Study Notes
Writing to persuade aims to convince the reader to accept a certain point of view or take a specific action using various techniques.
- Emotional appeal — evokes emotions to persuade the audience.
Example: A charity commercial showing sick children to evoke sympathy. - Testimonials — uses endorsements from respected individuals.
Example: A sports drink endorsed by a famous athlete. - Repetition — repeats phrases to emphasize a point.
Example: A political campaign repeating their slogan. - Bandwagon appeal — suggests that many others are doing something.
Example: A car ad claiming it's the most popular choice. - Expert opinion — uses recommendations from experts.
Example: A dermatologist endorsing a skincare product. - Humour — uses jokes to persuade.
Example: A funny car commercial suggesting the car is fun to drive. - Fear appeal — plays on fears or anxieties.
Example: A home security ad showing burglary footage. - Loaded Language — uses words to evoke strong emotions.
Example: Describing a politician as a "hero" or a "crook." - Appeal to Authority — uses endorsements from authority figures.
Example: A doctor endorsing a medication.
Exam Tips
Key Definitions to Remember
- Emotional appeal: Evoking emotions to persuade.
- Testimonials: Using endorsements to persuade.
- Repetition: Repeating phrases for emphasis.
- Bandwagon appeal: Suggesting that many others are doing something.
- Expert opinion: Using expert recommendations.
- Humour: Using jokes to persuade.
- Fear appeal: Playing on fears or anxieties.
- Loaded Language: Using words to evoke strong emotions.
- Appeal to Authority: Using authority figures to support an argument.
Common Confusions
- Confusing emotional appeal with logical arguments.
- Misunderstanding the difference between expert opinion and testimonials.
Typical Exam Questions
- What is emotional appeal? Using emotions to persuade the audience.
- How does repetition work in persuasive writing? By emphasizing a point through repeated phrases.
- What is the purpose of using testimonials? To persuade by using endorsements from respected individuals.
What Examiners Usually Test
- Understanding of different persuasive devices.
- Ability to identify persuasive techniques in texts.
- Application of persuasive techniques in writing.