Persuasive Language

Question 1

Active and Passive Voice

Answer 1

Provides subjective or objective tone

• Active: direct, clear
• Passive: indirect, detached

Examples:

• Active: they released the report
• Passive: the report was released

Question 2

Adjectives

Answer 2

Describing words or phrases

• adds detail to make text more interesting/provides a description
• can imply something positive

Examples:

• A stirring speech
• Her preplexing approach

Question 3

Alliteration and Assonance

Answer 3

Repetition of initial consonant sounds (alliteration) and vowel sounds (assonance)

• adds emphasis, reinforces meaning
• draws attention to key words or ideas
• can create an emotive image
• memorable

Examples:

• Sydney’s slippery slide (alliteration)
• The elite meet-and-greet (assonance)

Question 4

​Appeals

Answer 4

attempt to persuade through emotional manipulation; targeting of particular interest or concerns

• triggers an emotional response
• evokes feelings of;
  
  • fear
  • justice
  • compassion
  • a sense of guilt/responsibility
  • a sense of (in)security
  • tradition
  • national pride
  • group loyalty
  • hip-pocket nerve (financial concerns)
  • self-interest

Question 5

Attack

Answer 5

Means of criticizing or opposing an individual or idea

• belittles opponent’s arguments, may lend weight to those of author
• can help to argue from a position of authority
• can offend or alienate audience if overdone

Question 6

Bias

Answer 6

Overt preference or sympathy for a particular point of view

• can strengthen argument if bias seems relevant and within context, and if author has some authority.
• can undermine argument if disproportionate to context

Question 7

Cliché

Answer 7

Overused phrase or opinion that shows a lack of original thought

• can sway audience by appealing to something with which they are familiar
• may make audience feel informed
• may alienate sophisticated audience

Question 8

​Colourful Language

Answer 8

Vulgar or rude language; particularly unusual or distinctive expressions

• can provide humor
• may offend a conservative audience
• establishes informal register

Question 9

​Connotation

Answer 9

Positive/negative implication, pejorative phrases; ‘loaded’ language that evokes an idea or feeling, either positive of negative

• encourages audience (either subtly or overtly) to accept an implication
• seeks to persuade audience to share particular view of person or event

Question 10

Design, Structure

Answer 10

The appearance and layout of a text, including colour, font selection and page presentation

• persuades through association
• establishes genre and context
• can manipulate audience emotions

Question 11

Evidence

Answer 11

Material used in support of an argument can add weight to argument and author credibility if employed responsibly:

• facts and statistics
• expert testimony
• research findings
• anecdotal evidence

Question 12

Formal and Informal Language

Answer 12

Formal:

• creates sophisticated, often authoritative style, can lend weight to argument and command respect; can sound pretentious out of context

Informal:

• conversational, establishes a rapport with audience, humorous, appeals to sense of identity; can alienate if overused or out of context

Question 13

Generalisation

Answer 13

Broad statements inferred from specific cases

• seeks to validate a theory or contention, sometimes dubiously
• can be inferred to be evidence by a naive audience
• can detract from or undermine an argument if unrealistic or intimidated

Question 14

​Gesture

Answer 14

Use of body and face to communicate meaning and positive or negative sentiments

• helps to convey arguments and moods
• can influence a subject by making them feel either welcomed or intimidated

Question 15

Humour

Answer 15

The quality of being amusing, through the use of puns, irony, sarcasm, satire, wit…

• Often denigrates the subject
• can provide a more engaging and friendly tone
• can sway an audience by having them enter into a joke

Question 16

Hyperbole and Exaggeration

Answer 16

Exaggeration or overstatement used to imply something is better, worse, more/less important…

• Creates dramatic effect, often through imagery
• argues through employment of ‘shock tactics’; appeals to fear
• can undermine argument if taken too far

Question 17

Imagery and figurative language

Answer 17

Use of images and metaphorical (non-literal) language to illustrate points and make comparisons: similes, metaphors…

• paints ‘word picture’ for audience; helps to illustrate point visually and by comparison
• author may appear sophisticated and well-spoken
• can have an emotional impact

Question 18

Irony

Answer 18

Humour found in contradictory situations, often highlighted through the use of sarcasm

• can engender support through the use of humour
• can evoke an emotional response
• encourages audience to see flimsy logic in situation or statement

Question 19

​Logic

Answer 19

Reason; the use of justifiable and valid arguments to sway an audience

• appeals to reason rather than emotions; therefore lends credibility
• sound logic is hard to refute
• often offers proof and solutions

Question 20

​Nouns

Answer 20

Naming words or phrases

• adds detail to make a text more specific - provides a label or name
• can imply something positive or negative

Question 21

Repetition

Answer 21

Reuse of words or phrases for effect

• memorable; enables a word or phrase to be held and recalled
• highlights main ideas
• creates a hypnotic rhythm

Question 22

Rhetorical Questions

Answer 22

A question that does not require an answer

• encourages audience to consider an issue and accept author’s answer
• can imply that answer is obvious and that anyone who disagrees is foolish
• can evoke an emotional response

Question 23

Sarcasm

Answer 23

Use of irony to mock or to show contempt, by implying the opposite of what is actually said

• can provide humour
• serves to mock or question the logic of a situation; undermines its validity
• can backfire fi used excessively or in the wrong context

Question 24

​Satire

Answer 24

Use of either exaggeration or caricature to expose, criticise or ridicule

• makes a point in a humorous fashion
• serves to mock or question a situation
• can engender hostility in a sensitive audience

Question 25

Sensationalism

Answer 25

Use of provocative language and images, and exaggeration

• appeals to an audience’s curiosity and prejudices
• reinforces stereotypes
• can offend or alienate critical audiences

Question 26

Sound and sound effects

Answer 26

Use of music, effects and other audio to enhance a multimodal text

• manipulates audience’s emotions
• persuades through association
• sound effects can make a text seem either more ‘realistic’ or more exciting

Question 27

​Verbs

Answer 27

Doing words or phrases

• Adds detail to make a text more specific - provides action
• can imply something positive or negative

Question 28

Vocabulary Choices

Answer 28

Careful selection of particular words (nouns, verbs and adjectives) with positive and negative connotations

• paints a subject in a flattering or unflattering light
• subtly or overtly supports a particular point of view

Question 29

Metaphor

Answer 29

Saying something is something else, usually describing a less common concept/phenomena as a more common phenomena

Definition: a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.