Persuasive Techniques

Counterargument

A challenge to a position; an opposing argument.

Editorial

A newspaper or magazine article that gives the opinions of the editors or publishers

Rhetorical Question

A question asked merely for effect with no answer expected.

Pathos

An appeal to emotion. The writer might try to appeal to your emotions, imagination, or use sympathy. Typically, pathos arguments may use loaded words to make you feel guilty, lonely, worried, insecure, or confused.

Logos

An appeal to reason. The writer might use logic, statistics, and research. It occurs when a writer tries to convince you of the logic of his argument. It also involves research and statistics.

Ethos

Ethos is basically an appeal to credibility. The writer is seeking to convince you that he or she has the authority, reputation, background, history, skills, and/or expertise to speak on the issue.

Propaganda

Ideas spread to influence public opinion for or against a cause.

Craft

Language and techniques the author purposely uses to craft (or create) and enhance a story

modality

a persuasive language device which uses types of words to express possibility, probability, obligation and conditionality; the way language makes things certain (or uncertain) or absolute (or unlikely) using verbs, adverbs, adjectives and nouns

evaluative language:

positive or negative language that judges the worth of something; it includes language to: • express feelings and opinions • make judgments about people's behaviour • assess the quality of objects such as poems, plays or stories

language of Affect:

the name given to the words and phrases which express feelings and emotions

language of Judgment:

the name given to words and phrases which judge (positively or negatively) what people do, say or believe (human behaviour)

tricolon

the rule of 'three'; a rhetorical term for three associated words or phrases

Persuasive Appeal

to persuade an audience to side with your claim *All advertisers use persuasive appeals to persuade their audience to buy their product.*

Bandwagon

tries to persuade the reader to do, think, or buy something because it is popular or "everyone" is doing it.