If you’re preparing for VCE English Section C: Argument and Language Analysis, one skill matters above all: recognising persuasive techniques. Every article, editorial or speech you’ll face in the exam uses specific strategies to influence an audience. The more fluent you are in spotting these, the faster and more precise your analysis will be.
Here’s a guide to 25 essential persuasive techniques, with clear explanations and examples, to get you exam-ready.
Why Learn Persuasive Techniques?
In the exam, you’ll need to show more than just “this makes readers feel.” Strong responses explain:
- Which technique is being used
- How it works (through language or structure)
- What effect it has on the intended audience
Knowing the names and effects of common techniques makes this process smoother — and helps you avoid vague, low-scoring analysis.
The 25 Essential Persuasive Techniques
1. Emotive Language
Words that spark emotion.
Example: “Innocent children are left to suffer.”
Effect: Appeals to compassion and guilt.
2. Rhetorical Question
Questions with obvious answers.
Example: “Do we really want to gamble with our children’s health?”
Effect: Positions readers to feel the answer is self-evident.
3. Inclusive Language
Using “we,” “us,” “our.”
Effect: Builds unity and collective responsibility.
4. Exclusive Language
Creating an “us vs. them.”
Example: “Those politicians don’t care about ordinary Australians.”
Effect: Alienates opponents and rallies the audience.
5. Statistics and Evidence
Numbers or factual proof.
Example: “78% of households waste food each week.”
Effect: Makes the issue seem undeniable and urgent.
6. Expert Opinion
Quoting professionals or authorities.
Example: “According to Dr Smith, climate change is accelerating.”
Effect: Builds credibility and trust.
7. Appeal to Hip-Pocket Nerve
Highlighting costs.
Example: “Every extra toll is money taken from your family’s budget.”
Effect: Triggers concern about financial impact.
8. Appeal to Fear or Safety
Emphasising danger.
Example: “Would you feel safe driving on crumbling roads?”
Effect: Creates anxiety that pushes readers towards agreement.
9. Appeal to Justice or Fairness
Arguing from equity.
Example: “It’s unfair that CEOs earn millions while workers struggle.”
Effect: Provokes indignation and demands reform.
10. Appeal to Tradition
Referencing history or customs.
Example: “For generations, families have gathered here.”
Effect: Creates nostalgia, makes change feel like betrayal.
11. Appeal to Progress or Modernity
Arguing for innovation.
Example: “In the 21st century, why are we still using coal?”
Effect: Paints opponents as outdated.
12. Appeal to Patriotism
Linking values to national pride.
Example: “True Australians support their farmers.”
Effect: Pressures readers to conform.
13. Appeal to Children’s Welfare
Protecting kids.
Example: “What kind of future are we leaving our kids?”
Effect: Sparks guilt and protective instincts.
14. Appeal to Common Sense
Framing the issue as obvious.
Example: “Anyone can see exercise is good for health.”
Effect: Makes disagreement look foolish.
15. Appeal to Compassion
Calling on readers’ empathy.
Example: “Thousands go hungry while food is wasted.”
Effect: Creates moral urgency.
16. Imagery
Evocative descriptions.
Example: “Rivers choked with plastic bottles.”
Effect: Creates a vivid mental picture.
17. Hyperbole / Exaggeration
Overstating for emphasis.
Example: “This is the worst crisis our city has ever faced.”
Effect: Makes the issue feel urgent and dramatic.
18. Repetition
Restating key words or phrases.
Example: “We need change — change for our planet, change for our children.”
Effect: Reinforces memory and urgency.
19. Anecdote
Personal story.
Example: “As a nurse, I’ve seen elderly patients wait hours.”
Effect: Humanises an abstract issue.
20. Colloquial Language
Everyday expressions.
Example: “Let’s face it, this plan is a mess.”
Effect: Makes the writer seem relatable.
21. Sarcasm / Irony
Mocking for effect.
Example: “Oh sure, because another shopping centre is exactly what we need.”
Effect: Ridicules opponents, entertains readers.
22. Connotations / Loaded Words
Words with positive or negative associations.
Example: “Greedy corporations” vs. “caring communities.”
Effect: Shapes readers’ emotional reactions subtly.
23. Alliteration
Repetition of sounds.
Example: “Denying, delaying, destroying our future.”
Effect: Creates rhythm, makes the message memorable.
24. Analogy or Simile
Comparisons to clarify.
Example: “This plan is like putting a band-aid on a broken leg.”
Effect: Simplifies complex issues.
25. Cause and Effect Reasoning
Logical link between actions and outcomes.
Example: “If we reduce class sizes, student results will improve.”
Effect: Positions the argument as rational and inevitable.
How to Use This List in the Exam
Don’t just memorise the names. In your essay, follow this technique → how it works → audience effect → link to contention chain.
For example:
The author uses statistics, claiming “78% of households waste food.” By quantifying the issue, the argument seems undeniable. Readers are positioned to feel alarmed at the scale of the problem, which reinforces the call for urgent reform.
Final Tip
You don’t need to identify every technique in the article. Focus on the most significant strategies and explain them in depth. Examiners prefer three well-analysed examples to ten superficial ones.
Want to Go Further?
It's all well and good to identify techniques but elevating your responses takes more. If you’d like to practise these techniques with exam-style texts, visuals, model responses and detailed vocab banks, check out the Writing Masterclass - Argument and Language Analysis study pack from Inkwell Education. It’s written by an experienced VCE English teacher to help you write fluent, exam-ready essays.
👉 Explore the more resources and online tutoring opportunities at www.inkwelleducation.com