Proposition of Fact
 In areas without an absolute answer, persuade your
audience that one thing or another is fact.
 For example, if we don't know whether aliens exist,
try to persuade them that they don't. Your persuasive
speech topic would be, "Aliens Cannot Possibly
Exist."
Proposition of Value
 Talk about whether something is good or bad,
worthless or ideal.
 For example, try to persuade your audience that
basketball is the ideal sport. Your persuasive speech
topic would be, "Basketball is the Ideal Sport."
Proposition of Policy
 Argue for immediate action or approval about what
should be done. This is a call to action. You must not only
persuade them that you're right, and that the action is
necessary, but that it is immediately important.
 For example, explain how many people are dying of AIDS
in Africa, what it's doing to their economy and
governments, and how it will inevitably effect America.
Then tell them how to get involved with raising money
and influencing American politics. Your persuasive
speech topic would be, “Why You Should Help Save
America from Africa's AIDS Problem."
Argument by Authority (Ethos)
 The claim that the speaker is an expert, and so
should be trusted.
 There are degrees and areas of expertise.
 The speaker is actually claiming to be more expert, in
the relevant subject area, than anyone else in the
room.
 There is also an implied claim that expertise in the
area is worth having.
Argument by Emotion (Pathos)
 Using emotionally loaded words to sway the
audience's sentiments instead of their minds.
 Many emotions can be useful: anger, spite, sadness,
and so on.
Argument by Logic (Logos)
Premise 1: Non-renewable resources do not exist in infinite
supply.
Premise 2: Coal is a non-renewable resource.
From these two premises, only one logical conclusion is
available:
Conclusion: Coal does not exist in infinite supply.
Premise 1: All monkeys are primates.
Premise 2: All primates are mammals.
Premise 3: All mammals are vertebrate animals.
Conclusions: Monkeys are vertebrate animals.
Argument by Analogy
 Claiming that two situations are highly similar to
give the audience a sense of understanding.
 Example: A teacher facilitating learning in a
classroom is like a conductor leading an orchestra.
Argument by Causation
 Arguing that a set of events or facts caused some
result or outcome.
 Best used with claims of fact or policy, it can easily
establish a problem-solution structure to a text.
 Causation requires substantial proof or evidence, but
it is one of the most compelling arguments you can
make.
Rhetorical Strategies
 Persuasive Words
 Metaphors, Anecdotes, or Stories- They work by
suggesting a likeness between a character and the listener,
or a situation and the listener's. What is emphasized or
suppressed is key.
 Double-bind- One way of getting a child to eat her
vegetables is to offer a "choice" "Would you like peas or
spinach?" Regardless of the alternative chosen, your
desired objective is met.
More Rhetorical Strategies
 Rapport- How does the author go about building a sense
of friendliness and receptivity on the part of the audience?
 Humor
 Absolutes- Words like "don't" and "must" creep in and
can give a writer's statements a sense of authority.
 Questioning
 Repetition
Tone
 Your voice is a tool that can be used to draw
attention to important points or complement specific
ideas.
 When used this way, it engages an audience and
encourages them to listen.
Diction and Syntax
 Diction is the choice of words.
 Syntax is the arrangement of words
 How important are diction and syntax?
 The words chosen, and the order the words are in, will alert the
audience to how he or she should feel toward the speaker and
how to feel about what is happening.
 It will also alert the audience to how the speaker feels towards
the topic, too; all of this without any direct instructions from the
speaker.