Repetition of consonants at the beginning of words. Often used in headlines.
Money and morals are mutually exclusive.
1. Grabs the readers' attention.
2. Attracts attention and adds emphasis.
3. Often works with other persuasive techniques eg repetition, tone & puns.
Analogy
Compares one item or event with another more familiar item or event to draw a conclusion.
Violent American rap culture shares many similarities with the G8 protest movement.
Makes ideas seem more realistic or believable because it links something unknown to something that is already assumed or understood.
Anecdote
A short account of an interesting or humorous incident. Often based on a writer's personal experiences.
I saw many young men beating each other up on the football field.
Makes small, isolated or insignificant incidents appear more important than they actually are. It is not research based. ie. Anecdotal evidence.
Attacks
'Attack' language is usually hard-hitting and may not actually address the issue. Writers often 'attack' individuals, governments or associations they oppose.
The bloody massacre in America was caused by the immorality of the National Rifles Association.
Evokes strong emotional responses making readers easier to persuade.
Clichés
An over-used expression that may have begun as an original thought.
Germaine Greer's recent attack on Steve Irwin was simply a case of the pot calling the kettle black.
1. Helps readers feel comfortable and familiar with the material.
2. Conveys meaning quickly.
Colloquial language
Everyday, conversational language
Steve Irwin was a fair dinkum, Aussie bloke who made us all feel good.
Uses friendly and comfortable language that makes the reader feel as though s/he is on the same wavelength as the writer.
Connotations
The implied meaning of words. Meanings can be either negative or positive.
Compare:
The childish hooligan drove recklessly around the streets.
The young man drove audaciously around the streets.
Although words may be similar in meaning, they also carry emotional responses.
Emotional appeals
Emotional appeals play on people's feelings rather than rational or measured responses. They often appeal to fear or justice issues. There are five emotional appeals: 1.Appeal to family values Assumes that the traditional nuclear family is the natural family type and the best place to raise children.
2.Appeal to a sense of fear Plays on people's sense of fear. Often used by politicians to promote national security.
3.Appeal to financial loss Makes people concerned by their financial well-being.
4.Appeal to patriotism Appeals to people's sense of love for their country.
5.Appeal to tradition Appeals to the need to keep our traditions and customs.
Kids without a mother and father are more likely to take drugs than those in intact families
The police in Werribee issued a warning to supervise children's internet use following the attack on a teenage girl.
As a tax-payer I'm sick of the government handing out our money to new mothers.
Australia has a fine tradition of giving everyone a fair go.
In Australia it is necessary to keep our tradition of marching at the Anzac Day parade.
Appeals to people's desire for security. Threats to family values are often seen as a threat to society itself.
Evokes fear and then provides solutions.
Uses worse-case scenarios.
Evokes positive or negative responses, depending on viewpoint. Writers use it to justify excesses or reductions.
1. Appeals to people's sense of loyalty and attachment to values or culture.
2. Often accompanied by symbols.
1. Plays with the idea that people like to retain a link with the past.
2. Evokes the idea that by changing traditions, we lose our identity and links with the past.
Emotive language
Deliberate use of strong words to play on the reader's feelings.
I am disgusted by the DVD event in Werribee. Such repulsive behaviour should incur the full wrath of the law.
1. Uses exaggeration to get a point across.
2. Exaggeration often shows the writer's feelings.
Evidence
Information, facts or statements used to support a belief or opinion. These could include: statistics, expert advice or opinion, research, facts, quotes, video evidence & testimony.
According to police reports, the crime rate in Australia has increased by 12 percent.
Evidence appears objective and difficult to challenge. However, evidence can be misused eg. Some research is slanted and some statistics tell only part of a story.
Generalisation
A sweeping statement claiming that something is true for most or all people simply because it is true in some cases.
Cities are not as safe today as they were when I was a child.
1. Appeal to people's sense of what appears to be true.
2. Tap into social stereotypes and racial prejudices which are familiar.
Inclusive language
Statements that include readers, listeners or viewers in the same group as the writer.
If we all sign the petition, we might be able to get more police in Werribee and make our streets safer.
