A mnemonic device is a device to aid memory. Mnemonic devices are often a single word that is an acronym made of the first letter of each word in a series of instructions or steps. For example, a well-known mnemonic device is KISS, or "Keep It Simple, Stupid." KISS is a reminder to stick to the essentials in any task in order to avoid over-complicating the situation. The simplest solution is often the most elegant.
In a persuasive paper you have to take a strong stance on an issue and present the evidence that supports your opinion. The purpose of a persuasive essay is to convince the reader that your interpretation of a subject is the correct one. While pre-writing a persuasive paper, remember the mnemonic DARE: "Develop a topic sentence, Add support, Reject opposition and End with conclusion." Your topic sentence is your position in the argument which you must support with facts and research. You then predict what the other side in the argument would say to discredit your opinion, and preemptively address that opposition. Finally, you need a strong conclusion that ties everything together neatly and concisely.
W4H2 will apply to any situation where you're writing an original story or doing any analysis of a short story or novel. W4H2 consists of 4 W's and 2 H's. "Who/What/Where/When" are the basic questions about the story: "Who is this for/about?; What is it about?; Where is it set?; When is it set?" The H2 stands for "How does it end?" and "How does the character feel?"
RAFT stand for "Role, Audience, Format, Topic," and is a catch-all device for any kind of writing. Ask yourself "what is my Role as the writer for this paper?" Are you a critic, a persuader or an entertainer? Ask who your target Audience for the paper will be. Is your paper in the Format of an essay, a letter or a story? What is the Topic of your piece?