Persuasion Through Rhetoric

Words, Phrases, and Simple Assertions

A psychological point about rhetoric and suggestion...

It’s a fact that even fleeting impressions may have measurable influence on behavior.

A psychological point about rhetoric and suggestion...

It’s a fact that even fleeting impressions may have measurable influence on behavior.

The operation of such influences may occur below the threshold of consciousness.

A psychological point about rhetoric and suggestion...

It’s a fact that even fleeting impressions may have measurable influence on behavior.

The operation of such influences may occur below the threshold of consciousness.

The positive and negative impressions made by use of rhetorical devices, while they may sometimes seem trivial, can have powerful and long-lasting effects.

A psychological point about rhetoric and suggestion...

It’s a fact that even fleeting impressions may have measurable influence on behavior.

The operation of such influences may occur below the threshold of consciousness.

The positive and negative impressions made by use of rhetorical devices, while they may sometimes seem trivial, can have powerful and long-lasting effects.

Critical thinking addresses influence of rhetoric in two ways:

(1) helps identify attempts at non-argumentative persuasion

(2) helps check “spontaneous” beliefs and impulses

Euphemisms and Dysphemisms Words or phrases that are substituted for

other words or phrases to put what is being discussed in a more positive or negative light

Euphemisms and Dysphemisms Words or phrases that are substituted for

other words or phrases to put what is being discussed in a more positive or negative light

Euphemism: “Used cars” become “pre-owned vehicles”.

Dysphemism: “Music” becomes “noise”.

Euphemisms and Dysphemisms Words or phrases that are substituted for

other words or phrases to put what is being discussed in a more positive or negative light

Euphemism: “Used cars” become “pre-owned vehicles”.

Dysphemism: “Music” becomes “noise”.

Note: Reports and descriptions may convey pleasant or unpleasant information without being euphemistic or dysphemistic. It’s the quality of the language that matters.

Rhetorical Comparisons, Definitions, and Explanations

Ways of speaking that depart positively or negatively from a fair or neutral position

Problems of content, not of form

Rhetorical Comparisons, Definitions, and Explanations

Ways of speaking that depart positively or negatively from a fair or neutral position

Problems of content, not of form

Comparison: The American revolutionaries used tactics similar to those employed by the Viet Cong.

Rhetorical Comparisons, Definitions, and Explanations

Ways of speaking that depart positively or negatively from a fair or neutral position

Problems of content, not of form

Comparison: The American revolutionaries used tactics similar to those employed by the Viet Cong.

Definition: religion - the opiate of the people

Rhetorical Comparisons, Definitions, and Explanations

Ways of speaking that depart positively or negatively from a fair or neutral position

Problems of content, not of form

Comparison: The American revolutionaries used tactics similar to those employed by the Viet Cong.

Definition: religion - the opiate of the people

Explanation: Franklin stayed in France throughout the revolution because he was a celebrity there.

Stereotype May function as an unexamined assumption

behind a premise (easily results in fallacy of begging the question) or explanatory claim (especially, as circular reasoning)

Stereotype May function as an unexamined assumption

behind a premise (easily results in fallacy of begging the question) or explanatory claim (especially, as circular reasoning)

When directly expressed, takes the form of a generalization

Stereotype May function as an unexamined assumption

behind a premise (easily results in fallacy of begging the question) or explanatory claim (especially, as circular reasoning)

When directly expressed, takes the form of a generalization

As expectation, may cause an observer to ignore conflicting phenomena or supply consistent details that never occurred

Innuendo A suggestion that is made indirectly Creates a negative impression (using indirect

language to create a positive impression is usually better classed as understatement)

May be constructed by association with something negative or by faint praiseExample: Prof. X? Is he the one who admitted that his emotions influence his grading? (When speaker knows Prof. X didn’t.)

Example: Student Y? Yes, I remember her. She satisfied the minimum requirements of the course.

Loaded Question Often a yes-no question or a false dilemma,

but could occur with any question form Answering directly requires accepting or

presuming a questionable, hostile, or unjustified assumption

May function similarly to innuendo

Loaded Question Often a yes-no question or a false dilemma,

but could occur with any question form Answering directly requires accepting or

presuming a questionable, hostile, or unjustified assumption

May function similarly to innuendoExample: Are you still abusing illegal drugs?

