Persuasive Writing Techniques
The following packet allows student to recap key techniques and diction used in persuasive writing.
Student will embark on topics that exploit propaganda, bias, and fallacious reasoning to better tackle and overcome the necessary traps present in persuasive work, all of which means to entice a reader to support a position of debate.
Student will embark on topics that exploit propaganda, bias, and fallacious reasoning to better tackle and overcome the necessary traps present in persuasive work, all of which means to entice a reader to support a position of debate.
Understanding Denotation and Connotation: the Linguistics of Persuasion
Ten Divisions for Analyzing Propaganda
(From Propaganda and Persuasion, Jowett and O’Donnell, 2005, p.270)
1.) The Ideology and Purpose of the Propaganda Campaign
Look for the ideology in the verbal and visual representations of preexisting struggles or past situations. A propagandist may attempt to influence audiences to accept the ideology of the propagandist, whether that includes certain beliefs, values, attitudes, behaviors, or a particular kind of social order (assigning roles to gender, race, religions, or social groups).
2.) The Context in Which the Propaganda Occurs
It is important to understand the climate of the times, such as the events that have occurred and the historical background. What has happened to lead up to this point in time? What are the specific conflicts or issues of the time? What deeply held beliefs and values have been important for a long time?
3.) Identification of the Propagandist
The source of the propaganda is usually an institute or organization, with the propagandist as the speaker or agent. Sometimes, the identity is obvious; sometimes, it is concealed. Use the ideology, purpose, and context to help determine the identity of the propagandist. Who or what has the most to gain from this?
4.) The Structure of the Propaganda Organization
The structure of organizations vary based on the leadership of the organization, the articulation of specific goals, the selection of media, the membership and culture of the organization, the rules of the organization, and the sources that infiltrate the organization.
5.) The Target Audience
The traditional propaganda audience is a mass audience. Sometimes the mass communication is also used to target small groups, such as the elite or certain parts of the population (gender, age, etc.). The target audience is selected for the propaganda’s potential effectiveness, aimed at those most likely to respond and cause the propaganda to be successful.
6.) Media Utilization Techniques
It is important to determine how the propagandist uses the media. There are many formats available, including the press, radio, television, Internet, telephone, e-mail, direct mail, posters, billboards, speeches, music, cultural events, or sporting events. Analyzing the chosen media can help to determine the visual or verbal messages and how the audience is expected to perceive them.
7.) Special Various Techniques
There are many techniques used in propaganda. The complexity of propaganda makes it difficult to contain the techniques to a short list, especially given the fact that multiple techniques may be used in one piece. Aristotle advised the persuader to use “all the available means of persuasion.” Some of these means include language use, displaying an understanding of the audience, establishing credibility, including emotional language and images, or creating rewards and punishments within the propaganda.
8.) Audience Reaction to Various Techniques
Look for evidence of the target audience’s response to propaganda. The most important thing is to look for the behavior of the target audience, whether that is buying a seller’s product, joining organizations, or making contributions to the cause.
9.) Counter-propaganda
Counter-propaganda acts as a response to the original propaganda. If it exists in a free society, it can be found in public media like theater, literature, television, and film. If the media is controlled in the society, then it can be found underground, like graffiti.
10.) Effects and Evaluation
The most important effect is whether the purpose of the propaganda has been fulfilled, or certain goals have been achieved. When looking at the goals and the means of achieving them, a propaganda analyst can ask - How did the selection of media and various message techniques seem to affect the outcome? How did the propagandist manipulate the context and the environment?
*It is not always possible to find all the information within these 10 divisions, making it difficult to complete a full analysis of propaganda. Even if the analysis is not complete, the information discovered within selected divisions can help to better understand how propaganda functions.
Look for the ideology in the verbal and visual representations of preexisting struggles or past situations. A propagandist may attempt to influence audiences to accept the ideology of the propagandist, whether that includes certain beliefs, values, attitudes, behaviors, or a particular kind of social order (assigning roles to gender, race, religions, or social groups).
2.) The Context in Which the Propaganda Occurs
It is important to understand the climate of the times, such as the events that have occurred and the historical background. What has happened to lead up to this point in time? What are the specific conflicts or issues of the time? What deeply held beliefs and values have been important for a long time?
3.) Identification of the Propagandist
The source of the propaganda is usually an institute or organization, with the propagandist as the speaker or agent. Sometimes, the identity is obvious; sometimes, it is concealed. Use the ideology, purpose, and context to help determine the identity of the propagandist. Who or what has the most to gain from this?
4.) The Structure of the Propaganda Organization
The structure of organizations vary based on the leadership of the organization, the articulation of specific goals, the selection of media, the membership and culture of the organization, the rules of the organization, and the sources that infiltrate the organization.
5.) The Target Audience
The traditional propaganda audience is a mass audience. Sometimes the mass communication is also used to target small groups, such as the elite or certain parts of the population (gender, age, etc.). The target audience is selected for the propaganda’s potential effectiveness, aimed at those most likely to respond and cause the propaganda to be successful.
6.) Media Utilization Techniques
It is important to determine how the propagandist uses the media. There are many formats available, including the press, radio, television, Internet, telephone, e-mail, direct mail, posters, billboards, speeches, music, cultural events, or sporting events. Analyzing the chosen media can help to determine the visual or verbal messages and how the audience is expected to perceive them.
7.) Special Various Techniques
There are many techniques used in propaganda. The complexity of propaganda makes it difficult to contain the techniques to a short list, especially given the fact that multiple techniques may be used in one piece. Aristotle advised the persuader to use “all the available means of persuasion.” Some of these means include language use, displaying an understanding of the audience, establishing credibility, including emotional language and images, or creating rewards and punishments within the propaganda.
8.) Audience Reaction to Various Techniques
Look for evidence of the target audience’s response to propaganda. The most important thing is to look for the behavior of the target audience, whether that is buying a seller’s product, joining organizations, or making contributions to the cause.
9.) Counter-propaganda
Counter-propaganda acts as a response to the original propaganda. If it exists in a free society, it can be found in public media like theater, literature, television, and film. If the media is controlled in the society, then it can be found underground, like graffiti.
10.) Effects and Evaluation
The most important effect is whether the purpose of the propaganda has been fulfilled, or certain goals have been achieved. When looking at the goals and the means of achieving them, a propaganda analyst can ask - How did the selection of media and various message techniques seem to affect the outcome? How did the propagandist manipulate the context and the environment?
*It is not always possible to find all the information within these 10 divisions, making it difficult to complete a full analysis of propaganda. Even if the analysis is not complete, the information discovered within selected divisions can help to better understand how propaganda functions.
The following downloadable document organizes the thesis statement, set of reasoning, and evidence for the upcoming persuasive essay.
Students are required to have a completed outline to move on from the prewriting stage to the writing stage of the writing process.
Students are required to have a completed outline to move on from the prewriting stage to the writing stage of the writing process.
persuasive_essay_outline.pdf |