Persuasive Techniques Glossary

Persuasive Techniques Glossary

 

Rule of 3- This is where three things are listed together for emphasis.

Sun, sea and sand

Repetition- Words or phrases are repeated for effect.

We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender

Rhetorical Questions- These are questions that do not require an answer. They put the idea in to the mind of the audience.

How would you like to spend fifteen hours a day locked in a dirty cage?

Humour- This makes the reader laugh and promotes a positive atmosphere

When talking about how women who have had plastic surgery are unintelligent- “…Well, duh, you don’t have to be Albert Eyesight to see that.”[meaning Einstein of course]

Emotive Language- These are carefully chosen words that make the audience feel more strongly.

Devastated, shattered, dumbfounded

Alliteration- This is where the initial sounds of words are repeated for effect as they are more memorable

Anorexia is a diabolical, dire, dreadful disorder

Hyperbole- This is an over the top statement

This would be better than waiting an eternity for the law to be changed.

Facts and Statistics- These make the speech sound more factual and convincing.

68% of all anorexic teenagers surveyed said they had been influenced by magazine and newspaper photographs.

Anecdotes- Short stories as examples

I was walking down the pavement and I saw a man in a wheelchair throwing around a baseball with his son, and my daughter asked me if he was a robot. I could not believe that she had not been taught about disabilities in her school.

Rebuttal of the opposition- make your opponent look bad

If you decide to agree with Mr Smith, then we are doomed to failure as scientific studies have shown that what he is proposing in physically impossible. However if we implement my idea...

Direct Address (You, Your)- This makes it seem as though each person is being spoken to individually

Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.

Inclusion (We, Our)- This forms a bond between the speaker and the audience and encourages everyone to work together.

Through our hard work and dedication, we can achieve our goal.

Short sentences- These have a dramatic impact.

We will all die.

Quotes from famous or respected people

As Obama said in his campaign: “Yes, we can”

Imperatives- These are commands that sound almost bossy

Don’t delay. Come and visit our store now.

Shock value- This shocks the audience in to listening and paying attention, appealing to their human nature.

Jasmine was just four when she died of neglect.

Appeal to their sympathy or common sense

Wouldn’t it be better if our nations could work together for the greater good rather than waging war on each other?

Assume they agree (eg. “We all agree that...”)

We all agree that two heads are better than one.