Persuasion Techniques

Front 1

Writers may appeal to fear, anger or joy to sway their readers. They may also add climax or excitement. This technique is strongly connected to the essay's mood.

Back 1

Emotional Appeal

Front 2

Is a person "slim" or "skinney"? Is an oil spill an "incident" or an "accident"? Is a government expenditure an "investment" or a "waste"? Writers tend to reinforce their arguments by choosing words which will influence their reader's perception of an item or issue. Diction may also help to establish a writer's "voice" or "tone".

Back 2

Word Choice (Diction)

Front 3

Sometimes a writer will ask a question to which no answer is required. The writer implies that the answer is obvious; the reader has no choice but to agree with the writer's point.

Back 3

Rhetorical Question

Front 4

Overly repetitive writing can become tiresome. However, when used sparingly for effect, it can reinforce the writer's message and/or entertain the reader. Writers may repeat a word, a phrase or an entire sentence for emphasis.

Back 4

Repetition

Front 5

When an author creates a "balanced" sentence by re-using the same word structure, this is called parallelism. Always strive for parrallelism when using compound or complex sentences.

Back 5

Parallelism

Front 6

This tool is not limited to poets. Essay writers often use figures of speech or comparisons (similie, metaphor, personification) for desired emphasis.

Back 6

Analogy

Front 7

A writer may mention an important event or person in an essay to lend importance or credibility to his/her arguement.

Back 7

Appeal to Authority (association)

Front 8

This is one of the more enjoyable persuasive techniques. It involves completely overstating and exaggerating your point for effect. (Like when your mom says, "I must have asked you a million times to clean your room!" Get it?)

Back 8

Hyperbole

Front 9

This is present if the writer's words contain more than one meaning. This may be in the form of sarcasm, gentle irony, or a pun (play on words). It can be used to add humor or to emphasize an implied meaning under the surface. The writer's "voice" becomes important here.

Back 9

Irony

Front 10

Using words of an expert of famous person to persuade.

Back 10

Testimonial

Front 11

Persuade people to do something by letting them know others are all doing it.

Back 11

Bandwagon

Front 12

Idea is repeated over and over.

Back 12

Repetition

Front 13

Using names or pictures of famous people but not direct quotes.

Back 13

Transfer

Front 14

A speaker suggests that the public can get something for nothing or almost nothing.

Back 14

Free or Bargain

Front 15

In glowing terms and offering no evidence the speaker or advertiser supports a candidate or a solution to social problems.

Back 15

Glittering Generalities

Front 16

Describing bad aspects of a competitor's product so that the advertised product seems better.

Back 16

Name Calling

Front 17

Using actors who represent "average" people to suggest that, because people in advertisements resemble friends and neighbors, the product they are using must be good

Back 17

Plain Folk

Front 18

Repeating an element within one advertisement so that viewers will remember the advertisement and will buy the product; also refers to the repetition of the same advertisement

Back 18

Repetition

Front 19

Telling the facts for one side only

Back 19

Card Stacking