Identifying Persuasive Techniques Flashcards
Name the persuasive technique described below.
a feigned refusal of that which is earnestly desired (the “I couldn’t possibly accept…” technique)
accismus
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a warning of impending evil or danger; also known as paraenesis
admonition
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the stating of the impossibility of expressing something or the inability to express something, usually because the thing is too great or too terrible for words (the “there are no words to express” technique)
adynaton
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an exclamation proceeding from deep indignation (the “how dare you” technique)
aganactesis
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a kind of story, sketch, or vignette in which the settings, characters, objects, and events are all meant to be interpreted as symbols, often communicating a political, moral, or religious message
allegory
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an unexplained reference to something, usually from history or literature (often made as part of a comparison or example); used to communicate connotative meanings associated with the thing being alluded to
allusion
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an argument made by comparing two like things; also known as an analogical argument or argument from analogy
analogy
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a recollection of a historical event or of the words of an author from the past
anamnesis
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a short narrative involving the writer’s experiences
anecdote
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an expression of one’s regret, remorse, or sorrow for having insulted, failed, injured, or wronged another
apology
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a denial of the intention to speak about someone or something that is at the same time stated or insinuated (the “I’m not here today to talk about…” but then immediately talk about that thing technique)
apophasis
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the breaking off suddenly in the middle of speaking, usually to portray being overcome with emotion
aposiopesis
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an argument that claims that something is true or not true, using an objective standard of judgment
argument of fact
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an argument that claims that something should or should not be done in the future
argument of policy
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an argument that claims that something possesses some subjective characteristic, like good or bad, right or wrong, ethical or unethical, etc.
argument of value
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a prompting for the audience to take a specific course of action (only rhetorically interesting if done in an unusual or unexpected way)
call to action
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a threat of payback or a prophesy of payback for some wrong doing (the “beware all those who” technique)
cataplexis
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a kind of framing wherein the worst possible outcome of a situation is imagined
catastrophe
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an argument that claims one event or condition causes another; also known as a causal argument
cause and effect
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a portrayal of someone or something as possessing certain qualities or characteristics
characterization
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a type of definition, where a term or concept is placed within a group or category, based on its characteristics
classification
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an examination of the similarities and differences between two or more things
comparison
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an acknowledgement of the merits of an opposing argument
concession
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the act of laying common ground between the writer and audience by finding circumstances, beliefs, values, etc. that both share
concurrence
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an examination of the differences between two or more things
contrast
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the act of identifying an opposing argument and then rebutting it
counterargument
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a kind of example that demonstrates the weakness of an opposing generalization
counterexample
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a kind of example that relies on numbers, rates, percentages, etc.
data/statistics
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an explanation of the meaning or essential qualities of a term, concept, or thing; also known as a definitional argument
definition
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a depiction of the physical characteristics of something (the way it looks, sounds, smells, etc.)
description
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the parsing of a fine or subtle difference between similar things or concepts that may often be confused or mistaken to be the same thing
distinctio
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a kind of characterization or framing wherein a single characteristic is examined in isolation, thus exaggerating its significance
distortion
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an emotionally evocative description that vividly recreates a scene
enargeia
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a series of ideas or arguments presented in a numbered list, often to created to “bullet point” ideas in an argument (not the same as listing items in a coordinate series)
enumeration
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a recitation of something once said, followed by commentary on it
epicrisis
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a specific instance of something used to make a larger generalization
example
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a kind of evidence that relies on expert opinion or commentary to support a claim
expert source
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an allegory designed to teach a moral, in which the characters are animals, plants, or otherwise non-human
fable
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an attempt to raise an audience’s self-esteem or self-image through direct or indirect compliments of their character, abilities, virtues, etc.
flattery
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a portrayal of an issue in a certain light (often to reduce the issue to something simple or to color the issue in a favorable light)
framing
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an argument made through multiple examples, with the intention of using specific instances to draw general conclusions about the whole group
generalization
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a clear, brief definition used to distinguish different terms, concepts, or things
horismus
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a question posed to the audience that is immediately answered by the writer (only rhetorically interesting if done multiple times)
hypophora
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a command given to the audience (not quite the same as a call to action, which invites or implores the audience to do something)
imperative
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an implicit contrast, where two or more different things are discussed for the purposes of contrasting them, but the differences aren’t explicitly stated
juxtaposition
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a sequence of events; a general term for a story
narration
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the expression of joy for blessings obtained or an evil avoided
paenismus
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an allegory designed to teach a moral, in which the characters are people
parable
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a kind of narration used to introduce an argument
paradiegesis
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an claim (often unsupported) that asserts that the writer will do something in the future
pledge/promise
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a principle or generalization that, if true, makes a claim true (only rhetorically interesting if establishing a premise is a major focal point of the text)
premise
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a qualification or rebuttal of an anticipated objection that the audience or others might have; sometimes called a prebuttal
procatalepsis
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an acknowledgement of the limitations of one’s own argument
qualification
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an attempt to refute or correct an opposing argument (sometimes used with concession, but not always)
rebuttal
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a question posed to the audience in such a way that its answer is obvious and need not be said (only rhetorically interesting if done multiple times)
rhetorical question
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a string of premises and claims, whereby the claim of one argument becomes the premise supporting another claim, which becomes the premise supporting another claim, and so on
sorites
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an argument that claims something might or will happen in the future, or that something would or would not have happened if circumstances in the past had been different; also known as a speculative argument
speculation
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a three-statement argument consisting of a major premise (assumption), minor premise (evidence), and conclusion (claim), written in that order
syllogism
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a contrast of opposite terms, concepts, or things
syncrisis
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a list of the individual qualities of a term, concept, or thing, without providing an explicit definition
systrophe
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a kind of imperative, whose rejection will end negotiations and cause a resort to force or other direct action; a final demand
ultimatum
