Terms of Persuasion Appeal Contradiction Bandwagon Testimonial Red Herring Testimonial False Authority Faulty Reasoning

Persuade To cause to do something by reasoning, urging, or inducement To convince someone to take an action

Techniques Why do you need to know the techniques used for persuasion? Where do you see these techniques used?

Bandwagon Comes from a term used in the circus The “bandwagon” carried the circus band 

Bandwagon Appeals to the “everyone is doing it” mentality They want you to “join the crowd” Creates a feeling of belonging

Bandwagon Voting Sports Ideas/Theories Popular Trends

Red Herring Term from the 1800’s Dragged across game trail to throw off scent

Red Herring Presents a side issue not related to the topic Something, usually a clue, intended to mislead or distract the audience

Red Herring Crime novels Villains create a “red herring” in order to throw detectives off the case Politics: hide the real issues

False Authority Use of authority instead of evidence No actual proof; relies on “expert” evidence Ex: “I’m a doctor, and I recommend this medicine.”

False Authority

Faulty Reasoning Defective reasoning Reasons that don’t matter and/or that are not true Also called logical fallacies Overgeneralization Illogical Conclusion Personal Bias

Faulty Reasoning Example: 1. All humans are mammals. 2. All cats are mammals. So…… 3. All humans are cats. Completely illogical conclusion!!

Testimonial Root word…. _____________

Testimonial A statement in support of truth, fact, or claim A recommendation Often done using celebrity endorsement

Testimonial

Transfer Associating symbols or feelings with a product Attempts to link a positive or negative feeling with an object, person, value, or idea Ex: Dodge commercial with American flag

Sentimental Appeal A means of persuasion meant to convince a person based on an emotional response Ex: pet cruelty commercials; family loss

Scare Tactics Ex: anti-drunk driving, smoking, etc. A strategy using fear to influence the public’s reaction “Shock value” adds to the impact the ad has on the viewer Ex: anti-drunk driving, smoking, etc.

Scare Tactics

Contradiction To go against what was previously said Ex: We need to cut school funding which will decrease extra-curricular activities. This is going to affect students, and they may be upset, so the hiring of more counselors would be beneficial.

Comparison Related to “name-calling” Comparing one product to another popular product Shows negatives of competition

Comparison