Modes of Persuasion and Speech Techniques (listening)

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 4

Today

Learning goals

You can:

• show understanding of a video by answering questions
• recognise speech techniques in an answer to a question

Modes of Persuasion: Context

• Invented by Aristotle (384-322 BCE)
• Basis for Greek Rhetorics, the art of persuasion, one of the three first subjects taught in classical education
• One of the main subjects studied until the 19th century in Europe by monarchs, politicians, scholars, et cetera
• Three modes: logos, pathos and ethos

Verder inlezen? Wikipedia is je vriend! 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modes_of_persuasion

- BCE = before common era, de nu gangbare manier van voor Christus zeggen.

- Andere twee subjects waren logic en grammar (als in taal). Als je het wil melden: na die drie kregen ze arithmetic, geometry, music en astronomy

Modes of Persuasion: Logos

• The appeal to reason, your "argument", that is: the reasoning behind your opinion
  
• Goal: to convince the audience that your reasoning is valid
• Use: logical reasoning, facts, figures
• Avoid: getting your facts wrong, logical fallacies

• Example:
  A study published in Psychological Science shows that when you write notes on paper you remember things better than if you write on your computer

• Often given the most weight in modern western society, especially in school!
  
• Not the be-all and end-all!

Aantal voorbeelden die je kunt gebruiken:

Logical reasoning -> All spiders have eight legs. Black Widows are a type of spider. Therefore Black Widows have eight legs.

Facts and figures -> zie voorbeeld (je kan "will come up in a bit" zeggen)

Getting your facts wrong => if you get your facts wrong people won't agree with you, especially if they're easily verifiable

Logical falacies -> It should be okay to destroy property when you are angry  because angry people destroy things. / I saw a bunny this morning and then I was late for work so bunnies are bad luck

Met "given the most weight" bedoel ik dat dit ze echt wordt aangeleerd, terwijl de andere twee meer impliciet zijn

Modes of Persuasion: Pathos

• The appeal to emotion
  
• Goal: get your audience on your side by getting their emotions in tune with you
  
• Use: metaphors or stories, anecdotes, passion in your voice
• Avoid: inappropriate emotion, only going for emotion, not reading the room

• Example:
  Writing your notes on your computer is like putting all your clothes in one basket, while writing notes forces you to put your shirts and trousers in separate, neat piles

• Least explicitly valued, perhaps the most important!

stoies / anecdotes help interest your audience. Passion in your voice helps to get people to feel with you.

Inappropriate emotion: als je mensen boos wil maken moet je niet verdrietig doen

Alleen op de emotie gaan wordt vaak niet geaccepteerd, er moet iets van logica in zitten

Not reading the room = als je heel boos doet maar mensen worden niet boos met je dan vinden ze dat vaak niet overtuigend

Modes of Persuasion: Ethos

• The appeal to believability
• Odd one out: belongs to the audience
  
• You can try to convince them, but in the end ethos is something you get, not make

Still, you can contribute:

• Goal: to convince the audience that you know what you're talking about and are trustowrthy
  
• Use: the other modes to sound convincing, personal details or experiences that give you credit, goodwill you gained before
• Avoid: appealing to authority as a reason you're right (I'm a teacher so I'm right), losing goodwill

• Example:
  I studied at university for five (?) years and have a master's degree in education, so I have a lot of experience with note taking and I have learned about the science behind it

• Example of losing Ethos:
  When it was revealed Rutte had lied about discussing Omtzigt's position in the Second Chamber, the Second Chamber started a motion of distrust

• very important, especially in politics, not taught much

Video 1: Donald Trump

• Video takes about 6 minutes
• Fairly politically neutral
• Made before Trump became president, even before he became the Republican candidate in 2016

Assignment:

• Take notes during the video
• After the video is done, answer the questions in LessonUp

Why does the creator of this video want to examine Trump's speech?

1. Because he thinks Trump is a bad politician
2. Because Trump speaks differently from most politicians
3. Because he wants Trump to win the presidency

What part of Trump's background makes him good at getting people to agree with him?

1. He golfs a lot and talks to people on the green
2. He's a lifelong politician
3. He has always been a salesman

What's the main point the creator makes about Trump's speech?

1. Trump uses very simple sentences
2. Trump uses a lot of independent clauses
3. Trump uses a lot of long sentences

What's the most important technique Trump uses?

1. He starts with the important stuff
2. He ends his sentences with his main point and related buzz words
3. He uses alliteration - words that start with the same letter

The creator gives Trump some credit: what does he say Trump is good at?

1. He's well-spoken
2. He times his attitude well and has good comedic timing
3. He has a great fashion sense

What is the point the creator made at the end of the video?

1. Trump is not smart
2. Trump is a breath of fresh air and will make America great again
3. Trump sounds more relatable than other politicians

Which mode of persuasion does Trump use primarily?

Logos (reason)

Pathos (Emotion)

Ethos (Believability)

Video 2: Bernie Sanders

• Video takes about 8 minutes
• Same creator, slightly less apolitical
• Made in February 2020, before the Democrats chose Biden as their candidate

Assignment:

• Take notes during the video
• After the video is done, answer the questions in LessonUp

What does the creator say about Trump's win in 2016?

1. It was just because of his way of talking
2. His skill as a communicator was important but not the only reason
3. The way he talked was irrelevant

What reason does the creator mention that both Sanders and Trump poll well in the US?

1. They have similar views
2. They both communicate well
3. They have very different views

What does the creator say about Sanders's word choice compared to Trump?

1. They use similarly complex words
2. Sanders uses more complex words
3. Trump uses more complex words

What does the creator say about rhythm?

1. Trump uses complex words to create rhythm
2. Trump and Sanders use similar techniques
3. Sanders gives all his syllables space to create rhythm

What technique does Sanders use to make his speech better?

1. Alliteration: using words that start with the same letter
2. Epistrophe: the repetition of the same word at the end of successive phrases
3. Irony: saying something you don't really mean to make a joke to get people to like you

What point does the creator make about Sanders's career?

1. Sanders has been explaining his view for decades
2. Sanders has been changing his mind constantly
3. Sanders used to be a salesman, just like Trump

What does the creator say about the way Bernie modulates?

1. He sounds angry all the time
2. He doesn't show any emotion
3. He emphasises his message throughout a long answer

Which mode of persuasion do you think Sanders uses most?

Pathos (emotion)

Logos (reason)

Ethos (believability)