persuasive techniques and devices

1. Persuasive Techniques
Used in Writing
Or…how to
get what
you want!

2. What are PERSUASIVE
TECHNIQUES?
 Persuasive techniques are the
strategies authors use to make their
writing more convincing.
 Persuasive techniques:
 Get a reader’s attention
 Emphasize a point
 Polish the writing

3. Why are we learning about
Persuasive Techniques in
English class?
 Identifying the techniques can help
you judge the effectiveness of
persuasive essays, editorials, and
arguments.
 You can use these techniques in your
own writing!

4. ANALOGY
 DEFINITION: a comparison of
similar ideas, often used to explain a
complex situation by showing how it
is like a simple one
 EXAMPLE: Class is like boot camp:
grueling, but ultimately rewarding.
 EXAMPLE: Eating school lunch is like
willingly walking into traffic. You
know it will hurt.

5. CAUSE AND EFFECT
 DEFINITION: This technique
demonstrates that two or more things are
connected by stating that one causes
another.
 EXAMPLE: Many studies show that eating
200 carrots a day causes a person to
become smarter.
 EXAMPLE: News reports have shown that
too many high-stakes standardized tests
lead to unethical behavior.

6. OVERSTATEMENT
(hyperbole)
 DEFINITION: a deliberate
exaggeration for emphasis or effect
 EXAMPLE: With a Herculean effort,
straining every muscle in her young
form, Jane answered the phone.
 EXAMPLE: Taking away a teen’s
right to be out late is like denying a
cop a donut.

7. REPETITION
 DEFINITION: occurs when words
are repeated in order to make a
stronger impact on the reader
 EXAMPLE: The people of this city
deserve a mayor they can trust, a
mayor they can respect, a mayor
they can count on.

8. RHETORICAL QUESTION
 DEFINITION: a question that
prompts the reader to think, but
which the writer does not answer
because the answer is usually obvious
to the reader
 EXAMPLE: Who among us has not
dreamed of the day when we can
soar among the clouds using only the
power of our minds?

9. SENTENCE VARIETY
 DEFINITION: occurs when the
length and structure of sentences is
varied in order to make certain
statements stand out more
 EXAMPLE: In high schools all over
the country, students are being fed
lunches that are neither tasty nor
nutritious. This MUST stop!

10. UNDERSTATEMENT
 DEFINITION: the deliberate
expression of an ideas as less
important than it actually is
 EXAMPLE: One passenger described
the plane crash as “rather upsetting.”
 EXAMPLE: Allowing me to keep my
car and job is no big deal.

11. APPEAL TO REASON
(a.k.a. rational appeal)
 DEFINITION: This is persuasive writing
that appeals to the part of humans that
likes to think. It tries to persuade us by
giving what appear to be good, solid
reasons to share the author’s point of view.
It uses facts, definitions, cause and effect,
etc.
 EXAMPLE: Many studies show that the
most successful way for a student to
improve his reading level is to READ!

12. EMOTIONAL APPEAL
 DEFINITION: This is when the writer
appeals to powerful emotions, such
as our love of country, family, peace,
and justice, as well as to our fear and
hatred of the things that threaten us.
 EXAMPLE: Students, if you truly care
about your grades and your futures,
you will earn your AR points!

13. APPEAL TO AUTHORITY
 DEFINITION: This is when writers rely on their
authority, credibility, or general character. They
present themselves as trustworthy. They may have
education or personal experience that makes them an
authority, or they may get their information from
others who do, mentioning experts as sources to lend
credibility.
 EXAMPLE: The Englishteachers know from
experience that the most successful students are
those who come to school every day, pay attention in
class, and complete all class assignments.


14. Name that technique!
 Studies show that watching the
History Channel will positively
impact a student’s grade in World
Studies.

15. Cause and Effect!
 Why? What are your clues?
 You have a cause: Watching the
History Channel.
 You have an effect: Positive
impact on grades.

16. Can you figure out this
one?
 Haven’t you ever wanted to just
kick back, relax, and watch some
really bad TV?

17. Rhetorical Question!
What was your context
clue?
The question mark?
No real answer expected!

18. How about this one?
 We can learn from TV in the
morning; we can learn from TV in
the afternoon; we learn from TV
in the evening.

19. Repetition!
Why?
Repeated words!

20. Here’s another one!
 Watching too much TV will fry
every cell in your brain.

21. Overstatement! (hyperbole)
What were your context
clues?
Watching TV can’t
literally fry your brain.
This is an exaggeration!

22. This one?
 Watching TV all the time is like
becoming a vegetable, namely a
potato.

23. Analogy!
What was your clue?
The word “like” is often
used in analogies!

24. And this one?
 Americans view too much
television; 50% watch at least
three hours every day.

25. Appeal to Reason!
Your clue?
The numbers and %!

26. What’s this one?
 Watching your very favorite TV
show with all of your friends can
be mildly entertaining.

27. Understatement!
The clue?
The word “mildly” is
the biggest clue in this
statement.

28. And this one?
 Many parents use children’s TV as
a babysitter, or worse, as a
substitute mother or father.
Instead of reading to their
children, they plop them in front
of the television. If we want to
raise children’s reading levels,
the TV must be turned off.
Parents, don’t abdicate your job!

29. Sentence Variety!
What was your tip-off?
Three long sentences.
One short sentence.

30. How about this one?
 Every elementary school principal
in the state of Arizona agrees that
watching too much television is
detrimental to their students.

31. Appeal to Authority!
How did you know?
The principal! (He’s an
authority!)

32. What’s this technique?
 Parents, if you truly love your
children and care about their
futures, you will turn off the TV
and take them for a walk.

33. Emotional Appeal!
Your clues?
Love.
Care.

34. Know how to Use them…
 Determine the best way to reach your
audience. If the purpose to create a
solution to increase academic rigor,
you probably should use an appeal to
reason or authority. Unless your
audience is parents—then it would be
good to use emotional appeals.

35. One more…
 Completing the practice
homework will be the most fun
you have had this entire year!
 What persuasive technique have I
just used?
 You are correct!
 It is OVERSTATEMENT!!