[AGE5 00] MIDTERM: Unit 3 Lesson 5 Ethical Persuasion and Persuasive Techniques

Persuasive Techniques

• ___ writing or speaking is not solely a matter of logic; it is also a matter of language.

• The suggestion carried by words has much to do with their power to persuade.

• There are techniques that you can use to achieve the effect you want to make persuasion work for you.

• These are strategies communicators use, whether in writing or speaking influence or convince their target audience to think, believe, or act in the way they (communicators) want their audience to believe, think or act.

• These techniques are very helpful in driving a point home and getting the desires effect.

Emotive words

• Words that stir up emotions

• Ex. "If we don’t act now, countless innocent animals will continue to suffer and die in terrible conditions."

• This sentence stirs up emotions by appealing to compassion and urgency.

Rhetorical questions

• Questions that the reader answers in his mind

• Ex. "Isn’t it time we put an end to poverty once and for all?“

• This rhetorical question is meant to provoke thought and emphasize the urgency of the issue without expecting a direct answer.

Contradictory Statement

• A statement that contradicts or overturns a previous statement

• Ex. "Nobody goes to that restaurant anymore because it's always too crowded.“

• This statement is contradictory because if the restaurant is always crowded, then people clearly still go there.

Power of 3

• They come in threes used in sequence – nouns, adjectives, adverbs, and the like

• Nouns:

  • "Hope, courage, and determination will lead us to success."

• Adjectives:

  • "She is strong, fearless, and unstoppable."

• Adverbs:

  • "He ran quickly, gracefully, and effortlessly across the finish
    line."

• The power of three enhances rhythm, impact, and memorability in writing

Personal Pronouns

• Using first-person and second-person pronouns like “we”, “us” and “you”

• "We" (Inclusive Appeal)

  • Example: "We must work together to protect our planet for future generations.“

  • Effect: Creates unity and shared responsibility.

• You" (Direct Address)

  • Example: "You have the power to make a difference—take action today!“

  • Effect: Makes the message personal and engaging.

• "I" (Personal Experience or Authority)

  • Example: "I have seen firsthand how education can change lives.“

  • Effect: Builds credibility and emotional connection.

Humor

• Witty and amusing expression of a viewpoint

  • "If we keep ignoring climate change, soon we’ll be swimming to work!“

  • "Oh sure, let’s keep eating junk food and expect to be Olympic athletes!“

  • Going to the gym is like a first date—you dress up, pretend you know what you’re doing, and hope you don’t embarrass yourself."

Evoke Sympathies

• Make the reader feel sorry for something or someone

  • "Every night, thousands of children go to bed hungry, unsure of when they’ll have their next meal.“

  • "Imagine losing your home in a storm, standing in the rain with nothing but the clothes on your back.“

  • "Imagine a child going to bed hungry every night, unsure if they'll have food tomorrow. We can change that with your help.”

Hyperbole

• Intentional exaggeration for emphasis

  • "If we don’t do something about climate change now, we’ll all be living underwater in 10 years!“

  • "This is the best burger in the universe—you’ll never want to eat anything else again!“

  • "If we don’t act now, future generations will curse us for eternity!"

Repetition of key words and phrases

• Deliberate use of the same word or phrase more than once for emphasis

  • "We must act now. We must stand together. We must make a change.“

  • "We need justice for all. We demand fairness for all. We will fight for equality for all.“

  • Stronger, faster, better!"

Catchy phrase

• Distinctive or eccentric word or phrase to attract attention and easy recall

  • Just do it! (Nike)

  • Knowledge is power

  • Reduce, reuse, recycle

  • Buy one, get one free

  • If not now, when?

Figures of speech

• Figurative language like similes and metaphors to add color to the writing and awaken the imagination

  • Soar like an eagle.

  • Life is a roller coaster

  • I told you a million times to be on time!

  • "The winds whispered secrets through the trees."

Anecdotes

• Short story to illustrate a point

  • "I tried cooking dinner once... let’s just say the smoke alarm wasn’t impressed. That’s why I support easy meal delivery services!“

  • "I met a young girl who walks five miles to school every day because her village has no transportation. No child should have to struggle like this."

Play on the reader’s guilt

• Make the reader feel bad about something

  • "While you enjoy your warm home, thousands of homeless people are struggling to survive in the cold. Will you help?“

  • "How can we sit back and do nothing while children go hungry every day?“

  • "For the price of your daily coffee, you could provide a child with clean water for a month."

Imagery

• Vivid words to create a picture in the mind

  • "Feel the rough, cracked hands of a hardworking farmer struggling to put food on the table.“

  • "Every bite of this rich, velvety chocolate cake melts in your mouth, filling you with pure bliss.“

  • "Picture a world where plastic waste clogs our oceans, where marine animals choke on garbage, and where beaches are covered in debris instead of golden sand."

Quotation

• Inspirational and wise saying to support a point.

  • "As Albert Einstein once said, ‘Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think.’“

  • "Nelson Mandela once said, ‘It always seems impossible until it’s done.’ So don’t give up!“

  • "A cancer survivor once said, ‘Early detection saved my life.’ That’s why regular checkups are essential."

Parallel Structure

• Expressing ideas in the same grammatical structure.

  • "She wants to inspire people, to change lives, and to make a difference.“

  • Her favorite hobbies are watching, shopping and baking.

  • My ideal man is tall, dark and handsome.

Statistics

• Factual data like numbers used in a persuasive way.

  • If you skip buying coffee for a week, you could save $25—enough to feed a hungry child for a month.“

  • "Since the recycling program started, plastic waste in our city has decreased by 40%.“

  • "Studies show that students who read 30 minutes a day perform 85% better in school."

Short sentences

• Intended to create punch, grab attention, signal completion.

  • "They lied. We suffered. Enough is enough.“

  • "You deserve better.“

  • "Change is coming.“

  • “Act now, time is running out.”

Shock tactics

• Words and phrases that have powerful associations or connotations.

  • "Smoking doesn’t just kill you—it tortures you for years before it does.“

  • "Imagine waking up to find your home underwater due to rising sea levels. This could be our future.“

  • "If we don’t act now, future generations may never see clean water again."

Local color

• Historical or geographical reference to cause the writer to identify with the reader

  • "Our ancestors fought for freedom—now, it’s our turn to fight for our environment.“

  • As proud Ilocanos, we value hard work and resilience. Let’s show that same spirit by supporting this initiative.“

  • "We’ve seen how the annual Sinulog Festival brings us together. Imagine what we could do if we united for this cause!"

Fragments

• Deliberate use of incomplete sentences for style and impact (used by seasoned writers)

  • "Time is running out. Act now. Before it's too late.“ (creating urgency/increases tension and immediacy)

  • "He heard a noise. A whisper. Then— silence.“ (building suspense/creates anticipation).