What is a Persuasive Technique?
A persuasive technique is something that tries to convince you to think or act in a certain way. Huge billboard ads try to persuade you to buy a product, while campaign ads use persuasive techniques to convince you to support a certain candidate.
A persuasive technique is something that tries to convince you to think or act in a certain way. Huge billboard ads try to persuade you to buy a product, while campaign ads use persuasive techniques to convince you to support a certain candidate.
Top: A billboard ad for the iPad mini. Bottom: A 2012 presidential election campaign ad criticizing Mitt Romney.
Types of Persuasive Techniques
Bandwagon- Tells viewer to believe or do something because "everyone else " is doing it.
Ex: Buy the new TV everyone is clamoring to get!
Testimonial- Includes endorsements from celebrities such as athletes and movie stars.
Ex: When I take the field for my next game, I make sure to always take my Allergy Reliever.
Appeal to Pity, Vanity, or Fear- Appeals to the emotions of the viewer.
Ex: There's nothing standing between online criminals and your files. Sign up for the best computer security around.
Loaded Language- Uses strong positive or negative connotations in dialogue.
Ex: Sleep peacefully and soundly with the new Anti-Nightmare pills.
Rhetorical Fallacies- Uses false or misleading statements to persuade you to agree with it.
Ad hominem- Discredits an idea by attacking opponent's character rather than his or her argument.
Ex: Don't elect corrupt politicians like him. Vote for me instead.
Stereotype- Generalizes about a certain group of people.
Ex: All girls are bad at sports.
Identifying Persuasive Techniques
Identify and highlight the different persuasive techniques in the advertisement paragraph. Use blue for bandwagon, orange for testimonial, purple for emotional appeals, green for loaded language, brown for ad hominems, and gray for stereotypes.
Buy the new video game console all your friends want to get their hands on! Experience the next-generation horsepower and graphics of the new Pro Gamer Elite, all for just $350 at launch! enjoy countless hours of fun as you play this year's greatest titles in 1080p and 60fps, such as Black Ops lll, Batman: Arkham Knight, and Battlefield Hardline. "This console is great, it really feels as if I am reliving the Golden Age of console gaming," says professional gamer Mark Jackson. "It is so much better than something those slackers at Sony and Microsoft would do."
I have used persuasive techniques when writing my RST this year.
Bandwagon- Tells viewer to believe or do something because "everyone else " is doing it.
Ex: Buy the new TV everyone is clamoring to get!
Testimonial- Includes endorsements from celebrities such as athletes and movie stars.
Ex: When I take the field for my next game, I make sure to always take my Allergy Reliever.
Appeal to Pity, Vanity, or Fear- Appeals to the emotions of the viewer.
Ex: There's nothing standing between online criminals and your files. Sign up for the best computer security around.
Loaded Language- Uses strong positive or negative connotations in dialogue.
Ex: Sleep peacefully and soundly with the new Anti-Nightmare pills.
Rhetorical Fallacies- Uses false or misleading statements to persuade you to agree with it.
Ad hominem- Discredits an idea by attacking opponent's character rather than his or her argument.
Ex: Don't elect corrupt politicians like him. Vote for me instead.
Stereotype- Generalizes about a certain group of people.
Ex: All girls are bad at sports.
Identifying Persuasive Techniques
Identify and highlight the different persuasive techniques in the advertisement paragraph. Use blue for bandwagon, orange for testimonial, purple for emotional appeals, green for loaded language, brown for ad hominems, and gray for stereotypes.
Buy the new video game console all your friends want to get their hands on! Experience the next-generation horsepower and graphics of the new Pro Gamer Elite, all for just $350 at launch! enjoy countless hours of fun as you play this year's greatest titles in 1080p and 60fps, such as Black Ops lll, Batman: Arkham Knight, and Battlefield Hardline. "This console is great, it really feels as if I am reliving the Golden Age of console gaming," says professional gamer Mark Jackson. "It is so much better than something those slackers at Sony and Microsoft would do."
I have used persuasive techniques when writing my RST this year.