Presentation Results: Persuasive Techniques

Rhetorical question

A rhetorical question can be a good way of opening a presentation or a sub-section of a presentation.  They have far more impact than a bland statement and will hopefully get your audience thinking.

‘Why should you use xxxx?’ 
has far more impact than:
‘Using xxxxx can help’

By posing a rhetorical question your audience have to start thinking about the answer. Leave a pause after you have asked the question to let it sink in, before starting to give the answer. Giving a talk on Tax Planning, may not sound like the most exciting of topics, but starting with a question like:

‘How much money did you give to the taxman last year?   Would you like to give him less this year?’

Other Persuasive Thecniques

Rhetorical Question

A question that is asked which makes the reader think.
e.g. How would you feel if you had 2 hours of homework every night?

Repetition

Words or phrases are repeated so that they stick in the reader’s mind.
e.g. Remember what it was like to be at school, remember how much work you had.

Emotive Language

When words are used to make the reader feel a certain emotion, like sadness or anger.
e.g. We are the poor, helpless children who are forced to do hours and hours of homework every night.

Exaggeration

When information is given that is over the top, or slightly untrue.
e.g. If I get set on one more homework I am going to move to the moon!

Facts and Statistics

When truthful information is given to back up a point.
e.g. 95% of pupils feel that there is too much homework.

Groups of Three

When 3 adjectives or phrases are used to emphasise a point.
e.g. Homework is boring, dull and uninteresting.