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Persuasive Writing Analysis

Warm Up Game:

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- Together we will go through some persuasive statements. It will be your job to identify the how the author is trying to make the audience feel or the persuasive technique being used here.

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- Number 1 - 10 in your book and document your answers. 

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- We will then work together to fill in the gaps :)

Learning Time:

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- Let's now revise the different component of persuasive language and how we can analyse the impact of a piece of writing.

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- Take notes in your workbook as we go through the next slideshow together. 

Activity Time:

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- Let's use what we learnt within the PP to deconstruct Donald Trump's presidential speech.

1. Know The Writer

What do you already know about Donald Trump? How does this prior knowledge about his personal background and occupation shape your expectations of the content of his speech?

 

2. Understand the Contention

Given this is a short speech announcing his candidacy for American President, what is Trump's overall contention argument? 

 

3. Find the Supporting Arguments

In the first minute of the speech, Trump acknowledges his opposition by referring to air-conditioners and other Presidential candidates 'sweating like dogs'. Identify the two devices he is using and how these support his contention. 

 

What issues does Trump mention which support his contention?

 

4. Identify Tone

How would you describe the way Trump delivers his speech? Does his tone shift? When? 

 

5. Know the Target Audience

This speech took place at Trump Tower, New York. What kind of people would you expect to be in attendance personally? To whom is Trump directing his televised speech? Provide evidence to support your claim. 

 

6. Hone in on language

Find as much evidence as you can of the following language devices used by Trump: 

  • Loaded words

  • Repetition

  • Appeal to fear

  • Appeal to hip pocket nerve

  • Appeal to national security

  • Appeal to national pride

  • 'Islamic Terrorism is eating up large portions of the Middle East' - what is the effect of this imagery? 

  • Oversimplification

  • Emotive language

  • Inclusive language

  • Hyperbole

  • Statistics

Try It Again:

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- Using the above headings analyse another Donald Trump article

- Try this one: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/why-donald-trump-is-rich-and-youre-not-2015-07-27 

- This time you are on your own

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What's Your Opinion?

- Present your own opinion on Donald Trump's candidacy for American President

- Constructing at least one type of argument: moral, political, environmental, economic, societal.

- You must also use at least two language devices

- You must have a specific tone

- Can only be 140 characters long
 

Final Activity:

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- Let's get back into the skill of language analysis essay writing

- Write a formal analysis on the written text you looked at above

- Write two paragaphs analysing the effectiveness of the piece

- Make sure your paragraphs contain 'WHAT, HOW WHY' content

- Use the image below to assist you

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