PERSUASIVE WRITING TECHNIQUES

Technique Description Example

Alliteration Repetition of a consonant sound. Often Geelongs Gary Grabs
used to grab the attention of the audience Game
and often has a rhyme to encourage the
audience to remember.

Appeal Taps into the emotional intellect of the Your child could be next
reader targeting their vulnerabilities or They are trying to destroy
prejudices. Appeals can be made to our way of life
peoples fears, beliefs, hopes, dreams,
ambitions, insecurities and so on.

Colloquial Common and informal language. Often Its about time we throw a
Language reflects how people speak. Friendly and shrimp on the barbie.p
familiar language disarms the readers and
puts the writer on the same level as them.

Denotation Denotation is the literal dictionary meaning Big is the denoted by the
and of the word. Connotation is the emotional word large. Words such as
Connotation implications and association of the word. gigantic and mammoth
replace the word big
because of their
connotation.
Evidence Factual, quantifiable or statistical proof of That smoking causes cancer
the truth of an assertion. Adds weight to an is now an indisputable fact.
argument and makes it hard to disapprove.

Exaggeration/ Idea that is taken to an extreme. By taking if your dont wear a sun
Hyperbole an image or idea to an extreme, the smart hat, expect ALL your
emotion associated is also reinforced. hair to fall out

Expert Opinion Recognise authority, such as an individual Dr Howard Jones, Director

or groups, who adds credibility to an of the Cancer Council, said
argument. today that unless we use
factor 30 skincare products
from birth we are certain to
get skin cancer in our life.

Inclusive Language that identifies the author with We want what is best for
Language the reader; such as we, our, us, all of our children
 us. Makes the author seem that they are
on the same side as the reader.

Repetition Continued use of a word or phrase We will survive, we will

throughout an article. Reinforces a concur and we will win!
particular point of view.

Rhetorical Questions that do not demand an answer Who could possibly say no
Questions because the answer is implicit or obvious. to that offer?
Links the readers to the argument by
leading them to agree with the writers
assertion.
Onomatopoeia The name given to words that sound like Whoosh!
the action that they are suggesting. Kapoow!

Statistics Facts and data. Adds weight to the Perths water usage has
argument by showing that there are facts decreased by 35 percent.
rather than just opinions to back up the
argument.