Persuasive Terms 6Th Reading
Persuasive Critical Vocabulary
Word / Definition / Key Words / ExamplePersuasive Text / Writing that tries to sway its readers’ feelings, beliefs or actions
Argument / Carefully stated claim supported by reasons and evidence
Claim / Writer’s position on a problem or issue
Support / Reasons and evidence that help to prove the claim
Reasons / Declarations made to justify an action, decision, or belief
Evidence / Way of supporting your position or opinion with facts, statistics, quotes or examples
Counter Argument / Argument made to answer likely objections
Author’s Message / Main point the writer wants to get across to the reader
Viewpoint / Author’s attitude toward the issue
Media Message / A message conveyed in print, electronic and / or mass media
Endorsement / Giving one's public approval or support to someone or something
Word / Definition / Key Words / Example
Persuasive Techniques / Methods used to sway your heart and mind
Appeals by Association / “Sell” a product or an idea by linking it with something or someone positive or influential
● Bandwagon appeal / Taps into people’s desire to belong to a group
● Testimonial / Relies on the backing of a celebrity, an expert, or a satisfied customer
● Snob appeal / Preys on people’s desire to belong to the “upper crust”
● Plain folk / Makes people feel like they can relate
● Appeals to authority / Argues that a statement is correct because the statement is made by a person or source that is commonly regarded as authoritative
● Appeals to logic / A rhetorical strategy where the argument is made by presenting facts that lead the audience to a specific conclusion
Emotional Appeal / “Sell” a product or an idea by evoking an emotional reaction
● Appeal to Fear / Makes people feel as if their safety, security, or health is in danger.
● Appeal to Vanity / Uses flattery to win people over.
Loaded Language / Relies on words with strongly positive or negative associations.
● Words with Positive Associations / Words that bring to mind something exciting, comforting, or desirable.
● Words with Negative Associations / Words that evoke strong negative feelings in the reader or remind people of unpleasant images, experiences, or feelings.
Faulty Reasoning / Claim based on information that is incorrect, biased, or simply does not make sense.
● logical fallacy / Mistaken ways of reasoning
● hasty generalization / Conclusion drawn from too little evidence
● overgeneralization / Broad conclusion using all-or-nothing words like every, always, and never
● circular reasoning / Reasons that say the same thing over and over again using different words
● false cause / Assumption that one event caused another because it ocurred earlier in time
● vague language / Statements that are unclear
● irrelevant examples / Examples that do not directly relate to the claim
● rhetorical questions / Questions that have an obvious answer, to suggest that anyone with common sense must agree
● stereotyping / Applying a conventional, formulaic, and oversimplified conception, opinion, or image of a person or group of people
● name calling / Trying to win support by referring to the opposition in negative terms