Persuasive Rhetoric Academic Vocabulary

The reason a writer writes (to inform, to persuade, to entertain, to explain, to describe)

• claim
• bias
• diction 
• purpose

Statements that sound logical or factual, but are not 

• fallacies
• claims
• statistics 
• facts

Doing something because everyone else is doing it

• glittering generalities 
• bandwagon 
• fear tactics
• testimonial

A writer's or speaker's statement on a position or issue

• fact
• fallacy
• bias 
• claim 

Using different words that have the same meaning in an argument (talking in circles)

• hasty generalization 
• glittering generalities 
• fear tactics 
• circular reasoning

Prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another; usually in a way to be considered to be unfair 

• bias
• claim 
• ethos 
• fallacy

An author's word choices

• pathos
• rhetoric 
• diction 
• claim 

Having a famous person or someone who has used a product endorse it; this person is NOT usually an expert on the product

• expert testimony
• testimonial
• fallacies 
• rhetoric

Saying one only has two choices when, in fact, there are many other possibilities 

• either/or fallacy
• hasty generalization 
• glittering generalities 
• false cause and effect 

Techniques writers use to enhance their arguments and communicate more effectively

• testimonial 
• loaded words
• purpose
• rhetorical appeals