Persuasive Language Techniques Flashcards
alliteration
repetition of a consonant, especially at the start of words.
anecdote
a story about someone or something that the writer has experienced or heard about.
appeal to family values
suggests that families are good, especially traditionally nuclear families.
appeal to fear and insecurity
arouses fear and anxiety by suggesting that harmful or unpleasant effects will follow.
appeal to the hip-pocket nerve
suggests that we should pay the least amount possible, either individually or as a society.
appeal to loyalty and patriotism
suggests that we should be loyal to our group and love our country.
appeal to tradition and custom
suggests that traditional customs are valuable and should be preserved.
attacks and praise
attacks or praises an individual or group.
cliches
overused phrase quickly understood by a wide audience.
emotive language
language that has a strong emotional impact. uses the positive and negative connotations of words to influence the reader’s response.
evidence
the use of facts and figures to suggest a rational or scientific basis for a point of view.
exaggeration, overstatement and hyperbole
exaggerates the true situation for dramatic impact. hyperbole uses a figure of speech (simile or metaphor) to do this.
generalisation
a sweeping statement that suggests what is true for some is true for most or all.
graphs or diagrams
evidence presented in a visual form.
inclusive language
uses ‘we’, ‘our’, ‘us’, etc. to include the readers in the same group as the writer.
metaphor and simile
figures of speech that identify a similarity between two different things. a simile uses ‘as if’ or ‘like’ ; a metaphor does not.
pun
a play on a word that suggests a double meaning. often plays on a word with a similar sound but different spelling.
reason and logic
used to link ideas together and develop an argument in support of the main contention.
repetition
using a word or phrase several times.
rhetorical question
a question with an implied but unstated answer.
