Persuasive devices fall into these 3 categories. Appeal to Authority Appeal to Logic Appeal to Emotion

Appeal to Authority This persuasive device creates trust in the writer because evidence comes from authoritative sources. If the reader trusts the writer, the reader is more likely to agree with the claim. Writers appeal to authority by using information from experts (this could even be the author of the passage), survey results, research results, statistics, fact, or examples. Appeal to authority is also known as ethos.

Appeal to logic is also known as logos. This persuasive device relies on using logic or reason to convince the reader. If an argument or claim seems logical or can be arrived at using reason, then a reader is more likely to agree with that claim. Writers appeal to logic by using information from experts (this could even be the author of the passage), survey results, research results, statistics, fact, or examples. Writers also appeal to logic by using deductive/inductive reasoning, comparative reasoning, cause and effect reasoning, and pros vs. cons reasoning. Appeal to logic is also known as logos.

Appeal to emotion is also known as pathos. This persuasive device targets the reader’s feelings. Writers know that readers have emotions, and using techniques to make them feel a certain way (angry, supportive, pity, etc.) can persuade the reader to agree with the writer’s claim. Some persuasive techniques that appeal to emotion are examples, diction, exaggeration, personal anecdote, repetition, irony, rhetorical questions, and imagery. Appeal to emotion is also known as pathos.

EVIDENCE

Survey Results, Research Results, Statistics, Facts Survey results, research results, statistics, and facts are evidence that support the author’s claim. These devices “back up” the argument and provide objective information, which is difficult to oppose. They give the writer credibility, so the reader is more likely to agree with the claim. (appeal to authority and appeal to logic)

Quotes or information from people who are experts Using quotes or information from experts supports the author’s claim. We assume that experts are credible and have done research or learning to arrive at their conclusion. Therefore, we defer decision making to them. Using information from experts gives the writer credibility, so the reader is more likely to agree with the claim. (appeal to authority and logic)

examples Examples provide context and support for the claim. Examples help the reader understand the claim and show how the argument or claim plays out in the real world. If a reader understands the claim and sees it in action in real life, the reader will connect and be more likely to agree with the claim. (appeal to authority, logic, and/or emotion, depending on how it is used in the passage)

REASONING

Cause and Effect Cause and effect reasoning is used to show the connection between the evidence and the claim. Authors use this reasoning to explain what is happening, what can happen, or what has happened. (appeal to logic)

Deductive Reasoning Deductive reasoning takes a belief/rule and applies it to a specific case. The reader is likely to be persuaded by this reasoning and believe the author’s claim since it is connected to a belief/rule that is generally accepted as true. (appeal to logic)

Inductive Reasoning Inductive reasoning takes specific cases (or a specific case) and uses them (or it) to draw a conclusion that supports the author’s claim. A writer may use research results or information from experts to draw a conclusion that supports the claim. (appeal to logic)

Comparative Comparative reasoning provides a connection between (A) examples/evidence/facts and (B) the author’s claim. This persuades the reader because he/she already has an understanding/belief about/feeling about A, and the author applies those to B using comparative reasoning. (appeal to logic and/or appeal to emotion, depending on how it is used in the passage)

Pros vs. Cons Discussing pros versus cons is persuasive because it makes the author seem reasonable, since both sides of the issue are considered. To be persuasive, the author may use (more or better) examples/evidence/facts to disprove or disagree with the other side of the argument. As a result, the author makes a stronger argument for his/her side. (appeal to logic)

STYLISTIC OR PERSUASIVE ELEMENTS

Diction Word choice is persuasive because it conveys a certain tone. If the author uses formal language and sounds intelligent, the reader may think that the author is an authority and should be believed. If the author uses words that evoke an emotional response, the reader may feel a personal connection to the writer and be more likely to agree with the claim. Similarly, an author may use simple or “colloquial” language to seem more relatable and more like a friend. (appeal to emotion)

Exaggeration An author may exaggerate or use an extreme example in order to emphasize his/her point. This is effective because exaggerations are interesting and highlight extreme ends of a spectrum. Exaggerations show the best/worst case scenarios, which evoke an emotional response from the reader. (appeal to emotion)

way and be persuaded. (appeal to emotion) Personal Anecdote A personal anecdote is a short, personal story related to the claim. It makes the author seem like a real person (more relatable) and also conveys their personal interest in the claim. If the anecdote is filled with strong emotions, such as anger, sadness, or elation, the reader may also start to feel this way and be persuaded. (appeal to emotion)

Repetition Words or phases may be repeated within a sentence, paragraph, or passage. This emphasis on particular words or phrases creates an emotional response in the reader. Also, repetition builds anticipation in the reader, so they have a sense of what is coming. This increases their participation and also their “buy in” or commitment to the claim. (appeal to emotion)

way. (appeal to emotion) Irony Irony occurs when there is a difference between what actually happens and what was expected to happen OR what is actually said and what was expected to be said. Irony can be an effective persuasive device because it can discredit or shame the opposing view. Irony is also useful because it helps the writer to make his/her point in an interesting, engaging, and potentially humorous way. (appeal to emotion)

Rhetorical Questions Rhetorical questions are questions that the reader isn’t expected to answer, but make the reader think. This is a useful technique because it engages the reader and encourages their participation. Also, since the answer is usually obvious, the reader is almost forced to agree. A rhetorical question can be written so that disagreement with the question would seem ridiculous.(appeal to emotion)

Imagery Personification Metaphor Simile Imagery uses language to create “word pictures” in a reader’s mind. Personification gives something human qualities. Metaphor and simile (using “like” or “as”) compare two things that are not alike. Personification, metaphor, and simile create a visual image for the reader, which draws the reader into the experience. Imagery can also make the experience more dramatic (positively or negatively, depending on the image created). (appeal to emotion)