Year 10N – Year 12 Persuasive Language Techniques List
Each Technique reduced to 3 simple clear words.
Alliteration
Repetition of Sounds
Evidence: “Jared Jokes about Jews”
The effect this has on the reader: Draws attention to the point. Makes the
reader more attentive to the words used. Nice to read / listen to.
Anecdote
Personal, emotional, story
Evidence: “Recently my neighbour experiences this problem first hand”
The effect this has on the reader: It encourages the reader to show emotion
and see the topic as more related to them.
Appeal to Authority
Words from expert
Evidence: Professor John Matthews said “it’s true, trust me, I’m a professor”
It must be true because a respected person also says the same thing.
The effect this has on the reader:
Appeal to Common Sense
Pressures practical point
Example: “They are not to blame for the accident, everyone knows it’s the driver of the car”
The effect this has on the reader: Makes a complex argument seem simple and easy to decide on.
Appeal to Family Values
Traditional family, pls
Evidence: “The Australian dream, giving three kids, a wife, a dog and a house of your own.”
The effect this has on the reader: Makes the text appeal to people who have
a family, or who are parents.
Appeal to Fear and Insecurity
Be scared & Fearful
Example: “Imagine your dad exploding”
The effect this has on the reader: Intends to make them scared, fearful
and therefore easy to convince
Appeal to Hip-Pocket Nerve
Saving money = good
Evidence: “ Imagine how much money you would save if you stopped driving your car”
The effect this has on the reader: Either tries to make the reader angry at being
charged money for something OR Positions the reader to support an opinion because
of their desire to save money, or to not see money wasted.
Appeal to Tradition and Custom
Change is bad
Evidence: “Elders have been complaining about young generations for years, and look what the result of it is a decayed society!”
The effect this has on the reader: Makes a person feel comfortable about
doing the same old things.
Appeal to Loyalty and Patriotism
Love your Country
Example: “Aussies rule the world”
The effect this has on the reader: Positions the readerTo agree with actions that benefit the nation as a whole
Appeal to sense of Justice Crime = time = fair
Evidence: “ The death penalty is the ultimate form of cruelty, it’s a violation of fundamental human rights, its not a right or just thing to do.”
The effect this has on the reader: Making things sound fair will catch the readers
eyes by making sure that something's in it for everyone.
Attacks and Praise
Your perfect / Revolting
Evidence: “Mr Kolber is amazing” OR “Mr Kolber is the most massive idiot yet born”
The effect this has on the reader: The reader can clearly tell who the ‘goodies’
are, and who the ‘baddies’ are.
Clichés
Cheesy, overused phrase
Evidence: “We brought our A game”
The effect this has on the reader: The phrase is familiar, so the reader feels
safe and familiar with the writers expresssion.
Colourful Language
Swearing, exaggeration, connotations
Example: “The brutal beheading of people”
The effect this has on the reader: Evokes a sentiment or opinion
Connotations and Loaded Words
Emotional, implied baggage
Example: “The Australian dollar slumped to a new low last night due to increasing nervousness about Europe’s economic woes
The effect this has on the reader: Works up the readers And makes them feel emotional about it.
Emotive Language
Feels bad / good
Evidence: “Come on, you don’t want to be sad your whole life, don’t you want to be happy?”
The effect this has on the reader: To make them feel the way you want them
to feel when they read your essay.
Evidence (Including Statistics, graphs and diagrams)
Hard facts, figures
Evidence: “ 50% of this class is in VCAL”
The effect this has on the reader: Makes the argument seem objective
and reliable
Exaggeration, Overstatement and Hyperbole
OTT (Over The Top) Overreacts, dramatic, emotional
Evidence: “The spurs are the best team ever, they are so fit, young and beautiful. They are so good and full of skill, such an amazing team”
The effect this has on the reader: Is very over the top, so the reader either finds
this funny or believable
Generalisation
Everyone thinks same
Evidence: “All of Tony Abbott’s supporters are biased, bigoted racists who don’t deserve your vote.”
The effect this has on the reader: Makes the reader think a group or type of
person are all the same, or share the same opinion.
Graphs and Diagrams
Students in VCAL
Everyone not here10B10K10N
Simple, readable, Facts
The effect this has on the reader:Simplifies and makes the information Readable and easy to understand
Inclusive Language
Includes reader together
Example: “Finally, the research to back up what we
all know’, that the cost of parking in this city is painful”
The effect this has on the reader: It is meant to include the reader into the
article and make them feel involved.
Irony
Meaning is opposite Sarcastic opposition people
Evidence: “ Is Jared dumb, Nahhh”
The effect this has on the reader: It gives the reason some enthusiasm, fun, laughter
Metaphor and Simile
This like that Comparing x = y
Example: “Coburg is a melting pot”
The effect this has on the reader: Gives aComparison between two things and makesThe reader more interested.
Pun
Play on words
Evidence: “ Being a vegetarian is a missed steak”
The effect this has on the reader: Makes them laugh, or be impressed by
the writers word play.
Reason and Logic
Sensible, logical, superior X = X = logic
Evidence: “If the spurs beat the heat, the heat suck”
The effect this has on the reader: Makes complex things simple, by saying
if _____ is this, then _____ is true.
Repetition
Repetition of word Repeating, Repeating, Repeating
Example: Blah, Blah, Blah
The effect this has on the reader: Makes the text easier to read and
remember, emphasises certain words and points of view.
Rhetorical Question
Don’t answer = rhetorical Implied but unstated No thinking needed
Evidence: “ Do you want your children to grow up and become alcoholic druggies?”
The effect this has on the reader: Draws attention to the reader by forcing the reader to then agree with the statement being put forward.
Finished
These informative slides were provided by 10N – Circa 2014 (Class of 2016)
The effect this has on the reader: