PERSUASIVE TECHNIQUES
IN “THE CRISIS” BY
THOMAS PAINE

Persuade by eliciting strong feelings (pity or fear)
EMOTIONAL APPEALS
EMOTIONAL APPEALS

Appeals to the sense of right and wrong
“Those Soldiers who stand firm in the service of [their]
country” deserve the “love and thanks of man and
woman” (Paine lines 2-3)
ETHICAL APPEALS

Suggests the reader will be accepted or respected by agreeing
APPEALS TO ASSOCIATION
 Cites
experts or others who are to be respected
“God almighty will not give up a people to
military destruction…” (Paine lines 23-24)
APPEALS TO AUTHORITY

Uses evidence and reasoning to persuade
LOGICAL APPEALS
Pre reading scavenger hunt: Read page 248

What do you know about Thomas Paine?

What was his tone in his writings?

Who was his target audience?

Who was General Washington?

What is tyranny?
“THE CRISIS” BY THOMAS PAINE

Thomas Paine’s speeches and essays were the equivalent of this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgSMxY6asoE
THE MOTIVATOR

Read and annotate the first paragraph of “The Crisis” on page
250.

Annotate means:

Summarize the paragraph in margins

Highlight and define words you don’t know

Identify all loaded language

Identify the tone of the paragraph
ASSIGNMENT

Answer the following questions:
1.
Whom does Paine thank in the opening?
2.
What does Paine say gives freedom its value?
3.
What words does Paine use to describe the actions of the British
(diction)?
4.
What is implies by the terms “summer soldier” and “sunshine
patriot” in the first paragraph?
5.
Identify the loaded words in the first paragraph. What emotional
connotations do these words have?
6.
What is the tone of the entire paragraph?
ASSIGNMENT PART DEUX
Example from “The Crisis”
Kind of Appeal
Emotional Appeal
Ethical Appeal
Appeal to Authority
Appeal to Association
Logical Appeal
ASSIGNMENT PART TROIS
Create a chart and answer number 6 on
page 256

Study ALL THE NOTES for your test on October 2nd / 3rd.
HOMEWORK!!!!!!!!