Download Persuasive Terms

Persuasive Terms
ON YOUR GUIDED NOTES SHEET, COPY THE
DEFINITIONS. THEN DISCUSS SOME
EXAMPLES OF THESE WITH THE CLASS.
allusion
a reference in one literary work to a character or
theme found in another literary work (ex. He has
the patience of Job.)
anecdote
a short account of an interesting or humorous incident;
short personal stories that powerfully illustrate why
your view is the right view to hold (ex. Think of a public
speaker or a minister who always starts the message
with an anecdote.)
aphorism
a concise and often witty statement of wisdom or
opinion, such as “Children should be seen and not
heard,” or “People who live in glass houses shouldn't
throw stones.”
argument
nonfiction writing in which reason is used to
influence people’s ideas or actions
audience
the persons reached by a book, television/radio
broadcast, media work, letter, essay, etc.
bias
particular tendency or inclination, especially one
that prevents unprejudiced consideration of a
question
concession to the opponent
an acknowledgement of the opposing viewpoint (This
does not mean agreeing with the opposition. Ex. I know
you don’t like to write papers, but you will need
polished writing skills for various aspects of your adult
life, so you must practice.)
emotionally charged words
words used to evoke emotion (ex. slaughter, tyrant,
dictator)
figurative language
speech or writing that departs from literal meaning in
order to achieve a special effect or meaning, speech or
writing employing figures of speech (includes simile,
metaphor, personification, and hyperbole)
logic
the system or principles of reasoning applicable to
any branch of knowledge or study; reason or sound
judgment
logical fallacy
erroneous reasoning that render arguments logically
unsound (i.e. the argument no longer appears
logical)
mood
the feeling a piece of literature is intended to create
in a reader
organizational structure
the order in which the writer forms his argument
parallelism
repetition of similar grammatical structures to
emphasize
propaganda
information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to
help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, nation,
etc.; the particular doctrines or principles propagated by an
organization or movement (This is not always negative. The
CHS spirit wear is a form of propaganda.)
purpose
the reason for which an author writes his work; his
intended or desired result
rhetorical question
a question posed without expectation of an answer
but merely as a way of making a point (ex. If all of
your friends were going to jump off the Brooklyn
Bridge, would you do it as well?)
tone
expresses the author's attitude toward his subject