Persuasion Through Rhetoric

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Persuasion Through Rhetoric

• Words, Phrases, and Simple Assertions

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A psychological point about rhetoric and
suggestion...
Its a fact that even fleeting impressions may
have measurable influence on behavior.
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A psychological point about rhetoric and
suggestion...
Its a fact that even fleeting impressions may
have measurable influence on behavior. The
operation of such influences may occur below the
threshold of consciousness.
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A psychological point about rhetoric and
suggestion...
Its a fact that even fleeting impressions may
have measurable influence on behavior. The
operation of such influences may occur below the
threshold of consciousness. The positive and
negative impressions made by use of rhetorical
devices, while they may sometimes seem trivial,
can have powerful and long-lasting effects.
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A psychological point about rhetoric and
suggestion...
Its a fact that even fleeting impressions may
have measurable influence on behavior. The
operation of such influences may occur below the
threshold of consciousness. The positive and
negative impressions made by use of rhetorical
devices, while they may sometimes seem trivial,
can have powerful and long-lasting effects.
Critical thinking addresses influence of rhetoric
in two ways (1) helps identify attempts at
non-argumentative persuasion (2) helps check
spontaneous beliefs and impulses
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Euphemisms and Dysphemisms

• Words or phrases that are substituted for other
  words or phrases to put what is being discussed
  in a more positive or negative light

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Euphemisms and Dysphemisms

• Words or phrases that are substituted for other
  words or phrases to put what is being discussed
  in a more positive or negative light

Euphemism Used cars become pre-owned
vehicles. Dysphemism Music becomes noise.
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Euphemisms and Dysphemisms

• Words or phrases that are substituted for other
  words or phrases to put what is being discussed
  in a more positive or negative light

Euphemism Used cars become pre-owned
vehicles. Dysphemism Music becomes noise.
Note Reports and descriptions may convey
pleasant or unpleasant information without being
euphemistic or dysphemistic. Its the quality of
the language that matters.
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Rhetorical Comparisons, Definitions, and
Explanations

• Ways of speaking that depart positively or
  negatively from a fair or neutral position
• Problems of content, not of form

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Rhetorical Comparisons, Definitions, and
Explanations

• Ways of speaking that depart positively or
  negatively from a fair or neutral position
• Problems of content, not of form

Comparison The American revolutionaries used
tactics similar to those employed by the Viet
Cong.
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Rhetorical Comparisons, Definitions, and
Explanations

• Ways of speaking that depart positively or
  negatively from a fair or neutral position
• Problems of content, not of form

Comparison The American revolutionaries used
tactics similar to those employed by the Viet
Cong. Definition religion - the opiate of the
people
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Rhetorical Comparisons, Definitions, and
Explanations

• Ways of speaking that depart positively or
  negatively from a fair or neutral position
• Problems of content, not of form

Comparison The American revolutionaries used
tactics similar to those employed by the Viet
Cong. Definition religion - the opiate of the
people Explanation Franklin stayed in France
throughout the revolution because he was a
celebrity there.
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Stereotype

• May function as an unexamined assumption behind a
  premise (easily results in fallacy of begging the
  question) or explanatory claim (especially, as
  circular reasoning)

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Stereotype

• May function as an unexamined assumption behind a
  premise (easily results in fallacy of begging the
  question) or explanatory claim (especially, as
  circular reasoning)
• When directly expressed, takes the form of a
  generalization

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Stereotype

• May function as an unexamined assumption behind a
  premise (easily results in fallacy of begging the
  question) or explanatory claim (especially, as
  circular reasoning)
• When directly expressed, takes the form of a
  generalization
• As expectation, may cause an observer to ignore
  conflicting phenomena or supply consistent
  details that never occurred

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Innuendo

• A suggestion that is made indirectly
• Creates a negative impression (using indirect
  language to create a positive impression is
  usually better classed as understatement)
• May be constructed by association with something
  negative or by faint praise

Example Prof. X? Is he the one who admitted
that his emotions influence his grading? (When
speaker knows Prof. X didnt.) Example Student
Y? Yes, I remember her. She satisfied the
minimum requirements of the course.
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Loaded Question

• Often a yes-no question or a false dilemma, but
  could occur with any question form
• Answering directly requires accepting or
  presuming a questionable, hostile, or unjustified
  assumption
• May function similarly to innuendo

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Loaded Question

• Often a yes-no question or a false dilemma, but
  could occur with any question form
• Answering directly requires accepting or
  presuming a questionable, hostile, or unjustified
  assumption
• May function similarly to innuendo

