Persuasive Rhetoric

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Persuasive Rhetoric

• Techniques of and definitions associated with
  persuasive speaking and writing.

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Rhetoric

• Rhetoric the art of communicating ideas
• Persuasive rhetoric reasoned arguments in favor
  of or against particular beliefs or courses of
  action.
• Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God is an
  example of persuasive rhetoricEdwards was
  attempting to persuade his congregation to be
  born again to be saved

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Effective persuasion

• Should engage both the mind and emotions of the
  audience
• Make your audience think the problem is important
  enough for them to care about
• Shows that the writers position has a firm
  moral basis

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• There are three basic types of appeals in
  persuasive arguments
• Logical appeals
• Emotional appeals
• Ethical appeals

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Logical appeals

• Provide rational arguments to support writers
  claims
• Deductive approach start with generalization or
  premise then provide examples
• Inductive approach start with examples then draw
  a conclusion

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Emotional appeals

• Often based on examples of suffering or potential
  threats.
• Often include loaded languagelanguage rich in
  connotations and vivid images (brilliant vs-
  smart or hideous vs- ugly)

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Ethical appeals

• Based on shared moral values
• Call upon the audiences sense of justice, right,
  and virtue

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Techniques used in persuasion

• Identify your theme/purpose
• -- Lets your audience know what your main idea
  iswhat action or belief you would like them to
  take
• Identify your audience
• -- ALWAYS use language and arguments
  appropriate to your audience!

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Techniques contd

• Tone the authors attitude or feelings toward
  his or her subject matter
• Conveyed through diction (remember loaded
  language?), details, and direct statements

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Techniques contd

• Elevated language people tend to give more
  credence to someone who sounds intelligent
• Rhetorical questions Questions that dont
  require answersthe answers are considered obvious

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Techniques contd

• Repetition repeating a point to emphasize its
  importance
• Expressing ideas in the same way also shows the
  audience that those points are connected

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Other definitions

• Allusion a reference to a person, place, event
  or literary work with which the author believes
  the reader will be familiar
• Patrick Henry warns colonists not to be betrayed
  with a kiss (a Biblical allusion to the Apostle
  Judas, who, with a kiss, identified Jesus to
  Roman soldiers)

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Other definitions contd

• Simile comparison using like or as
• Abigail Adams writes that power and liberty are
  like heat and moisture
• Metaphor comparing one thing to another NOT
  using like or as
• Adams writes our country isthe first and
  greatest parent.