Name:______________________________________________
Mrs. Daniel Block ________________________________
English 11H
Date:______________________________________________
Persuasive Techniques in Edward’s “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry
God”
An Intro to Rhetorical Techniques
Breaking down the sermon: SOAPSTone
Before we begin analyzing rhetorical devices, let’s first break down the sermon itself using
the SOAPSTone method. Answer the following questions for Edward’s sermon “Sinners in
the Hands of an Angry God”:






Who is the ________________________________________?
What is the _______________________________________? (Think time/place/context of the
sermon)
Who is the intended ____________________________________________?
What is the _______________________________________________? (What does Edwards want the
audience to think/do?)
What is the __________________________________________? (Keep this to a few key
words/phrases)
What is the ______________________________________? (Author’s attitude toward his subject)
S:________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
O:_______________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
A:_______________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
P:_______________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
S:________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Tone:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Rhetorical Appeals
Aristotle divided rhetorical appeals into three main categories:
1. ______________________________: Ethical appeals. Attempts to persuade by establishing the
speaker as _______________________________ and ___________________________________.
2. _______________________________: Emotional appeals. Attempts to persuade by appealing
to the emotions, both __________________________________and
____________________________________.
3. ______________________________: Logical appeals. Attempts to persuade by using
__________________________, __________________________________, and
__________________________________.
Ways to Develop/Strengthen a Persuasive Argument

Use __________________________________ of words/phrases/images

Use _____________________________________________________, such as
__________________________________ and ______________________________________, to make
comparisons and connections.

Use vivid ___________________________________ to paint a lasting picture in the audience’s
mind.

Use ____________________________________________________, or language/words that seeks to
influence by appealing to ones _____________________________________ or playing off
___________________________________________.