MUF0011 Persuasive Language Techniques

Persuasive Techniques
Technique Example Purpose
Images or figurative
language
Painting a word picture of
a scene or action; using
similes, metaphors,
analogies.
Logging is creating smouldering, air-
polluting wastelands.
You cant ban boxing. The horse has
bolted.
f readers can !isualise the problem
through the writers words, the" ma"
be more li#el" to support his or her
argument.
Appeal to history or
tradition
$sing e!idence from
histor", shared beliefs and
customs, to support
argument.
%oxing has been around too long to
be banned.
&ust remember that sla!er", child
labour and whaling were once legal.
Times change and logging is now
sociall" acceptable.
People are not !er" willing to change
something that has existed for a !er"
long time.
'e are supposed to learn from our
histor".
Appeal to patriotism
(eferring to )ustralian or
national customs.
*uestioning the lo"alt" of
opponents.
Those who oppose this plan are
simpl" un-)ustralian.
)ustralians fought and died in two
world wars to preser!e our
democrac".
Label opponents as dislo"al to their
countr".
(eaders do not li#e to be thought of as
unpatriotic or dislo"al to their countr".
Emotive appeals
)im to engage peoples
feelings not logic.
+ensible people #now that reading
boo#s should come before
computers.
t is immoral to build a theme par# for
dogs when we ha!e the star!ing and
the poor out on the streets.
f the writer can manipulate the reader
to feel a certain wa", the reader should
be more li#el" to agree with the
writers o!erall contention.
Appeals to logic or
reason
$sing logical-sounding
arguments.
Predicting undesirable
effects or logical
conse,uences.
f a great white shar# ta#es a
swimmer, do we then #ill the entire
population-
People fall off mountains, are the
mountains then guilt" of murder-
(eaders who regard themsel!es as
logical thin#ers might be attracted to
this argument.
Hyperbole
$sing language that
exaggerates the problem
or situation. %ig
statements.
(ugb" leagues ample bellied meat
loafs with ./ thumbs plod in gangs
towards each other to thump, maul
and gouge 0 for a few centimetres of
turf.
1ften expressed in colourful or o!er
the top language.
2a#es a dramatic impact on the
reader, especiall" where time and
space are limited.
Rhetorical question
$sing a ,uestion to which
there is onl" one answer,
or to which no answer is
needed.
3o we allow dangerous dogs to roam
the streets-
s there not a ris# of serious in4ur" or
death in all contact sports- +hould
we therefore ban rugb"-
n!ites or challenges readers and
listeners to agree with the argument.
+a"s to readers and listeners5 how
could "ou possibl" disagree-
Repetition
(epeating arguments,
images, expert e!idence,
appeals, emoti!e
language, big statements.
6The soil erosion problem has been
neglected for 7// "ears8. +o the
cost of this neglect is all around us.
9mphasises #e" parts of the
argument, helps readers remember
them, lin#s sections of the argument.
N:\MUFY Melbourne\MUFY Teachers\English\Unit 1\Moodle Unit 1\Persuasive
Language
MUF0011 Persuasive Language Techniques
Humour ridicule irony
satire
2oc#ing opposing !iews;
using humour to attac# the
logic of an argument.
The dog pla"ground should be been
announced on . )pril 0 )pril :ools
3a".; 6n the same wee# that two rich
+"dne" bosses got bonuses of <=
million .>/,/// +"dne" children went
without brea#fast.
9ncourages people to laugh at
opponents and their arguments.
?an be an effecti!e wa" of
demonstrating the wea#ness of
arguments.
!se of statistics
$sing the results of
research.
) $ni!ersit" of @ewcastle sur!e" has
reported that A> per cent of "oung
women want to ha!e children but not
gi!e up their career.
Pro!ides impressi!e e!idence that
4ustifies the point of !iew or contention.
(eaders are li#el" to regard statistics
as ob4ecti!e e!idence.
Anecdotal evidence
$sing e!idence from
e!ents in ones own life.
ha!e a small dog that ta#e for a
wal# on a lead twice a da" and ha!e
been attac#ed, #noc#ed o!er and
badl" sha#en se!eral times.
'riters use these to ma#e themsel!es
appear more credible.
Expert opinion
*uote opinions of experts
to correspond with the
writers opinion.
2" stand on the issue of exposed
underwear is supported b" fashion
designer (ub" (eed, who recentl"
stated )n"one whose underwear is
exposed due to low slung 4eans
should be punished as forcefull" as
possible.
9xperts are often called on to ma#e
one side seem stronger and more
belie!able.
Attac"s
) !ersion of pla"ing the
man not the ball.
)ttac#s can belittle,
embarrass or insult and
opponent.
Thats the #ind of response would
expect from a three time loser li#e
Bim %easle"
2a#e "our opposition seem less
credible to ma#e the reader more li#el"
to agree with "our side of the
argument.
Alliteration
(epetition of the first
consonant sound in
consecuti!e words.
To commit such a crime onl" shows
he is cunning, cruel and calculating.
To draw attention or highlight.
Inclusive language
$sing words such as us,
we, "ou, our.
ts time for us all to stand up and
show our support for our countr".
)ims to directl" address the reader
personall" or as a member of a group.
N:\MUFY Melbourne\MUFY Teachers\English\Unit 1\Moodle Unit 1\Persuasive
Language