Persuasive Persuasive TechniquesTechniques

PropagandaPropaganda is the systematic is the systematic spread of information that spread of information that reflects or supportsreflects or supports a certain a certain viewpoint or bias. viewpoint or bias. Governments will often use Governments will often use propaganda during a propaganda during a warwar to to rallyrally citizens to citizens to opposeoppose the the enemy.enemy.

Name CallingName Calling - The name- - The name-calling technique is used when calling technique is used when a person, or an idea, is called a person, or an idea, is called something something negativenegative. . The The objectobject of using this of using this technique is to get the technique is to get the audience to audience to rejectreject the person the person or idea based on this or idea based on this negativenegative symbol. symbol.

Name CallingName Calling – – It keeps the audience from It keeps the audience from looking at available looking at available evidenceevidence. . Calling someone a "terrorist" is Calling someone a "terrorist" is an example of name callingan example of name calling

Glittering GeneralityGlittering Generality - - Glittering generalities is the Glittering generalities is the oppositeopposite of name calling. of name calling. It involves using It involves using positivepositive words like words like good, proper, right, good, proper, right, democracy, and patriotismdemocracy, and patriotism to to get the audience to get the audience to approveapprove a a person or idea. person or idea. It also keeps the audience It also keeps the audience from examining from examining evidenceevidence..

TransferTransfer - - The transfer The transfer technique is used when the technique is used when the authorityauthority or or prestigeprestige of of something generally respected something generally respected is is transferredtransferred to something the to something the propagandist propagandist wantswants the the audience to audience to acceptaccept..

TransferTransfer – – For example, many people For example, many people respect doctors. If the respect doctors. If the propagandist succeeds in propagandist succeeds in getting a doctor to approve a getting a doctor to approve a product, he or she is product, he or she is transferring the doctor's transferring the doctor's authority to that product. authority to that product. Therefore, the audience would Therefore, the audience would acceptaccept a product that may a product that may otherwise be otherwise be rejectedrejected..

Loaded WordsLoaded Words - - Loaded Loaded words and phrases are those words and phrases are those which have strong which have strong emotional emotional overtonesovertones or or connotationsconnotations. . They are used to They are used to trigger an trigger an emotionemotion in the reader. in the reader.

Loaded WordsLoaded Words – – Words like “weeds” and Words like “weeds” and “oppression” are loaded with “oppression” are loaded with negative associationsnegative associations. The . The following sentence is used to following sentence is used to make the reader feel make the reader feel dislikedislike toward the toward the lawbreakerslawbreakers: : “These lawbreakers are weeds “These lawbreakers are weeds that need to be pulled out of that need to be pulled out of our society!”our society!”

Peer PressurePeer Pressure - - Peer Peer pressure happens when a pressure happens when a friend or social peer tries to friend or social peer tries to convinceconvince you to do something you to do something based on your based on your relationshiprelationship with them. with them. The friend may The friend may threatenthreaten to to end the friendship if you do end the friendship if you do not not agreeagree..

StereotypingStereotyping - - Stereotyping Stereotyping is taking a is taking a qualityquality of one of one individualindividual and applying it to and applying it to every every individual in the individual in the groupgroup. . Let's say you have a tall friend Let's say you have a tall friend who is great at basketball. If who is great at basketball. If you decide that all tall people you decide that all tall people are good basketball players are good basketball players based on your one friend, you based on your one friend, you are stereotyping.are stereotyping.

StereotypingStereotyping – – Be on the watch for Be on the watch for stereotypes stereotypes authors authors might might use on use on purposepurpose or without or without even knowing it.even knowing it.

TestimonialTestimonial - - The The testimonial technique testimonial technique involves using a third involves using a third party party endorserendorser to to speakspeak on behalf of an idea or a on behalf of an idea or a cause. cause.

TestimonialTestimonial – – The testimonial device often The testimonial device often involves phrases beginning involves phrases beginning with "my doctor said," "Tiger with "my doctor said," "Tiger Woods said," "the Chicago Woods said," "the Chicago Tribune said," etc.Tribune said," etc. Testimonials are often used Testimonials are often used in ways that are in ways that are unfair and unfair and misleadingmisleading. .

TestimonialTestimonial – – The most common misuse of The most common misuse of the testimonial involves citing the testimonial involves citing individualsindividuals who are who are not not qualified qualified to make judgments to make judgments about a particular about a particular issueissue. . For example, a Hollywood star For example, a Hollywood star may not be qualified to speak may not be qualified to speak on the merits of a political on the merits of a political candidate.candidate.

EuphemismsEuphemisms – – A A euphemism is a euphemism is a mildmild, , indirect, or indirect, or vaguevague term that term that is is substitutedsubstituted for one for one considered harsh, blunt, or considered harsh, blunt, or offensive. offensive. It is used to It is used to pacifypacify or calm or calm an an audienceaudience..

EuphemismsEuphemisms – – "Defense Department" is "Defense Department" is a euphemism for a euphemism for “War “War Department.”Department.” “Visually “Visually challenged" is a challenged" is a euphemism for euphemism for "blind.“"blind.“

BandwagonBandwagon - - The The bandwagon technique bandwagon technique basically says, "basically says, "EveryoneEveryone else is doing it, so you else is doing it, so you shouldshould too." too." Since few of us want to be Since few of us want to be left behindleft behind, this technique , this technique can be quite can be quite successfulsuccessful..