Analyzing Persuasive Techniques

Why would an author title a persuasive article about driving distracted, "Hang Up and Drive"?

• Using a call to action in the title makes it clear to readers what the author is trying to convince them to do.

• The repetition in the title makes it more memorable to readers.

• The loaded language generates feelings of urgency to read the article.

• The use of inclusive language in the title creates a sense of togetherness.

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Why does the author use hyperbole in this paragarph taken from the article "Hang Up and Drive"?

You see it every day, especially in freeway traffic. A car is weaving back and forth, speeding up then slowing down, or suddenly stopping. No, it’s not a drunk driver. It’s a cell-phone driver. Cell phones are used everywhere, but on the road they are a dangerous distraction to drivers and should be prohibited.

• It exaggerates how long it takes to convince someone to stop texting and driving.

• It emphasizes how the drivers distracted by cell phones are so common the reader has likely witnessed it on a daily basis.

• It triggers the reader's positive feelings toward being able to identify distracted drivers.

• It causes the reader to feel sympathetic to other people that have been endangered by distracted drivers.

How does the author use loaded language in this paragarph?

You see it every day, especially in freeway traffic. A car is weaving back and forth, speeding up then slowing down, or suddenly stopping. No, it’s not a drunk driver. It’s a cell phone driver. Cell phones are used everywhere, but on the road, they are a dangerous distraction to drivers and should be prohibited.

• The author creates animosity toward law enforcement for not effectively policing drivers using cell phones.

• The author depicts distracted drivers in a way that allows readers to feel empathetic toward them.

• The author evokes feelings of mistrust and foreboding toward cell phones.

• The author causes readers to feel angry and upset toward people using cell phones while they drive.

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Is the author's use of inclusive language in this paragraph effectively persuading readers to "Hang Up and Drive"?

You see it every day, especially in freeway traffic. A car is weaving back and forth, speeding up then slowing down, or suddenly stopping. No, it’s not a drunk driver. It’s a cell phone driver. Cell phones are used everywhere, but on the road, they are a dangerous distraction to drivers and should be prohibited.

• Yes, because the author draws on the reader's personal experience to show how they have already been negatively affected by distracted drivers.

• No, because using "you" instead of "we" creates a sense of separation between the reader and the author that causes the reader to feel less empathetic to the reader.

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What persuasive technique is most effective the the following excerpt from "Hang Up and Drive"?

Cell-phone drivers are very unpredictable: they weave, tailgate, drive too fast or too slow, make improper turns, run red lights, and even stop at green ones. It’s not only annoying; it’s hazardous.

• The author uses an anecdote to show how dangerous drivers distracted by cell phones are.

• The author uses hyperbole to exaggerate the frequency with which readers encounter drivers distracted by cell phones.

• The author uses the rule of three to emphasize how drivers distracted by cell phones are "unpredictable" "annoying" and "hazardous."

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Is the following excerpt from "Hang Up and Drive" effectively persuasive?

" The New England Journal of Medicine reported that “motorists using a cell phone were four times more likely to have an accident than those not using a phone.”"

• Yes, because the New England Journal of Medicine has the authority to speak about how likely a person using a cell phone is to have an accident and their statement supports the author's argument.

• No, because the New England Journal of Medicine does not have the credibility to speak about how likely a person is to have a traffic accident when using a cell phone despite their statistics support the author's argument.

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How does the title of the article "Summer: 15 Days or 2 1/2 Months?" about year-round and traditional school calendars reveal the author's argument?

• The implied answer to this question is 2 1/2 months so the author will likely persuade the reader that year-round schools should switch to traditional calendars.

• The implied answer to this question is 15 days and he will likely persuade the reader that traditional schools should switch to a year-round calendar.

• The implied answer is unclear because there is no bias revealed in the question to suggest the author's opinion.

What is the primary purpose of persuasive writing?

• Inform readers about a topic.

• Explain how to do something.

• Convince readers to agree with you.

• Provide a valid argument using facts and data.

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In what scenario would persuasive writing be the best choice?

• Writing to ask your teacher to allow you to change your assigned seat?

• Writing to express how you feel

• Writing to show what you learned about a topic

• Writing a research paper

How might an author use an anecdote to persuade readers to do or believe something?

• Create a sense of togetherness with the reader by using pronouns like "we" and "our" to include the reader.

• Provide context to the reader by writing to a specific audience

• Add credibility to the argument by reinforcing their point throughout the entire text.

• Use a real-life example, or personal testimony, to help the reader see how a concept might apply to their own life.

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