Example Are you still abusing illegal
drugs? Example Should we vote for the Democrat
or the Repulican in this election? Example What
were you thinking when you attempted to steal
that CD?
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Weaseler

• A word or phrase that deceptively weakens a claim

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Weaseler

• A word or phrase that deceptively weakens a claim
  
• Not to be confused with careful qualification

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Weaseler

• A word or phrase that deceptively weakens a claim
  
• Not to be confused with careful qualification

Example Save up to 40 (when typical savings
will be less) Example Its easy to go all the
way...on the phone. (real ad!)
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Downplayer

• A word, phrase, or punctuation that subtly
  diminishes a concept or weakens a claim
• May overlap with weaseler

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Downplayer

• A word, phrase, or punctuation that subtly
  diminishes a concept or weakens a claim
• May overlap with weaseler

Example Todays patriots are just looking for
a way to make a quick buck in Iraq.
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Downplayer

• A word, phrase, or punctuation that subtly
  diminishes a concept or weakens a claim
• May overlap with weaseler

Example Todays patriots are just looking for
a way to make a quick buck in Iraq. Example I
understand your wages are low, but its normal
for some full-time workers in any modern society
to be below the poverty line. (Notice how the
individuals particular situation is effectively
submerged.)
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Downplayer

• A word, phrase, or punctuation that subtly
  diminishes a concept or weakens a claim
• May overlap with weaseler

Example Todays patriots are just looking for
a way to make a quick buck in Iraq. Example I
understand your wages are low, but its normal
for some full-time workers in any modern society
to be below the poverty line. (Notice how the
individuals particular situation is effectively
submerged.) Example Interest rates are at their
the lowest point in years, though only customers
with excellent credit will qualify.
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Horse Laugh/Ridicule/Sarcasm

• An attempt to weaken a claim or undermine
  credibility by making an idea or person appear
  ridiculous

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Horse Laugh/Ridicule/Sarcasm

• An attempt to weaken a claim or undermine
  credibility by making an idea or person appear
  ridiculous
• May make use of other devices, e.g., hyperbole,
  slippery slope

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Horse Laugh/Ridicule/Sarcasm

• An attempt to weaken a claim or undermine
  credibility by making an idea or person appear
  ridiculous
• May make use of other devices, e.g., hyperbole,
  slippery slope

Example One thing I can say for Schwarzenegger,
I bet hes not a complainer. So now we wont
have to listen to a lot of complaining from the
governors office while Bushs friends are
looting California.
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Horse Laugh/Ridicule/Sarcasm

• An attempt to weaken a claim or undermine
  credibility by making an idea or person appear
  ridiculous
• May make use of other devices, e.g., hyperbole,
  slippery slope

Example One thing I can say for Schwarzenegger,
I bet hes not a complainer. So now we wont
have to listen to a lot of complaining from the
governors office while Bushs friends are
looting California. Example You dont like how
the PATRIOT Act expands police powers? How about
the next time you need help, try calling a hippie.
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Hyperbole

• Use of exaggeration to make an impression of
  greater importance or deviation from expectations

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Hyperbole

• Use of exaggeration to make an impression of
  greater importance or deviation from expectations
  
• May show up in other devices, e.g., ridicule,
  slippery slope, straw man, poisoning the well

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Hyperbole

• Use of exaggeration to make an impression of
  greater importance or deviation from expectations
  
• May show up in other devices, e.g., ridicule,
  slippery slope, straw man, poisoning the well

Example What I need is a vehicle that can go
anywhere.
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Hyperbole

• Use of exaggeration to make an impression of
  greater importance or deviation from expectations
  
• May show up in other devices, e.g., ridicule,
  slippery slope, straw man, poisoning the well

Example What I need is a vehicle that can go
anywhere. Example While this framework does a
good job of catering to environmental extremists,
it falls alarmingly short of addressing the
rising threat of wildfires facing our forests.
(Rep. Wally Herger, on the Sierra Nevada
Framework, 11/03)
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Proof Surrogate

• An assertion or strong suggestion that good
  evidence exists somewhere out of reach to support
  a claim

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Proof Surrogate

• An assertion or strong suggestion that good
  evidence exists somewhere out of reach to support
  a claim
• May make use of listed, but unchecked or
  unverifiable references

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Proof Surrogate

• An assertion or strong suggestion that good
  evidence exists somewhere out of reach to support
  a claim
• May make use of listed, but unchecked or
  unverifiable references

Example Unnamed sources report that... Example
Experts agree that... Example I read on the
Internet that... (if used as evidence)