Argument Analysis Literary Techniques

Question 1

ad hominem attack

Answer 1

• an attack on a person rather than on their opinion or reasoning
  *Effect: > creates a strong negative depiction of a person or group through the use of emotive language
  > undermines the oppositions credibility

Question 2

alliteration

Answer 2

• repetition of a sound at the beginning of words; often used in headlines
  *Effect: >captures attention
  >adds emphasis to the writers point
  > draws attention to key words

Question 3

analogy

Answer 3

• comparison between two things; helps the audience to draw conclusions about their similarities
  *Effect: >explains a complex point in more familiar terms
  > can help to make the contention look simple and obvious by linking it to something the audience knows well

Question 4

anecdote

Answer 4

• a brief personal account or story
  *Effect: >often entertaining, dramatic or humorous
  >personal angle engages the reader
  >carries weight with readers as a ‘true story’

Question 5

appeal to a sense of justice

Answer 5

• engages with peoples belief that everyone deserves fair treatment
  *Effect: >arouses anger at a percieved injustice
  >positions the audience to agree that action needs to be taken to restore equity

Question 6

appeal to being modern and up to date

Answer 6

• engages with peoples desire to be progressive and part of the in-crowd
  *Effect: >suggests that the new is always better than the old
  >appeals to the desire to be thought of ‘ahead of the pack’ or ‘on trend’

Question 7

appeal to family values

Answer 7

-based on the belief that families are at the centre of society and that children should always be protected
*Effect: >leads the reader to view family as integral to the fabric of society
>positions readers to feel negatively about people and ideas that threaten families or percieved family values

Question 8

appeal to fear

Answer 8

-plays on peoples tendency to react emotionally when their safety, security, country or loves ones are threatened
*Effect: >usually works by portraying an extreme scenario as being highly probable
>inclines readers to agree to proposed solutions to allay their fears

Question 9

appeal to financial self interest

Answer 9

-relates to peoples concern about their financial wellbeing
*Effect: >provokes strong emotions such as outrage at being taken advantage of
>positions readers to feel indignant at those who want to raise prices, and suspicious of their true motives

Question 10

appeal to group loyalty

Answer 10

-uses peoples desire to belong to a group to persuade them to agree to a viewpoint or take action
*Effect: > can play on peoples sense of obligation, guilt, fear and sentimentality
> encourages people to believe that the interests of the group require their support
> can also appeal to the belief that ordinary people can make a difference

Question 11

appeal to patriotism

Answer 11

• draws on national pride and peoples loyalty to their country
  *Effect: > positions readers to feel it would be disloyal to their country to disagree with the writer
  > arouses strong emotions of pride and loyalty
  > can sometimes be used to arouse anger, guilt and fear

Question 12

appeal to self interest

Answer 12

• engages with peoples desire for their interests to be placed ahead of others
  *Effect: > often divides people into groups of ‘us’ and ‘them’
  > suggests that the interests of others are in competition with and threaten those of the reader

Question 13

appeal to tradition and custom

Answer 13

• places a high value on the past and a persons heritage; suggests that abandoning tradition is damaging to society
  *Effect: > encourages the reader to resist change and to feel that links with the past should be retained
  > often romanticises the past and rejects modern ways of doing things

Question 14

attacking language

Answer 14

• used to denigrate opponents, and by implication, their point of view
  *Effect: > draws attention away from reasoned arguments by appealing to readers emotions
  > positions reader to agree that if an individual is flawed, their message must be too

Question 15

cause and effect

Answer 15

• links an outcome to a particular set of events or decisions
  *Effect: > gives the impression that a particular situation or action is a direct result of another
  > can create an impression of the writer as being logical and reasonable

Question 16

cliche

Answer 16

• a familiar but overused expression that carries a range of associations
  *Effect: > conveys meaning in an economical way
  > can help readers to feel more comfortable with an idea

Question 17

creating a dichotomy

Answer 17

• the tactic of dividing people or ideas into two opposing groups - one ‘good’ and one ‘bad’
  *Effect: > simplifies the debate by suggesting that the issue is black and white
  > suggests that the interests of those are in competition with those of the audience

Question 18

emotive language

Answer 18

• deliberately strong words (that often carry particular connotations) used to provoke emotion in the reader
  *Effect: > positions readers to react emotionally, rather than rationally
  > leads the reader to share the writers feelings on the subject

Question 19

generalisation

Answer 19

• suggests that a fact that applies in a specific case is generally or always true
  *Effect: > appeals to commonly held prejudices and attitudes
  > encourages the reader to judge others according to stereotypes

Question 20

inclusive language

Answer 20

• involves the reader directly in the issue by using first-person plural pronouns such as ‘we’ and ‘us’
  *Effect: >makes readers feel included and that their views count
  > encourages readers to agree since this view is apparently shared by the group as a whole

Question 21

jargon

Answer 21

• specialised language used by experts in a particular field of knowledge
  *Effect: >can help to convey the writers expertise in a field
  > can suggest objectivity or fact-based opinion, adding credibility to the argument

Question 22

metaphor and simile

Answer 22

• types of figurative language that describe one thing in terms of another
  *Effect: > capitalises on associations with a vivid image
  >can evoke strong emotions in readers

Question 23

overstatement, exaggeration, and hyperbole

Answer 23

• the use of dramatic, forceful language to exaggerate the real situation
  *Effect: > arouses emotion in the reader
  > can be humorous
  > ‘worst case scenario’ plays on readers’ fears

Question 24

pun

Answer 24

• a play on word or phrase that gives it multiple meanings
  *Effect: >often humorous
  >gains readers’ attention and emphasises the writer’s point

Question 25

reason and logic

Answer 25

-supporting an argument with evidence or deduction (drawing a conclusion, often from something generally known or assumed to be true)
*Effect: >creates a credible argument by offering strong evidence and strong connections between the contention and the evidence
> makes the writer seem knowledgeable and their opinion seem well thought through and researched

Question 26

repetition

Answer 26

-the repeating of words, phrases or ideas for emphasis
*Effect: > emphasises the writer’s viewpoint and captures attention
> makes the point in a memorable way
> can communicate a sense of urgency or conviction

Question 27

rhetorical question

Answer 27

• a question that requires no answer, usually because the answer is implied
  *Effect: > positions readers to agree by assuming their answer will be the same as the writers
  > engages readers by addressing them directly

Question 28

sarcasm

Answer 28

-the use of words to say something deliberately untrue, especially in order to insult someone
*Effect: >makes the subject look or feel foolish
> positions the audience to regard the issue in a humorous light