1. Persuasive Techniques in Writing

2. Some things to know… Rhetoric=persuasion
Texts= any “cultural product” that can be read
Written pieces (fiction/nonfiction)
Photographs
Cartoons
Advertisements (print/TV)
EVERYTHING IS AN ARGUMENT

3. Speaker Subject SOAPS Occasion Audience Purpose
SOAPStone is used to identify the RHETORICAL SITUATION
Speaker
Occasion
Audience
Purpose
Subject
Tone
This is a sort of “checklist” for analyzing rhetoric

4. Rhetorical Triangle (Aristotelian Triangle)
Speaker: person/group that creates the text
Persona: the role the speaker plays while delivering the speech
Audience: Listener, viewer, or reader; may be multiple audiences
Subject: the topic
This is not the same thing as purpose

6. Rhetoric continued…
Rhetoric: “the ability, in each particular case, to see the available means of persuasion.”- Aristotle
Ethos: the authority or credibility of the presenter/writer
Pathos: appeal to audience emotion
Logos: logical appeal (or simulation of logic)

7. Ethos Author’s reputation (automatic ethos) Author’s means of argument
Build ethos through logos (having a rational well informed argument that acknowledges and refutes other sides)

8. Logos
Using clear, rational ideas… thinking LOGICALLY with clear evidence to back up points
Counterarguments: opposing views--- speaker should acknowledge this
Refutations & Concessions: strengthen argument

9. Pathos Appeals to emotion, values, desires, hopes, fears or prejudices
Argument should NOT rely purely on pathos (becomes like propaganda)
Good pathos: Use of language
strong (positive) CONNOTATION with word choice

10. Pathos and Language Use of language Emphasis techniques: repetition
Alliteration
Figurative language (especially comparisons)
Colorful words and descriptive language (adjectives!)
Connotation of words (emotional feeling of words)
repetition

11. Visuals and rhetoric EVERYTHING IS AN ARGUMENT
Pathos appeal in visual argumentation
We’ll talk more about this later 