The Art of The Art of PersuasionPersuasion

ObjectiveObjective

I can identify persuasive vocabulary, like I can identify persuasive vocabulary, like bandwagon (peer pressure), testimonials, bandwagon (peer pressure), testimonials, or emotional appeal (loaded words) which or emotional appeal (loaded words) which are used to influence readers’ opinions.are used to influence readers’ opinions.

Today you will learn three types of Today you will learn three types of persuasive vocabulary, their definitions, persuasive vocabulary, their definitions,

and examples of each.and examples of each.

The Art of The Art of PersuasionPersuasion

First, what is it?

Persuasive text is a type of writing intended to convince the reader to think, act, or feel a certain way about something.

Effective persuasion appeals to both the intellect (mind) and emotions (heart).

Other forms of the word: persuade, persuasive

Essential QuestionsEssential Questions

What is persuasive vocabulary?What is persuasive vocabulary? How is it used?How is it used? What is the difference between the What is the difference between the

persuasive vocabulary styles?persuasive vocabulary styles?

Warm upWarm up Divide slate in half.Divide slate in half. Label left synonyms and the right side Label left synonyms and the right side

antonmys.antonmys.

I I persuadedpersuaded my mother to let me my mother to let me spend the night at my friend’s spend the night at my friend’s

house.house.

Write words that mean the same as Write words that mean the same as persuadepersuade under synonym, and words that under synonym, and words that mean the opposite under antonym.mean the opposite under antonym.

I persuaded my mother to I persuaded my mother to let me spend the night at let me spend the night at my friend’s house.my friend’s house.

Synonyms:Synonyms:

Convince, ask, sway, Convince, ask, sway, influence, win overinfluence, win over

AntonymsAntonyms

Beg, whine, demand, order, Beg, whine, demand, order, insistinsist

The Art of The Art of PersuasionPersuasion

There are There are manymany techniques, or techniques, or ways, to persuade someone. ways, to persuade someone.

Bandwagon (Peer Pressure)Bandwagon (Peer Pressure) TestimonialTestimonial Emotional Appeal Emotional Appeal Loaded Words = Descriptive WordsLoaded Words = Descriptive Words Exaggeration = Stretching the TruthExaggeration = Stretching the Truth

Bandwagon = Peer PressureBandwagon = Peer Pressure

The bandwagon technique The bandwagon technique convincesconvinces the the reader that reader that everybody else is doing iteverybody else is doing it and and they they need to belongneed to belong in the group. in the group.

It works on the fear of It works on the fear of notnot “being cool “being cool” or ” or ““doing what everyone else is doingdoing what everyone else is doing.”.”

Bandwagon ExamplesBandwagon Examples

Your Grandpa does it…Your Grandpa does it…

Your Mom does it…Your Mom does it…

Even your boss does it.Even your boss does it.

Bandwagon ExamplesBandwagon ExamplesWell, I

guess I will have a

cigar too.

Bandwagon ExamplesBandwagon Examples

““I want to be a I want to be a Kid!”Kid!”

Choosy moms choose Jif!Choosy moms choose Jif!

TestimonialTestimonial

The testimonial technique tries to The testimonial technique tries to convinceconvince the reader by using a the reader by using a famous famous personperson or or someone who looks normal.someone who looks normal.

The testimonial tries to connect the writer’s The testimonial tries to connect the writer’s opinion to the reader’s feeling about this opinion to the reader’s feeling about this person.person.

Testimonial ExamplesTestimonial Examples

What he says about the SUBWAY® brand: "The SUBWAY® chain helped save my life over and over. I can't ever repay that."

Testimonial ExamplesTestimonial Examples

“I’ve lost 75 pounds on Jenny Craig!

Have you called Jenny Craig yet?”

Testimonial ExampleTestimonial Example

Kid Tested.Mother Approved.

Emotional Appeal = Loaded Words = Emotional Appeal = Loaded Words = Descriptive WordsDescriptive Words

The writer uses The writer uses emotional appealemotional appeal by by using words that make the using words that make the reader feelreader feel strongly about the topicstrongly about the topic. .