Example: Should we vote for the Democrat or the Repulican in this election?

Example: What were you thinking when you attempted to steal that CD?

Weaseler A word or phrase that deceptively weakens a

claim

Weaseler A word or phrase that deceptively weakens a

claim Not to be confused with careful qualification

Weaseler A word or phrase that deceptively weakens a

claim Not to be confused with careful qualification

Example: Save up to 40% (when typical savings will be less)

Example: It’s easy to go all the way...on the phone. (real ad!)

Downplayer A word, phrase, or punctuation that subtly

diminishes a concept or weakens a claim May overlap with weaseler

Downplayer A word, phrase, or punctuation that subtly

diminishes a concept or weakens a claim May overlap with weaseler

Example: Today’s “patriots” are just looking for a way to make a quick buck in Iraq.

Downplayer A word, phrase, or punctuation that subtly

diminishes a concept or weakens a claim May overlap with weaseler

Example: Today’s “patriots” are just looking for a way to make a quick buck in Iraq.

Example: I understand your wages are low, but it’s normal for some full-time workers in any modern society to be below the poverty line. (Notice how the individual’s particular situation is effectively submerged.)

Downplayer A word, phrase, or punctuation that subtly

diminishes a concept or weakens a claim May overlap with weaseler

Example: Today’s “patriots” are just looking for a way to make a quick buck in Iraq.

Example: I understand your wages are low, but it’s normal for some full-time workers in any modern society to be below the poverty line. (Notice how the individual’s particular situation is effectively submerged.)

Example: Interest rates are at their the lowest point in years, though only customers with excellent credit will qualify.

Horse Laugh/Ridicule/Sarcasm An attempt to weaken a claim or undermine

credibility by making an idea or person appear ridiculous

Horse Laugh/Ridicule/Sarcasm An attempt to weaken a claim or undermine

credibility by making an idea or person appear ridiculous

May make use of other devices, e.g., hyperbole, slippery slope

Horse Laugh/Ridicule/Sarcasm An attempt to weaken a claim or undermine

credibility by making an idea or person appear ridiculous

May make use of other devices, e.g., hyperbole, slippery slopeExample: One thing I can say for Schwarzenegger, I bet he’s not a complainer. So now we won’t have to listen to a lot of complaining from the governor’s office while Bush’s friends are looting California.

Horse Laugh/Ridicule/Sarcasm An attempt to weaken a claim or undermine

credibility by making an idea or person appear ridiculous

May make use of other devices, e.g., hyperbole, slippery slopeExample: One thing I can say for Schwarzenegger, I bet he’s not a complainer. So now we won’t have to listen to a lot of complaining from the governor’s office while Bush’s friends are looting California.

Example: You don’t like how the PATRIOT Act expands police powers? How about the next time you need help, try calling a hippie.

Hyperbole Use of exaggeration to make an impression of

greater importance or deviation from expectations

Hyperbole Use of exaggeration to make an impression of

greater importance or deviation from expectations

May show up in other devices, e.g., ridicule, slippery slope, straw man, poisoning the well

Hyperbole Use of exaggeration to make an impression of

greater importance or deviation from expectations

May show up in other devices, e.g., ridicule, slippery slope, straw man, poisoning the wellExample: What I need is a vehicle that can go anywhere.

Hyperbole Use of exaggeration to make an impression of

greater importance or deviation from expectations

May show up in other devices, e.g., ridicule, slippery slope, straw man, poisoning the wellExample: What I need is a vehicle that can go anywhere.

Example: “While this framework does a good job of catering to environmental extremists, it falls alarmingly short of addressing the rising threat of wildfires facing our forests.” (Rep. Wally Herger, on the Sierra Nevada Framework, 11/03)

Proof Surrogate An assertion or strong suggestion that good

evidence exists somewhere out of reach to support a claim

Proof Surrogate An assertion or strong suggestion that good

evidence exists somewhere out of reach to support a claim

May make use of listed, but unchecked or unverifiable references

Proof Surrogate An assertion or strong suggestion that good

evidence exists somewhere out of reach to support a claim

May make use of listed, but unchecked or unverifiable referencesExample: Unnamed sources report that...

Example: Experts agree that...

Example: I read on the Internet that... (if used as evidence)