Persuasive Language

1. Continue… MENU EXIT Persuasive Language The careful choice of words can make a persuasive message powerful and compelling. Specific word choices can influence the response of readers.

2. Next PREVIOUS MENU EXIT Persuasive Language The careful choice of words can make a persuasive message powerful and compelling. Specific word choices can influence the response of readers. For example: • The baseball game was thrilling, andthe fans watched the action breathlessly. • The baseball game was boring, andthe fans watched the action impatiently .

3. What words in this message are meant to make you concerned? Every day, increasing numbers of abandoned pets are found wandering the streets. They cower in doorways, trying to protect themselves from the wild dogs and other animals that prey on them. Starved for food and affection, they may die without your help . Click to find the negative words PREVIOUS MENU EXIT Persuasive Language

4. Next PREVIOUS MENU EXIT Persuasive Language What words in this message are meant to make you concerned? Every day, increasing numbers of abandoned pets are found wandering the streets. They cower in doorways, trying to protect themselves from the wild dogs and other animals that prey on them. Starved for food and affection, they may die without your help .

5. MENU EXIT Persuasive Language Words have two kinds of meaning – denotative and connotative. Persuasive writing is especially dependent on the connotations of words. Click on the topic you want to explore. MENU • Denotative and Connotative Meanings • Positive and Negative Connotations

6. MENU EXIT Persuasive Language Denotative & Connotative Meanings The denotative meaning is the dictionary definition. mother:a female parent basement: the part of a building below ground level

7. Continue… MENU EXIT Persuasive Language Denotative & Connotative Meanings The denotative meaning is the dictionary definition. mother:a female parent basement: the part of a building below ground level

8. PREVIOUS MENU EXIT Persuasive Language Denotative & Connotative Meanings The denotative meaning is the dictionary definition. mother:a female parent basement: the part of a building below ground level The connotative meaning involves emotions and associations. mother:love, security, home-cooked meals basement: damp, dark, possibly dangerous place

9. Menu PREVIOUS MENU EXIT Persuasive Language Denotative & Connotative Meanings The denotative meaning is the dictionary definition. mother:a female parent basement: the part of a building below ground level The connotative meaning involves emotions and associations. mother:love, security, home-cooked meals basement: damp, dark, possibly dangerous place

10. Continue… MENU EXIT Persuasive Language Positive and Negative Connotations Words can have both positive and negative connotations. Words with strongly positive or strongly negative connotations can shape the reactions of readers.

11. How does your attitude toward the courthouse shift after reading the second sentence? The new courthouse is a marvelous building that gives people a feeling of openness and fairness. The new courthouse is an overwhelming building that gives people a feeling of confusion and suspicion. Click to see an analysis PREVIOUS MENU EXIT Persuasive Language Positive and Negative Connotations Words can have both positive and negative connotations. Words with strongly positive or strongly negative connotations can shape the reactions of readers.

12. Next PREVIOUS MENU EXIT Persuasive Language Positive and Negative Connotations Words can have both positive and negative connotations. Words with strongly positive or strongly negative connotations can shape the reactions of readers. The positive connotations describe the courthouse as spacious and delightful, while the negative connotations show it to be frightening and overwhelming. The new courthouse is a marvelous building that gives people a feeling of openness and fairness. The new courthouse is an overwhelming building that gives people a feeling of confusion and suspicion.

13. Continue… PREVIOUS MENU EXIT Persuasive Language Positive and Negative Connotations Words with strongly positive connotations can persuade readers to see your ideas in a favorable way.

14. What neutral words or phrases in this statement could you turn into more positive language? Talking to people can help change their attitudes and feelings about themselves. Click to see the neutral words PREVIOUS MENU EXIT Persuasive Language Positive and Negative Connotations Words with strongly positive connotations can persuade readers to see your ideas in a favorable way.

15. Click to see a revision PREVIOUS MENU EXIT Persuasive Language Positive and Negative Connotations Words with strongly positive connotations can persuade readers to see your ideas in a favorable way. What neutral words or phrases in this statement could you turn into more positive language? Talking to people can help change their attitudes and feelings about themselves.

16. ORIGINAL Talking to people can help change their attitudes and feelings about themselves. REVISED Supporting and praising people is a powerful way to build their self-confidence and self-esteem. Next PREVIOUS MENU EXIT Persuasive Language Positive and Negative Connotations Words with strongly positive connotations can persuade readers to see your ideas in a favorable way.

17. Continue… PREVIOUS MENU EXIT Persuasive Language Positive and Negative Connotations Words with negative connotations can be used to create an unfavorable impression and can sway the reader toward a particular point of view.

18. Which words in this paragraph have negative connotations? The designer has always been known for her weird sense of fashion. Early in her career, her creations were dismissed with disgust by both consumers and the fashion industry. Her garish colors and wild designs were just too extreme. Click to see the negative words PREVIOUS MENU EXIT Persuasive Language Positive and Negative Connotations Words with negative connotations can be used to create an unfavorable impression and can sway the reader toward a particular point of view.

19. Next PREVIOUS MENU EXIT Persuasive Language Positive and Negative Connotations Words with negative connotations can be used to create an unfavorable impression and can sway the reader toward a particular point of view. The words with negative connotations influence the reader to see the designer as too far-out and not in tune with people’s tastes. The designer has always been known for her weird sense of fashion. Early in her career, her creations were dismissed with disgust by both consumers and the fashion industry. Her garish colors and wild designs were just too extreme.

20. Next PREVIOUS MENU EXIT Persuasive Language Positive and Negative Connotations Avoid using slanted language. Slanted language is persuasive language that is misused, sometimes clouding factual information and disguising poor reasoning by using words with powerful connotations. Strong emotional appeals can unfairly manipulate people’s feelings unless those appeals are supported with sound reasons and evidence.

21. Which words in this paragraph are slanted to produce an unfavorable impression of popular songs? Popular songs often have a bad influence on young people. The offensive lyrics and blaringly loud accompaniment damage growing minds and bodies. Our youth need to be protected from these destructive songs by banning them from the stores. Click to see the slanted language PREVIOUS MENU EXIT Persuasive Language Positive and Negative Connotations

22. i Menu PREVIOUS MENU EXIT Persuasive Language Positive and Negative Connotations Which words in this paragraph are slanted to produce an unfavorable impression of popular songs? Popular songs often have a bad influence on young people. The offensive lyrics and blaringly loud accompaniment damage growing minds and bodies. Our youth need to be protected from these destructive songs by banning them from the stores.