Persuasive Techniques
Appeal
Playing on the audience's emotions, fears, needs or desires to persuade them that you are right.
Emotions (you will be so happy if...)
Fears (If you dont... then bad things will happen)
Needs (Your life will be complete if you...)
Desires (you can be just like anyone else if you)
Evidence
Using statistics, expert opinion, research finding, and anecdotal evidence to prove a point.
Ex: Studies show 9 out of 10 Dentists recommended (insert toothpaste brand here)
Research, statistics, expert opinion.
Attacks
Portraying opposing views or people as foolish, dangerous, uncaring or deceitful in an attempt to discredit them.
Ex: My opponent would see us hand over control of our country to our enemies.
If you believe that money can solve all of your problems then you are a fool.
Inclusive/Exclusive Language
Use of we, us and our to show solidarity, or them and they to show exclusion.
Ex: We are all in this together, it is up to us to see that this great undertaking of ours does not fail
Rhetorical Question
Questions which do not expect an answer and are asked for effect only.
Ex: Are you okay?(Asked to someone who is clearly in pain.)
Cause and Effect
Arguing that one thing led to another.
Ex: Because you were outside while it was raining, you got wet.
Connotation
Using emotionally loaded words to influence people.
Ex: Child: neutral emotional association.
Analogy
Comparing one thing to another in order to prove a point.
Ex: I hate(insert class here) trying to pass it is like trying to swim up a water fall.
Generalization
Making a sweeping statement about a whole group based upon one or two members of the group.
Ex: sports fans are all crazy.
Humor
Using puns, irony, sarcasm, satire and jokes to discredit opposing views.
Ex: Saying "totally artraged" instead of "outraged" when talking about controversial art.
Jargon
Using specialized/technical terms to show oneself to be an expert in the field they are discussing
Ex: Hammerhead, Masthead, Nameplate, Wicket and Feature all mean significantly different things to a journalist than to the average person.
Formal Language
Using higher level language with limited emotional reactions to sound more knowledgeable.
Ex: Four score and seven years ago our founding fathers brought forth upon this continent a new nation.
Colloquial Language
Informal, everyday language used to appear friendly and similar to their audience.
Ex: "That totally grossed me out"
Alliteration
Repetition of initial consonant sounds to add emphasis
Ex " She sell sea shells down by the sea shore"
Assonance
Repetition for vowel sounds for emphasis
Ex: The elite meet and greet