Common Persuasive Techniques
Bandwagon
You are urged to do Be where the action is. Shop at Hang-out Mall.
or believe
something because
everyone else does.
Testimonial
Famous people
I'm professional football player Marcus Browning,
endorse a product or and I use Wash Out window cleaner.
idea.
Emotional
Appeal
Plain Folks
Snob Appeal
Words or images
What would you do if all your possessions were
that appeal to the
lost in a fire? Get the Save-All fireproof safe and
audience's emotions protect your valuables.
are used. The appeal
may be to positive
emotions, such as
desire for success,
or to negative ones,
such as fear.
Ordinary people sell As a construction worker, I often get headaches on
a message. You are the job. That's why I use PainAway aspirin.
to believe that
because these
people are like you,
they can be trusted.
This technique
I accept only the best, and that's why I buy Aloft
suggests that you
perfume.
can be like the
expensively dressed,
perfectly shaped
people who use this
product.
From: Elements of Language, Holt, Rinehart & Winston
Persuasive Words
Try using these instead of your “normal” choices…see how your writing expands and becomes more powerful!
Positives/”I am FOR”Words:
Negatives/”I am AGAINST” Words:
Accurate
Advantage
Always/Never
Best
Certain
Confident
Convenient
Definitely
Effective
Emphasize
Expect
Interesting
Magnificent
Most
Most Important
Popular
Profitable
Should
Strongly Recommend
Superb
Superior
Tremendous
Truly
Trustworthy
Workable
Worthwhile
Aggravate
Agony
Atrocious
Confusing
Cruel
Damaging
Disadvantages
Displeased
Dreadful
Harmful
Harsh
Horrible
Inconsiderate
Inferior
Irritate
Offend
Ordeal
Outrageousness
Provoke
Repulsive
Severe
Shameful
Shocking
Terrible
Unreliable
Unstable
Now, here are some hints to make your writing really persuasive, convincing, and solid!
Provide Reasons Why
Concrete, logical evidence that your reason is the right one can be most persuasive. Use factual evidence!
Show Consistency
Be very consistent in your overall message. Don’t contradict yourself.
Use Comparisons
Use similes, metaphors, analogies—anything powerful to get your idea across.
Address Objections
Try to foresee any objections someone might have to you being part of their program or job. Then explain the object to show
how you are, after all, really the best choice they have. (SHOW them, don’t TELL them.)
Appeal to Emotion
Try to win the audience over by appealing to their sense of sympathy or compassion. Honesty helps.
TARGET POSSIBILITIES:
Discussion:
LI.11.912.05.03 Evaluate arguments and evidence.
LI.11.912.06.03 Explain how variables such as background knowledge, experiences, values, and beliefs can affect communication.
LI.11.912.07.03 Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) evaluating the
credibility and accuracy of each source.
LI.11.S12.07.03 Propel conversations by posing and responding to questions that relate the current discussion to broader themes or larger ideas; actively
incorporate others into the discussion; and clarify, verify, or challenge ideas and conclusions.
LI.11.S12.08.03 Respond thoughtfully to diverse perspectives, summarize points of agreement and disagreement, and, when warranted, qualify or justify
their own views and understanding and make new connections in light of the evidence and reasoning presented.
LI.11.S12.09.03 Evaluate a speaker’s point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric, identifying any fallacious reasoning or exaggerated or
distorted evidence. FALLICIOUS = ___________________________________________ DISTORTED = ______________________________
Writing:
LI.11.932.01.03 Introduce precise claim(s), distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and create an organization that establishes clear
relationships among claim(s), counterclaims, reasons, and evidence. CLAIM = ________________________________________________________
LI.11.932.02.03 Develop claim(s) and counterclaims fairly, supplying evidence for each while pointing out the strengths and limitations of both in a
manner that anticipates the audience’s knowledge level and concerns.
LI.11.932.03.03 Use words, phrases, and clauses to link the major sections of the text, create cohesion, and clarify the relationships between claim(s) and
reasons, between reasons and evidence, and between claim(s) and counterclaims.
LI.11.932.05.03 Anticipate and address readers’ biases and expectations. BIAS = ______________________________________________________
LI.11.932.06.03 Revise ideas and structure to improve depth of information and logic of organization.
LI.11.932.07.03 Explain and imitate emotional, logical, and ethical appeals used by writers who are trying to persuade an audience.
LI.11.932.08.03 Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone.
LI.11.932.09.03 Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented.
LI.11.933.01.03 Identify comma splices and fused sentences in writing and revise to eliminate them.
LI.11.933.02.03 Distinguish between phrases and clauses and use this knowledge to write varied, strong, correct, complete sentences.
LI.11.933.03.03 Use a colon to introduce a list or quotation.
LI.11.933.04.03 Spell correctly.
Research and Reasoning:
LI.11.941.01.03 Integrate information from different sources to research and complete a project.
LI.11.942.01.03 Analyze the purpose, question at issue, information, points of view, implications and consequences, inferences, assumptions and concepts
inherent in thinking.
LI.11.942.03.03 Implement a purposeful and articulated process to solve a problem.
LI.11.S42.01.03 Analyze the logic (including assumptions and beliefs) and use of evidence (existing and missing information, primary sources, and
secondary sources) used by two or more authors presenting similar or opposing arguments (such as articles by two political columnists that address the
same issue).
WRITE your THESIS about your conspiracy theory you choose to PROVE is fact or fiction. (For an essay, CONSIDER a thesis THAT
ALLOWS YOU TO MAKE 3 DIFFERENT POINTS!!! Also, make sure it is debatable and NOT just a summary. ):
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
After you have a solid THESIS which you check off with me, you will add it to your brilliant introduction (I’ll help you if you need it!).
Body Paragraph #1
P (Topic Sentence – Your
paragraph’s POINT. Ties to
thesis! Debatable!)
E (Evidence – Quote or
paraphrasing from text that
supports the P you just
wrote! NOT OPINIONATED,
just the fact, Jack!)
A (Analysis – SO WHAT?!
Explain how/why your
evidence supports your P!)
L (Link – Tie up your
thoughts and transition to
your next idea!)
E (Evidence – Quote or
paraphrasing from text that
supports the P you just
wrote! NOT OPINIONATED,
just the fact, Jack!)
A (Analysis – SO WHAT?!
Explain how/why your
evidence supports your P!)
L (Link – Tie up your
thoughts and transition to
your next idea!)
E (Evidence – Quote or
paraphrasing from text that
supports the P you just
wrote! NOT OPINIONATED,
just the fact, Jack!)
A (Analysis – SO WHAT?!
Explain how/why your
evidence supports your P!)
L (Link – Tie up your
thoughts and transition to
your next idea!)
Body Paragraph #2
P (Topic Sentence – Your
paragraph’s POINT. Ties to
thesis! Debatable!
DIFFERENT IDEA THAN #1)
Body Paragraph #3
P (Topic Sentence – Your
paragraph’s POINT. Ties to
thesis! Debatable!
DIFFERENT IDEA THAN #1 or
#2)
NOTE: Solid essays often require depth. If you need to add more information about your P, just use your A keep emphasizing your point. Always make SURE E and A
don’t stray off topic. Also, this is just the BODY of your essay. You will need to add an introduction (and your thesis) and conclusion. Good luck! Also, don’t forget to
write a conclusion! 