1. An Intro to Rhetorical Techniques
Persuasive Techniques in Edward’s “Sinners in the hands of an angry god”
An Intro to Rhetorical Techniques

2. Breaking Down the Sermon: SOAPSTone
Before we begin analyzing rhetorical devices, lets first break down the sermon itself using the SOAPSTone method. Answer the following questions for Edward’s sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”:
Who is the Speaker?
What is the Occasion? (Think time/place/context of the sermon)
Who is the intended Audience?
What is the Purpose? (What does Edwards want the audience to think/do?)
What is the Subject? (Keep this to a few key words/phrases)
What is the TONE? (The author’s attitude towards his subject?)

3. Breaking Down the Sermon: SOAPSTone
Speaker: Jonathan Edwards, Puritan Minister
Occasion: 1741, Massachusetts; part of the “Great Awakening”, so it is written in response to increasing secularism in an attempt to bring people back to the church.
Audience: Puritan congregation; “unconverted” parishioners
Purpose: To convince his congregation of their sinful nature and the need to undergo a “public conversion” to save themselves from God’s wrath; to increase the power of the church

4. Breaking Down the Sermon: SOAPSTone
Subject: The constancy and uncertainty of God’s wrath on those “unconverted men” of the congregation and the imperative need to undergo a “public conversion” according to Puritan belief.
TONE: Fiery, angry, enraged, urgent

5. Rhetorical Appeals
Aristotle divided rhetorical appeals into three main categories:
Ethos: Ethical appeals. Attempts to persuade by establishing the speaker as credible and trustworthy.
Pathos: Emotional appeals. Attempts to persuade by appealing to the emotions, both positive and negative.
Logos: Logical appeals. Attempts to persuade by using facts, claims, and statistics.

6. Ways to Develop/Strengthen a Persuasive Argument
Use repetition of words/phrases/images
Use figurative language, such as metaphors and similes to make comparisons and connections
Use vivid imagery to paint a lasting picture in the audience’s mind
Use loaded language, or language/words that seeks to influence by appealing to ones emotions or playing off stereotypes.

7. Examples of Rhetorical Appeals
A commercial selling toothpaste claims to be 98% effective at eliminating the bacteria that causes cavities. This same commercial has a “real dentist, not a paid actor” touting its benefits and telling the audience he always recommends this particular brand to his patients. Logical appeal-use of statistics (98% effective) Ethical appeal-a “real dentist”, who is presumably an expert.

8. Examples of Rhetorical Appeals
The ASPCA commercial with all the sad, sick looking puppies and kittens in cages, looking at the camera with sad eyes, while that super-sad song plays in the background. Emotional appeal-it makes you feel sad, and guilty, so you donate money.

9. Examples of Rhetorical Appeals
A car company uses words like “patriotic”, “American”, “tough”, and “rugged” to describe the truck they are selling. Loaded language-uses emotionally charged words with positive connotations