Persuasive Techniques

• Ethical persuasion is the act of trying to convince someone to do something or to believe something in a way that is honest, fair, and respectful
• Unethical persuasion is the act of trying to convince someone to do something or believe something in a way that is dishonest, unfair, or disrespectful.
• Persuasive writing is not solely a manner of logic; it is also a matter of language.
• make the reader feel sorry for something or someone

  Evoke Sympathies
• make the reader feel bad about something

  Play on the reader's guilt
• words that stir up emotions

  Emotive Words
• includes details, imagery, use of pictures or strong connotations that will shock or surprise the reader to get their attention.

  Shock Tactics
• witty and amusing expression of viewpoint

  Humor
• distinctive or eccentric word or phrase to attract attention and easy to recall

  Catchy Phrases
• overturn previous statements

  Contradictory Statements
• a trio of descriptors is more memorable and engaging for the readers

  Power of Three
• repeating letters, words, or phrases

  Repetition
• expressing ideas in the same grammatical structure.

  Parallel Structure
• using first-person and second-person pronouns

  Personal Pronouns
• questions that do not require an answer

  Rhetorical Questions
• use of figurative language (simile, metaphor)

  Figures of Speech
• using language that exaggerates the problem

  Hyperbole
• inspirational and wise sayings

  Quotation
• little stories to illustrate a point

  Anecdote
• factual data like numbers used in a persuasive way

  Statistics
• vivid words to create a picture in the mind using sensory details.

  Imagery
• intended to create punch, grab attention, signal completion after long ideas.

  Short Sentences
• use of incomplete sentences for style and impact

  Fragments
• reflects the characteristic appearance, mannerisms, speech, and dress of a place or a period.

  Local Color
• Shave time. Shave Money. Dollar Shave Club, join us now!

  Catchy Phrases
• Together we can end poverty!

  Personal Pronouns
• in for a penny, in for a pound

  Parallel Structure
• It hurts.

  Short Sentences
• The mayor lied to us! Are we supposed to trust and believe him again?

  Rhetorical Questions
• Citizenship was thrown around like a confetti

  Figures of Speech