Language techniques

Question 1

Alliteration - how does this persuade?

Answer 1

• Gains attention, adds emphasis; often headlines

Not persuasive on its own but can be when used with other techniques

Question 2

Anecdote - how does this persuades?

Answer 2

• Positions readers to responds emotionally

Question 3

Appeal to authority

Answer 3

-Reassures the reader that the writer’s view point is shared by someone with expert knowledge

Question 4

Appeal to common sense

Answer 4

-Pressures the reader to agree by implying that anyone who disagrees lacks practical intelligence and cannot see what is self-evident

Question 5

Appeal to family values - how does this persuade?

Answer 5

-Leads the reader to view traditional nuclear families as the most desirable

Question 6

Appeals to fear and insecurity

Answer 6

• Pressures the reader to feel that solutions are needed urgently so they should agree with the proposal
• Also persuades the reader to believe that the writer has their best interests at heart by wanting to protect them

Question 7

Appeal to the hip-pocket nerve

Answer 7

• Incites strong emotions

- Positions the reader to reject the views of those who want to raise prices, fees, ect

Question 8

Rhetorical question

Answer 8

• Suggest that the answer is self-evident and therefore the reader must agree with it
• Engages reader with the agreement directly

Question 9

Repetition

Answer 9

• Increases the impact of a main point or key terms and so engages readers attention
• Can produce a more urgent or insistent tone, encouraging the reader to agree

Question 10

Reason and logic - how can it persuade

Answer 10

-Positions the reader to accept the writer’s view point as objectively true because it is not just a personal opinion or emotional response

Question 11

Pun - how can it persuade

Answer 11

• Grabs the reader’s interest and attention, especially through the use of humour
• The double meaning (a negative or positive connotation) this helps to influence the reader’s response to the issue

Question 12

Metaphor and simile

Question 13

Irony

Answer 13

• The reader is positioned to share in the writer’s ridicule of the idea
• can influence through agreement through a sarcastic and humours tone

Question 14

Inclusive language

Answer 14

-The readers is positioned to agreeewith the writer because it appeal to their desire to belong to the group or plays on their fears of being left out or regarded as an outsider

Question 15

Graphs and diagrams

Answer 15

-Provides a quickly understood picture of the “facts” that support a viewpoint - helps to persuade and position readers to agree

Question 16

Generalisation

Answer 16

• Powerful because appeals to commonly held beliefs, prejudices and views
• Positions the reader to regard and judge others in a narrow, stereotyped way

Question 17

Exaggeration

Answer 17

-Positions the reader to response emotionally and so be more likely to accept or reject a view point

Question 18

Statistical Evidence

Answer 18

-Positions the reader to view the writer’s argument as more convincing because it appears objective and reliable

Question 19

Colourful language

Answer 19

• Creates a memorable image and catches the reader’s interest
• Influences a strongly positive or negative view of the subject

Question 20

Cliches

Answer 20

-Reassures the reader a familiar expression that can position the reader to accept an idea because they are lulled into an uncritical mindset

Question 21

Attacks and praise

Answer 21

Attacks: Positon us to think badly of them person and therefore to dismiss their ideas or viewpoints
Praise: makes us admire or like the person/group and therefore agree with their ideas

Question 22

Appeal tradition and customs

Answer 22

• Encourages the reader to resist change, and to feel that links to the past should be retained
• Can position readers to view “modern” lifestyles as inferior and damaging to the social fabric

Question 23

Appeals to sense of justice

Answer 23

-Arouses feelings of anger when somebody is punished too harshly or a criminal gets off lightly

Question 24

Appeal to loyalty and patriotism

Answer 24

-Positions the reader to agree/partake with actions that will benefit the nation or group or vice versa