Persuasive Techniques

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Anecdote

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A short account or story of an entertaining or interesting incident. E.g. 'In my experience . . .’ Usually makes reader sympathetic and receptive to the point. Also can be used to engage the reader, add variety and offer another way of giving information.

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Bias

Back 2

Unreasonable viewpoint reached without acceptable evidence/proof, ignores other point of view, subjective belief.

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Colourful words/descriptive language

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Words that are heightened, lively, vivid and full of interest. E.g.: hot = blistering, sultry, muggy, suffocating, steamy, wilting. Produce a picture and/ or induce an emotion. Engage the reader.

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Emotional appeals

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Play on people’s emotions such as fears, insecurities, desires, hopes and values. Can target moral values, patriotism, a sense of justice or injustice, family values, customs & tradition. Can manipulate the reader by triggering an emotional response.

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Emotive language

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The deliberate use of strong emotive words to play on people's feelings. Language that carries strong emotions E.g.: words like sleazy, slimy, vicious, disgusting, and outrageous. Evoke a strong emotional response in a reader to coerce/force agreement.

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Evidence

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Information, facts or statements used to support a belief, opinion, point of view or proposition. E.g.- statistics, research, expert opinion, facts. Positions the reader & adds weight to the author's argument.

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Exaggeration

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Overstatement, stating the case too strongly, magnifying importance. E.g.: "I'll die if he finds out!" Exaggeration makes a point dramatically to reinforce it.

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Inclusive language

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Includes reader/audience, engages them, and sounds friendly. Uses words such as 'we' 'our' 'us' to include the reader. E.g.: "We all know that ..." and "People like you and me don't want to see this happen"

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Rhetorical question

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Questions that have the answer embedded in them. E.g.: "Are we going to accept these third-world hospital conditions in our country?" Does not require an answer, is only used for effect. Implies that the answer is so obvious that anyone who disagrees is foolish.

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Attacks

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Attacks: Attacks on opposing views, or the people who hold them can persuade the
audience by portraying views and beliefs which are contrary to the author's
contention as foolish, dangerous, uncaring or deceitful. Using humor to make fun
of these views can be particularly persuasive. Note: can offend or alienate
audience if overdone.
E.g. 'Town Hall? Clown Hall if we consider the Mayor's latest comments.'

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Connotation

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The connotation is the emotional meaning associated with the word.
Persuasive authors often choose their words carefully so that the connotation
suits their purpose.
E.g. 'Kill' and 'Slaughter' both mean the same thing, but the word
'slaughter' has a different connotation to 'kill', as it causes the audience to
imagine that the act was particularly horrific.
'Health issue' vs'health crisis'
'Terrorist'vs 'freedom fighte

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Analogy

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A form of reasoning which compares one thing with another in
order to make a particular point.
E.g. School is like a prison and students are like prisoners.

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Generalisation

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A sweeping statements about a whole group, based on only
one or two members of that group. These can be persuasive if the audience
believes the generalization is appropriate, but can undermine argument if they
do not.
E.g. A store manager might see one or two teenagers shoplifting, and write
a letter to the editor claiming all teenagers steal and can't be trusted.

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Humour

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Humor, such as puns, irony, sarcasm, satire and jokes can be persuasive by
dismissing opposing views, providing a more engaging and friendly tone, and
sway an audience by having them enter into the joke.
E.g. 'Totally Artraged' as a pun on 'Totally Outraged' when talking about
controversial art.

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Jargon

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By using specialised terms, the author can persuade the audience that they
are an expert.
E.g. When announcing a recession whilst trying to save face a politician may
call it 'period of economic adjustment' or'interruption of economic expansion'.

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Formal Language

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Formal language can make the author sound knowledgeable while
removing emotion from the issue. This can make the argument sound reasonable
and rational, and the contention seem balanced.
E.g. 'lf we consider the situation in emergency wards, with increasingly low
staff retention rates, there are concerns about the capacity of hospitals to
maintain adequate doctor to patient ratios.'

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Colloquial Language

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Informal, everyday, conversational
language that includes down to earth views and is seductive because it appears
friendly, and can make the audience feel that the author is on the same
wavelength as them.
E.g. "That totally grossed me out" vs. "That really disgusted me."

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Repetition

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By repeating letters, words and phrases the author can reinforce an
argument and ensure that the point of view being made stays in an audience's
mind.
E.g. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the
time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of
racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial
injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a
reality for all of God's children.

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Hyperbole

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The use of hyperbole emphasizes points by exaggerating. lt can be used
to mock opposing opinions, as a shock tactics technique, or an appeal to fears.
E.g. Those who support this ridiculous idea would have us believe that it
will dramatically improve the quality of life for modern living. Of course it will
And it will probably bring about world peace, stop pollution, and make the trams
run on time!
Every weekend the city is overrun by beggars

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Alliteration and Assonance

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Alliteration and Assonance: The repetition of initial consonant sounds {alliteration)
or vowel sounds (assonance) adds emphasis to major points and makes them
more memorable.
E.g. Sydney's slippery slide (alliteration )
The elite meet and greet {assonance)