Download Persuasive Writing

Propaganda
• Information that is spread to influence the
way people think, often to gain support for
a cause
• May twist facts and use generalizations to
sell readers on an idea (to convince them
to agree with the writer)
• Highly persuasive
• Common in politics and advertising.
Recognizing Propaganda
Techniques
The 7 Main Techniques
are:
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Bandwagon
Card Stacking
Glittering Generalities
Name Calling
Plain Folks
Testimonial
Transfer
A few more propaganda
techniques…
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Facts & Figures
Hidden Fears
Repetition
Snob Appeal
Unfinished Comparisons
Weasel Words or Empty Phrases
Bandwagon
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Convincing us to accept someone or something
because of its popularity
 Invites you to join the crowd…
 Everybody’s doing it!
Card Stacking
• Presenting only
selective facts that are
favorable to the
desired outcome
(ex: choosing a certain
product or candidate)
and deliberately
omitting facts that are
unfavorable
Glittering Generalities
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Telling only positive
things about something or
someone, without giving
evidence or facts-including “glittering
words” to promote a
person or product
“Glittering” because it’s
falsely attractive
Name - Calling
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Using negative words to
turn you against a
competing person without
giving evidence or facts
Usually used in politics,
but can be used in
advertising as well
Plain Folks
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Trying to show that a person or product is good
for “ordinary” people, because a person is “just
like you” and understands you
Testimonial
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Using a famous person (athlete, celebrity, TV
personality, movie star, etc.) to try to make you buy or
support something or someone
Transfer
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Using prestige, authority, or some other virtue,
like patriotism, to transfer that respect to some
person or product
Patriotism

Purchase will display love of country.
 Person will financially help the country.
…built
American tough
Slogan
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A catchword or phrase loaded with emotion
Often sells through repetition
Clever and easy to remember
Stays with you a long time
Often a melody you already know
“Trust Sleepy’s
For the ‘rest’
Of your life”
Scapegoat
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A person carrying the blame for others
 Retreats to prejudice rather than reason
 Mostly used in the political arena
 Wins audience through association or sympathy
Engaging Techniques:
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Wit and Humor –
diverts audience and gives a
reason to laugh often through
the use of clever visuals and/or
language.
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Rewards – bonus
awarded to consumer for
purchase. (Toys, gimmicks,
rebates, free payment, etc.)
More Types
FACTS & FIGURES–
• Using tests, statistics or information that
sounds “scientific” to prove that one
product or person is better than another
HIDDEN FEARS–
• Suggesting that a person or product will
protect you against something
unpleasant or dangerous
REPETITION–
• Repeating a catch phrase, name, or slogan
over and over in the same advertisement
• Clever and easy to remember
• Stays with you a long time
More Types
SNOB APPEAL–
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Suggesting that association with a person or
product can make you special
Aims to flatter
Opposite of “Plain Folks”
UNFINISHED COMPARISONS
•
Comparing a product or person to another,
without providing the other half of the
comparison.
WEASEL WORDS/EMPTY PHRASES
•
Using broad promises or phrases that
don’t really mean anything; meant to be
sneaky or vague