Download Intro to Persuasion Notes PPT

Intro to Persuasion
 Persuasion is trying to get a specific
audience to do or believe something, in
order to sway (or change) their feelings,
beliefs or actions.
 There are multiple techniques one can use
to persuade their audience. Some of these
are called propaganda techniques.
 Propaganda is any form of
communication that is so distorted that
it conveys false or misleading
information to advance a specific belief
or cause.
Bandwagon Appeal
 A speaker may use this method to make
you feel that everyone else is doing
something, so you should do it too.
 The statement “Everyone agrees that
recycling is important” is an example of
the bandwagon approach.
Bandwagon Appeal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAgh86j5alI&playnext=1&list=PLV7n3gcFazJv25IWWMer_4qy9VTC2UQsF&feature=results_video
Testimonial
 A speaker may try to persuade you with
an example from his or her own
experience, or a testimonial.
 For example, a speaker may say,
“Volunteering at our local animal
shelter has been a great experience for
me.”
Testimonial
“Plain Folks”
 This method is used to make people feel
that the speaker understands them. A
speaker may try to show that he or she
shares the concerns of the audience
members.
 “Like you, I’m concerned about the cost
of school supplies. Getting the supplies
we need can be difficult when prices
keep going up.”
“Plain Folks”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKvXyN_t7UA
Emotional Appeals
 This technique uses the audience’s own
emotions to get them on the speaker’s
side.
 An emotional appeal might tap into
listeners concern for others by telling
sad stories about young refugees. Other
appeals might spur the audience’s
school spirit or their anger about animal
cruelty.
Emotional Appeal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iu_JqNdp2As
Loaded Language
 Words that appeal to our emotions.
 For example, “It’s a miracle cream!”
Snob Appeal
 Highlighting the qualities in a product that
appeal to the snobbery of a purchaser.
 They will feel better about themselves and
their position if they have the item.
 Makes them feel better than others around
them.
Snob Appeal
True: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwaRjD7rH2U
Funny: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fkGgRMAfAE
Humor
 Sometimes, an appeal might be to your
sense of humor. The humor does not
have to have anything to do with the
product. The goal is to have you enjoy
the humor, in the hopes that you will
agree with the side being presented or
want to reward the advertisement.
Humor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbSpAsJSZPc
Avoiding Propaganda in your
Writing
 The best way to avoid propaganda when
you are trying to persuade your
audience is to make a claim and then
back it up it with legitimate support. A
claim is the writer’s position on an issue
or problem. Support are the reasons and
evidence that help prove the claim.