persuasive writing is a dynamic tool that influences readers through logical reasoning, emotional appeals, and authority. While the structure of mood establishes interaction, modality deepens interpersonal meaning by expressing attitudes, judgments, and levels of obligation or certainty.

a) Certainty in Persuasive Writing: Building Confidence
Certainty modality reflects the writer's confidence in their argument, reassuring the audience of the validity of the proposition. High certainty is especially effective when paired with logical appeals (logos) to establish credibility.
Examples:
1. High Certainty:
"Our program will guarantee results for every participant."
Analysis: The high certainty conveyed by "will guarantee" assures the reader of the program's effectiveness, building trust.
2. Low Certainty:
"This approach may improve your grades if applied consistently."
Analysis: The lower certainty expressed by "may" encourages cautious optimism, making the claim relatable without overpromising.
By adjusting the degree of certainty, writers can manage the audience's expectations and enhance the persuasiveness of their arguments.

b) Probability in Persuasive Writing: Inviting Consideration
Probability modality highlights the likelihood of an outcome, prompting readers to evaluate potential benefits or risks. This aligns with Frederick's principle of fostering curiosity and reasoning, inviting readers to visualize outcomes without pressure.
Examples:
1. Medium Probability:
"You can likely achieve your fitness goals with this plan."
Analysis: The word "likely" balances confidence with realism, inviting readers to trust the proposal.
2. High Probability:
"Our solution is almost certain to save you time and money."
Analysis: The phrase "almost certain" creates a compelling sense of expectation while maintaining a realistic tone.
By using probability, writers appeal to the reader's logic while maintaining relatability.

c) Obligation in Persuasive Writing: Driving Action
Obligation modality is central to persuasive writing's calls to action, emphasizing urgency or necessity. It directs the audience toward specific actions by creating a sense of importance or responsibility.
Examples:
1. High Obligation:
"You must attend the workshop to unlock your full potential."
Analysis: "Must" conveys urgency and importance, compelling immediate action.
2. Softened Obligation:
"You should consider attending the workshop to enhance your skills."
Analysis: "Should" suggests action while respecting the audience's autonomy.
Obligation enhances the motivational aspect of persuasive writing, guiding readers toward the desired outcome without alienating them.

d) Inclination in Persuasive Writing: Demonstrating Enthusiasm
Inclination modality reflects willingness or desire, creating a sense of enthusiasm and connection. This aligns with Frederick's focus on using positive, engaging language to foster rapport and trust.
Examples:
1. Expressing Enthusiasm:
"We would love to help you achieve your dreams."
Analysis: "Would love" conveys eagerness, fostering a positive and collaborative tone.
2. Signaling Readiness:
"We are happy to discuss how this solution fits your needs."
Analysis: The expression of readiness strengthens trust and signals a willingness to collaborate.
Inclination humanizes the writer's message, making the argument more relatable and appealing.

V. Integrating Mood with Modality in Persuasive Writing
Persuasive writing seeks to engage, influence, and inspire readers by combining logical arguments, emotional appeals, and clear calls to action. In Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL), mood provides the structural framework for interaction (e.g., declarative, interrogative, imperative, and exclamative), while modality adds nuance by expressing degrees of certainty, probability, obligation, or inclination. When integrated effectively, mood and modality create a powerful synergy that enhances the interpersonal meaning and persuasive impact of writing.

a) Declarative Mood + Modality: Informing with Precision and Confidence
The declarative mood conveys information and establishes credibility, while modality strengthens this effect by adding layers of certainty or probability. Together, they create factual, confident, and relatable statements that enhance trust in the writer's argument.
Examples:
1. High Certainty:
"Our solution will undoubtedly improve your efficiency."
Analysis: The declarative mood asserts authority, while high certainty ("will undoubtedly") assures the audience of the claim's validity.
2. Medium Probability:
"This method could be the key to better results."
Analysis: The declarative provides information, and "could" introduces a possibility, making the statement relatable and non-threatening.
By combining declarative with modality, persuasive writing gains clarity and adaptability, allowing writers to cater to different audience expectations.