The writer usually appeals to:The writer usually appeals to: FearFear, , angeranger, , empathyempathy or or joyjoy. .

The words the writer uses are called The words the writer uses are called loaded wordsloaded words..

Emotional Appeal ExampleEmotional Appeal Example

It is It is imperative imperative that that airports have metal airports have metal detectors. detectors. Someone could be Someone could be hiding a weapon hiding a weapon and a and a massacremassacre could happen.could happen.

What emotions are evoked by this ad?

Emotional Appeal ExampleEmotional Appeal Example

For just For just $0.70 a day, $0.70 a day, you can you can make a make a difference in difference in a child’s life.a child’s life.

What emotions are evoked by this ad?

Loaded Words = Descriptive Loaded Words = Descriptive wordswords

The loaded languageThe loaded languagetechnique uses wordstechnique uses wordsthat cause a that cause a strongstrongfeeling.feeling.

Once the reader isOnce the reader isfeeling strongly, he orfeeling strongly, he orshe may be more likelyshe may be more likelyto agree with the writer.to agree with the writer.

What is the loaded word What is the loaded word in this ad? What feeling in this ad? What feeling does it make the reader does it make the reader have?have?

Loaded WordsLoaded WordsWhen a mother When a mother reads the word reads the word ““groovygroovy” in this ad ” in this ad for a popular kids’ for a popular kids’ lunch box food, lunch box food, what emotion do what emotion do you think she will you think she will feel?feel?

What could this What could this feeling make her feeling make her want to do?want to do?

ExaggerationExaggeration

ExaggerationExaggeration persuades audiences persuades audiences by “stretching the truth” and making by “stretching the truth” and making things seem believable which are things seem believable which are more unlikely to happen. (Example: If more unlikely to happen. (Example: If you buy these shoes, they will make you buy these shoes, they will make you fly!)you fly!)

Examples of Examples of ExaggerationExaggeration using using an Advertisementan Advertisement

Endless Ocean for the Nintendo WiiEndless Ocean for the Nintendo Wii

Come explore Come explore Endless OceanEndless Ocean! The ! The relaxed and calm atmosphere of the relaxed and calm atmosphere of the game gives divers the game gives divers the freedom to freedom to exploreexplore special locations such as special locations such as shipwrecks and underwater ruins, shipwrecks and underwater ruins, discover and interact with sea-lifediscover and interact with sea-life, , complete fish logs or complete fish logs or simply relax simply relax in in

the the soothing environment.soothing environment.

In the ad above, “ ‘explore Endless Ocean’, ‘freedom to In the ad above, “ ‘explore Endless Ocean’, ‘freedom to explore’, ‘discover and interact with sea-life’, and ‘simply explore’, ‘discover and interact with sea-life’, and ‘simply relax’,” are examples of exaggeration.relax’,” are examples of exaggeration.

Conclusion The __________________ technique (or _______ _________) is

effective by persuading the reader to believe that “everyone else is doing it” or “everyone else is using it (product).”

The __________________ technique uses words or quotations from an ordinary person or a celebrity that supports the writer’s argument/position.

_______________ __________ (or ___________ _______) techniques can be extremely effective in persuading the reader to act on a feeling.

As readers & writers of persuasive text, we must learn to recognize various techniques in order to understand the writer’s position.

If we focus on the facts instead of the feelings, we will make a better decision about the writer’s opinion.

Conclusion• The Bandwagon technique (or Peer Pressure) is effective by

persuading the reader to believe that “everyone else is doing it” or “everyone else is using it (product).”

• The Testimonial technique uses words or quotations from an ordinary person or a celebrity that supports the writer’s argument/position.

• Emotional appeal techniques (or Loaded Words) can be extremely effective in persuading the reader to act on a feeling.

• As readers & writers of persuasive text, we must learn to recognize various techniques in order to understand the writer’s position.

• If we focus on the facts instead of the feelings, we will make a better decision about the writer’s opinion.