1. Persuasive Language MENUEXIT The careful choice of words can make a persuasive message powerful and compelling. Specific word choices can influence the response of readers. Continue…

2. MENUEXIT For example: As a result of the negotiator’s creative intervention, the adversaries embraced a settlement. As a result of the negotiator’s underhanded manipulation, the adversaries submitted to a settlement. PREVIOUS The careful choice of words can make a persuasive message powerful and compelling. Specific word choices can influence the response of readers. Next Persuasive Language

3. MENUEXIT PREVIOUS Click to find the negative words Persuasive Language What words in this message are meant to make you concerned? Teenage drivers aged 16 to 19 have an alarming number of crashes involving dangerous violations such as reckless speeding, failing to stop, not focusing on their driving, and following too closely. New drivers may not grasp the serious consequences of these infractions.

4. MENUEXIT PREVIOUS Persuasive Language What words in this message are meant to make you concerned? Teenage drivers aged 16 to 19 have an alarming number of crashes involving dangerous violations such as reckless speeding, failing to stop, not focusing on their driving, and following too closely. New drivers may not grasp the serious consequences of these infractions. Next

5. MENUEXIT Words have two kinds of meaning – denotative and connotative. Persuasive writing is especially dependent on the connotations of words. Click on the topic you want to explore. MENU Persuasive Language Denotative and Connotative Meanings Positive and Negative Connotations

6. MENUEXIT Denotative & Connotative Meanings The denotative meaning is the dictionary definition. Persuasive Language lion:a large, carnivorous, feline mammal symphony:a long musical composition for orchestra

7. MENUEXIT The denotative meaning is the dictionary definition. Continue… Persuasive Language lion:a large, carnivorous, feline mammal symphony:a long musical composition for orchestra Denotative & Connotative Meanings

8. MENUEXIT Persuasive Language PREVIOUS Denotative & Connotative Meanings The denotative meaning is the dictionary definition. lion:a large, carnivorous, feline mammal symphony:a long musical composition for orchestra The connotative meaning involves emotions and associations. lion:strong, fierce, courageous symphony: pleasingly complex, harmonious, weaving together various elements

9. MENUEXIT Persuasive Language Menu PREVIOUS Denotative & Connotative Meanings The denotative meaning is the dictionary definition. lion:a large, carnivorous, feline mammal symphony:a long musical composition for orchestra The connotative meaning involves emotions and associations. lion:strong, fierce, courageous symphony: pleasingly complex, harmonious, weaving together various elements

10. MENUEXIT Positive and Negative Connotations Words can have both positive and negative connotations. Words with strongly positive or strongly negative connotations can shape the reactions of readers. Persuasive Language Continue…

11. MENUEXIT Positive and Negative Connotations Words can have both positive and negative connotations. Words with strongly positive or strongly negative connotations can shape the reactions of readers. Persuasive Language How does your attitude toward Leisha shift after reading the second sentence? Leisha Knox is a brilliant medical researcher whose discoveries have saved many lives. Leisha Knox is a dishonest technician who steals other people’s data and falsifies research results. Click to see an analysis PREVIOUS

12. MENUEXIT Words can have both positive and negative connotations. Words with strongly positive or strongly negative connotations can shape the reactions of readers. Persuasive Language The positive connotations paint Leisha as an accomplished professional, while the negative connotations depict her as unqualified and a cheat. Leisha Knox is a brilliant medical researcher whose discoveries have saved many lives. Leisha Knox is a dishonest technician who steals other people’s data and falsifies research results. Next PREVIOUS Positive and Negative Connotations

13. MENUEXIT Words with strongly positive connotations can persuade readers to see your ideas in a favorable way. Persuasive Language Continue… PREVIOUS Positive and Negative Connotations

14. MENUEXIT Words with strongly positive connotations can persuade readers to see your ideas in a favorable way. Persuasive Language PREVIOUS What neutral words or phrases in this statement could you turn into more positive language? Cutting the amount of junk mail we all receive is a good way to save trees. Click to see the neutral words Positive and Negative Connotations

15. MENUEXIT Persuasive Language PREVIOUS What neutral words or phrases in this statement could you turn into more positive language? Cutting the amount of junk mail we all receive is a good way to save trees. Click to see a revision Positive and Negative Connotations Words with strongly positive connotations can persuade readers to see your ideas in a favorable way.

16. MENUEXIT Persuasive Language PREVIOUS Cutting the amount of junk mail we all receive is a good way to save trees. ORIGINAL Drastically reducing the amount of junk mail we all receive is an essential step in protecting our forests. REVISED Next Positive and Negative Connotations Words with strongly positive connotations can persuade readers to see your ideas in a favorable way.

17. MENUEXIT Words with negative connotations can be used to create an unfavorable impression and can sway the reader toward a particular point of view. Persuasive Language Continue… PREVIOUS Positive and Negative Connotations

18. MENUEXIT Words with negative connotations can be used to create an unfavorable impression and can sway the reader toward a particular point of view. Persuasive Language PREVIOUS Which words in this paragraph have negative connotations? The embarrassing two-hour Legends Live! spectacle finally ended with an act by guitarist Teddy B. Goode. Goode pummeled the sound system with an ear-splitting solo that inflicted more pain than pleasure on the unfortunate audience. Click to see the negative words Positive and Negative Connotations

19. MENUEXIT Words with negative connotations can be used to create an unfavorable impression and can sway the reader toward a particular point of view. Persuasive Language PREVIOUS The words with negative connotations influence the reader to imagine an extremely disappointing and unpleasant musical experience. The embarrassing two-hour Legends Live! spectacle finally ended with an act by guitarist Teddy B. Goode. Goode pummeled the sound system with an ear-splitting solo that inflicted more pain than pleasure on the unfortunate audience. Next Positive and Negative Connotations

20. MENUEXIT Avoid using slanted language. Slanted language is persuasive language that is misused, sometimes clouding factual information and disguising poor reasoning by using words with powerful connotations. Strong emotional appeals can unfairly manipulate people’s feelings unless those appeals are supported with sound reasons and evidence. Persuasive Language PREVIOUS Next Positive and Negative Connotations

21. MENUEXIT Persuasive Language PREVIOUS Which words in this paragraph are slanted to produce an unfavorable impression of environmental activists? These self-promoting do-gooders rely on melodramatic exaggeration and cheap manipulation of people’s emotions to advance their agenda. They seem concerned about environmental issues, but their murky, incompletely thought-out programs for the earth are just plain confusing. Click to see the slanted language Positive and Negative Connotations

22. MENUEXIT Persuasive Language PREVIOUS Which words in this paragraph are slanted to produce an unfavorable impression of global warming? These self-promoting do-gooders rely on melodramatic exaggeration and cheap manipulation of people’s emotions to advance their agenda. They seem concerned about environmental issues, but their murky, incompletely thought- out programs for the earth are just plain confusing. i Positive and Negative Connotations Menu

23. MENUEXIT Persuasive Language Which words in this paragraph are slanted to produce an unfavorable impression of global warming? These self-promoting do-gooders rely on melodramatic exaggeration and cheap manipulation of people’s emotions to advance their agenda. They seem concerned about environmental issues, but their murky, incompletely thought- out programs for the earth are just plain confusing. i Notice that no evidence was provided to support the writer’s opinion; words that evoke an emotional response were used instead. In your own writing, be careful to avoid using slanted language in place of sound reasons and evidence. CLOSE Positive and Negative Connotations