b) Interrogative Mood + Modality: Engaging with Curiosity and Possibility
Interrogative mood fosters interaction by asking questions that provoke thought or curiosity. When paired with modality, these questions can invite reflection, explore probabilities, or subtly suggest actions without being overtly directive.
Examples:
1. Medium Probability:
"Could this be the opportunity you've been waiting for?"
Analysis: The interrogative structure engages the audience, and "could" introduces a likelihood that invites further consideration.
2. High Certainty:
"Isn't it true that this program guarantees success?"
Analysis: The question implies a strong assumption of certainty, encouraging the audience to align with the writer's perspective.
Integrating modality in interrogatives ensures the audience feels involved in the conversation, leading them toward the desired conclusion.

c) Imperative Mood + Modality: Driving Action with Authority and Urgency
The imperative mood is a cornerstone of persuasive writing, used to issue commands or calls to action. When combined with modality, it emphasizes the necessity or importance of taking action, enhancing the writer's ability to motivate readers.
Examples:
1. High Obligation:
"You must register today to secure your spot."
Analysis: The imperative directs immediate action, and "must" adds a sense of urgency and importance.
2. Softened Obligation:
"You should consider joining our program to improve your skills."
Analysis: The imperative encourages action, while "should" softens the command, making it more approachable.
By blending imperatives with modality, writers can adapt their tone to suit varying levels of urgency and audience receptivity.

d) Exclamative Mood + Modality: Amplifying Emotional Impact
Exclamative mood expresses excitement or urgency, creating a strong emotional connection with the audience. When paired with modality, it can reinforce the writer's enthusiasm or certainty, leaving a memorable impression.
Examples:
1. High Certainty:
"What an incredible opportunity this is for guaranteed success!"
Analysis: The exclamation creates excitement, while "guaranteed" strengthens the claim with high certainty.
2. Medium Probability:
"How exciting it could be to join such an innovative team!"
Analysis: The exclamation conveys enthusiasm, and "could" tempers the claim, making it inviting rather than overwhelming.
This combination leverages emotional appeal while maintaining logical plausibility, ensuring the message resonates deeply with readers.

Let's consider this example to illustrate how powerful the integration of mood and modality in persuasive writing, as discussed in the book Persuasive Writing: How to Harness the Power of Words by Peter Frederick (2013):

"Asbestos-related diseases are the leading cause of occupational death in Europe. 500,000 European workers, mostly within the construction, demolition, and remediation industries, are expected to die by 2030. Despite a ban on asbestos use, our members' workers are continually exposed to this potent, invisible carcinogen from legacy products such as insulation, water tanks, ceiling panels, floor tiles, and textured wall coverings. We feel that this level of risk is completely unacceptable for our members and must be addressed."

The paragraph primarily uses declarative sentences to present facts about the dangers of asbestos-related diseases. These declarative sentences are indicative (informative) and are intended to emphasize the danger of the situation. The choice of declarative mood creates an authoritative tone, presenting indisputable truths. The phrase "expected to die" conveys high probability modality, indicating that the projected deaths are almost certain. The combination of "are" (finite) and "expected" (predicator) establishes the projection as highly probable. The certainty embedded in "expected" strengthens the argument by presenting that the outcome cannot be avoided unless immediate action is taken. Moreover, the use of "must" reflects high obligation modality, indicating that action is not optional but an absolute necessity. The modal verb "must" directly expresses a strong moral imperative, urging immediate intervention to address the risks. It clearly signals the writer's stance that failing to act would be irresponsible and morally unacceptable.

In conclusion, the integration of mood and modality in this paragraph demonstrates how declarative sentences and carefully chosen modal expressions effectively convey both urgency and authority in persuasive writing. Declarative statements establish credibility by presenting factual information, while high-probability modality ("expected to die") highlights the inevitability of the issue, and high-obligation modality ("must") underscores the necessity for immediate action. Together, mood and modality create a compelling argument that informs, persuades, and motivates the audience to take action against the risks associated with asbestos exposure.

VI. Conclusion
Mood and modality are fundamental linguistic tools that play a central role in persuasive writing. Mood shapes the interaction between the writer and the audience, allowing students to engage readers to establish authority and maintain an appropriate tone. Modality, on the other hand, enables writers to express degrees of certainty, obligation, and possibility to enhance the clarity, credibility, and impact of their arguments.

Particularly for middle school students, mastering these elements is essential to crafting effective persuasive texts. Using declarative, interrogative, and imperative moods strategically, students can posit their arguments to resonate with their audience. Additionally, by understanding and applying the concepts of high, medium, and low modality, students can effectively convey confidence, negotiate agreement, and construct emotional and ethical appeals.