Persuasive Techniques / Rhetorical Devices

Front 1

Rhetorical Question

Back 1

Makes the reader agree with the writer’s line of thinking by asking a question with an obvious answer.

Front 2

Alliteration

Back 2

Repeating and playing upon the same letter. Adds emphasis and reinforces meaning, by altering the sound to make it more easy to remember. Often used to create highly emotive language.

Front 3

Anecdote

Back 3

A short account or story of an entertaining incident. Usually makes the reader sympathetic and helps the situation seem more real.

Front 4

Expert Opinion

Back 4

Adds weight to the point of view by giving opinion that is highly valued.

Front 5

Personal Pronouns

Back 5

Makes the reading more personal and inclusive, by using words such as 'we' 'us' or 'you'. It feels likes reader and writer are together so the reader is more likely to side with the writer.

Front 6

Bias

Back 6

Presenting one side of an opinion to influence the reader.

Front 7

Imagery

Back 7

Descriptive writing that produces a picture in the reader's mind. Using similes and metaphors is imagery.

Front 8

Emotive language

Back 8

Words that create emotions in the reader. These emotions might be shock, disgust or make the reader amazed.

Front 9

Facts and Statistics

Back 9

Add power to the opinion by using information that is true and can't be challenged.

Front 10

Triples: The Rule of Three

Back 10

Makes the point stronger by building upon one idea to create a more extreme point of view.

Front 11

Hyperbole / Exaggeration

Back 11

To make the point seem more important. This is useful in making the opposite idea seem weaker.

Front 12

Repetition

Back 12

By repeating key words or ideas in a text or in a sentence, this makes the word or idea become more important to the reader. It is the one thing that the reader will not forget.