THE SIX TECHNIQUES
This technique means talking directly to the reader using 'you' or 'your.'
Direct address.
This is the reason a text exists — to persuade, inform, entertain, warn, sell, inspire, or reassure.
Purpose.
In the phone notice, the word STRICTLY is written in capitals. What effect does this create?
Emphasis and alarm — it makes the rule feel serious and non-negotiable.
This visual ad term describes how elements are arranged on the page — where the eye goes first.
Composition.
Response A: 'The ad uses a question at the start.' Response B: 'The ad uses a rhetorical question to make the reader feel personally challenged.' Which response is an analysis?
Response B. It names the technique and explains its effect. Response A only describes what is there.
This technique involves deliberately repeating a word, phrase, or sentence structure for emphasis or rhythm.
Repetition.
A text about vegetables uses the words 'superpowers' and 'power-up.' What age group is it written for?
Young children.
In the FloSports ad: 'Are you tired of feeling left behind?' — what technique is this and what does it do to the reader?
Rhetorical question. It makes the reader mentally answer 'yes,' positioning them as someone with a problem FloSports can solve.
According to our lessons, red is known to trigger two specific responses in viewers. Name them both.
Appetite and urgency.
A student writes: 'The writer uses emotive language in going to sleep hungry.' Is this a complete analysis? What is missing?
No — it is missing the explanation of effect. A complete analysis must explain what the emotive language does to the reader.
Words deliberately chosen to trigger an emotional response — fear, guilt, joy, anger, or sympathy.
Emotive language.
'Your teen is not lazy. They are sleep-deprived.' Who is the primary intended audience?
Parents of teenagers.
In the pro-homework article: 'Stress is not the enemy of learning — it is the engine of it.' What technique is used here?
Antithesis. By placing two opposing ideas side by side, the writer turns a criticism of homework into an argument in its favour.
A short memorable phrase tied to a brand — like 'I'm Lovin' It' — is called this.
A slogan.
The four-step analysis scaffold is: Identify → Quote or Describe → Explain Effect → ___?
Evidence. Supporting the explanation with a fact, research, or expert reference.
'Slim' and 'skinny' mean the same thing but feel very different. This is the technique at work.
Word choice / connotation.
One dog text uses words like 'veterinary care,' 'behavioural training,' and 'financial implications.' What does this formal vocabulary tell us about the intended audience?
Adults considering owning a pet. The technical vocabulary assumes an educated reader making a practical decision.
In the anti-homework article, Professor Hattie's finding is written as: 'Near. Zero.' — two separate sentence fragments. Why?
For emphasis and dramatic impact. Making each word a standalone sentence forces the reader to pause at each one, making the statistic land harder than 'near-zero' would.
In the Nike 'Find Your Greatness' ad, the boy is photographed from behind and from above. Why is this composition choice deliberate?
So the viewer can project themselves into the image. From behind, we step into his position — the ad becomes about us, not a specific athlete.
A student writes: 'This makes the reader feel sad.' Why is this a weak explanation of effect — and how could they improve it?
It is too vague. A stronger version names the specific emotion and its purpose — for example: 'This creates a sense of guilt that compels the reader to feel personally responsible and take action.'
In 'We will fight for fair wages. We will fight for safe conditions. We will fight for every worker.' — this specific type of repetition, where the same words repeat at the start of consecutive sentences, has a special name.
Repetition or Anaphora.
Dietary Recommendations for Adults: Increasing Vegetable Intake
Current national health guidelines recommend adults consume a minimum of five servings of vegetables daily. Research consistently links adequate vegetable consumption with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and several cancers.
Adults should focus on dietary diversity, prioritising leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables, and legumes.
If you rewrote the adult vegetable health text for young children, name TWO specific things you would change and explain why.
Any two of: consider audience; word choice: remove technical terms like cruciferous or cardiovascular; use less complex / shorter sentences; add relatable examples like sport or pizza; use exclamation marks; swap the formal register for a playful enthusiastic informal tone.
In the pro-homework article: 'Abolishing homework does not free children. It short-changes them.' What does the word 'short-changes' imply about people who support abolishing homework?
That they are cheating or depriving children. 'Short-changes' implies unfairness and being given less than you deserve — it frames the anti-homework position as one that harms rather than helps children.
McDonald's slogan 'I'm Lovin' It' deliberately misspells the word 'loving.' Name the technique and explain exactly why the brand made this choice.
Word choice. The deliberate misspelling creates an informal, casual voice — as if the brand is speaking like a friend. This builds emotional connection and makes McDonald's feel approachable rather than corporate.
Take this description and turn it into a full four-step analysis: 'The writer repeats We ask for three times in the anti-homework article.'
The writer uses repetition by repeating 'We ask for' at the start of three consecutive sentences. This builds a rhythm of accumulating demands that feels relentless, making the reader feel the expectations placed on children are unreasonable. According to research into persuasive writing techniques, repetition is one of the most effective tools for building emotional momentum in a reader.