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: