STUDY GUIDE ON BIAS AND PERSUASIVE/PROPAGANDA TECHNIQUES
Author Attitude/Bias: To practice, click on “Author’s Attitude” under #3 on
When you are reading, it is important for you to know the author's attitude or tone. Sometimes the author doesn't tell you his or her position. You have to discover it by analyzing the article carefully. Look for words that show that the article is biased by the author's feelings. Check to see whether the author has presented enough evidence and whether the evidence given is reliable and convincing.Questions to ask yourself about the author's attitude:
- What is the author's purpose in writing? (to persuade, entertain, inform, explain)
- Is there more than one point of view on this topic?
- If so, what are the different opinions?
- Is there enough evidence to support each side?
- Is the evidence reliable and convincing?
- Does the author use words that convey emotion?
- Is the article balanced toward all positions or biased toward one?
- Does the article seem to present propaganda?
Persuasive/Propaganda Techniques: To practice, click on “Author’s Attitude” under #3 on
Propaganda is the systematic spread of information that supports a viewpoint of the party spreading the information. Governments will often use propaganda during a war to rally citizens to oppose the enemy. Below is a list of some basic propaganda techniques that authors may employ.-Emotional Appeal or Loaded Language: Authors may appeal to fear, anger, or joy to sway their readers. Authors use loaded language to appeal to the reader’s emotions.
-Logical Appeal: When writers use statistics, facts, and logical reasoning to try to convince you, they are using logical appeal.
-Ethical Appeal: When writers show themselves to be credible, trustworthy, intelligent, or open-minded, they are using ethical appeal. They want to gain a reader's trust. They use their backgrounds to try to accomplish this. Presidential candidates often use ethical appeal to try to convince people to vote for them.
-Rhetorical Questions: Rhetorical questions are used to make a statement. They do not ask a question that someone needs to answer. An example of a rhetorical question is: “What feels better than knowing you made a difference in someone’s life?” The writer asks the question but does not expect an answer. Rhetorical questions ask readers to think about the logic of an argument.
-Glittering Generalities: In glowing terms and offering no evidence, the speaker or advertiser supports a candidate or a solution to social problems.
-Testimonial: Writers use this technique to associate a respected person or someone with experience to endorse a product or cause by giving it his or her stamp of approval. The writer hopes that the intended audience will follow the example. Example: As a model, Cassie Shea knows that great-looking hair is important: “ShineOn Hair products take the worry out of every photo shoot!”
-Repetition: Overly repetitive writing can become tiresome. However, when used sparingly for effect, it can reinforce the writer's message and/or entertain the reader. Writers may repeat a word, a phrase, or an entire sentence for emphasis.
-Overstatement:Involves completely overstating and exaggerating your point for effect. (Like when your mom says, "I must have asked you a million times to clean your room!")
-Bandwagon Appeal: This technique is used to persuade the audience to follow the crowd. It creates the impression of widespread support, that "everybody is doing it!" Ex.: Get in on the fit of Best Fit Jeans and get in on the party!
-Snob Appeal: aimed at people’s desire to be individuals. Ex.: Safari tours—only for the wild at heart!
-Name Calling: a way of getting people to reject someone’s ideas by attacking the person rather than the ideas themselves. Ex.: Who do you want to represent you in Congress – a dinosaur stuck in the past or someone who’s facing the future?
-Overgeneralization/Stereotyping- sweeping statements about people, places, and things. Often uses words such as “all,” “every,” “always,” etc. Ex.: All men are insensitive and just don’t get it. They put themselves first and ignore what women tell them.