1. Often combines with appeals to community, family or patriotism.
2. Plays on people's sense of belonging.
Metaphor
A figure of speech that compares one thing with another.
The people who hurt that little kitten are just animals.
Goes one step further than a simile. Similes liken something to something else, while metaphors imply that one thing actually is another. They therefore create images in the readers' mind.
Overstatement exaggeration hyperbole
Exaggerates a situation or idea to produce a stronger response.
It is disgraceful that children are playing so many video games these days.
To create dramatic effect. Because language is forceful it makes the issue seem more important than it actually is.
Puns
A play on a word which suggests more than one meaning.
It's time to pass the spelling salts.
Appeal to readers' sense of humour. When used in headlines they draw people in to read more.
Reason & logic
To write in a logical, factual, evidence-based way.
If the state and federal governments are to rescue the agricultural industry, it would be prudent to coincide the rescue with reform.
Appeals to readers' sense of logic. Since arguments include a rebuttal of the opposition's position, it is appears reasonable and balanced.
Repetition
Repeated use of words, phrases and ideas in a sentence or paragraph.
With the new maternity allowance women can now have one for the mother, one for the father and one for the country.
1. Emphasises a point.
2. Using the same sound repeatedly creates rhythm.
Rhetorical questions
A question which requires no answer.
Did they expect the police would not find out?
1. Positions the audience to accept an implied answer.
2. May leave the reader hanging.
Sarcasm
A form of ridicule that often involves simply stating the opposite of the obvious. (Think about whether you can say NOT! at the end)
She's obviously a great one to talk about latest trends since her red polka dot books are so fashionable!
Uses humour , irony and ridicule to make readers think about the issue more deeply. Embeds ideas of what's natural.
Scare tactic
Use of figures or examples to show negative effects.
Twenty-four percent of murderers play violent video games therefore we should ban all video games.
Evokes strong emotional responses making readers easier to persuade.
Tone
The mood or feeling of a piece of writing eg. Angry, cynical, disappointed, arrogant, sarcastic, sympathetic.
The drought is the single greatest threat to our life.
Generates a desired emotional response and invites readers to share the writer's point of view.
Voice: active/ passive
Active voices use clear, lively language in which subjects are the doers. Passive voices are wordy and indirect and the subject receives the action.
Active: The children ate icecream.
Passive: Icecream was eaten by the children.
Messages delivered quickly persuade readers by having an abrupt impact. Passive sentences are long-winded and may be used to downplay the significance of something.
2. Attracts attention and adds emphasis.
3. Often works with other persuasive techniques eg repetition, tone & puns.
2. Conveys meaning quickly.
The childish hooligan drove recklessly around the streets.
The young man drove audaciously around the streets.
1.Appeal to family values
Assumes that the traditional nuclear family is the natural family type and the best place to raise children.
2.Appeal to a sense of fear
Plays on people's sense of fear. Often used by politicians to promote national security.
3.Appeal to financial loss
Makes people concerned by their financial well-being.
4.Appeal to patriotism
Appeals to people's sense of love for their country.
5.Appeal to tradition
Appeals to the need to keep our traditions and customs.
Kids without a mother and father are more likely to take drugs than those in intact families
The police in Werribee issued a warning to supervise children's internet use following the attack on a teenage girl.
As a tax-payer I'm sick of the government handing out our money to new mothers.
Australia has a fine tradition of giving everyone a fair go.
In Australia it is necessary to keep our tradition of marching at the Anzac Day parade.
Evokes fear and then provides solutions.
Uses worse-case scenarios.
Evokes positive or negative responses, depending on viewpoint. Writers use it to justify excesses or reductions.
1. Appeals to people's sense of loyalty and attachment to values or culture.
2. Often accompanied by symbols.
1. Plays with the idea that people like to retain a link with the past.
2. Evokes the idea that by changing traditions, we lose our identity and links with the past.
2. Exaggeration often shows the writer's feelings.
2. Tap into social stereotypes and racial prejudices which are familiar.
2. Plays on people's sense of belonging.
2. Using the same sound repeatedly creates rhythm.
2. May leave the reader hanging.
Passive: Icecream was eaten by the children.
Main source: Insight: English for Year 11