increase in illegal dumping, which has an impact on our rivers and wildlife
2. One couple’s holiday experience saw them sleeping with vermin and cockroaches
Emotive
➜ The menace of illegal dumping devastates our
rivers and wildlife
➜ The couple’s horrifi c holiday saw them sleeping in a
rotten hotel, fi lled with dirty rats and cockroaches
If Ralph or Jack were to make a speech as the leader of the group, they would probably use persuasive language because they are led by their
emotions – they both want to be the ‘alpha male’. They would appeal to the boys’ fear, confusion and sense of shock at what has happened to them.
ARGUMENTATIVE LANGUAGE
Argumentative language appeals to logic and reasoning. Argumentative writing uses facts, statistics and emphatic language (language that is forceful and clear).
Example of a fact (a statement known to be true): ‘Flamingos are pink in colour because of their diet; they eat shrimp, algae and crustaceans.’
Example of a statistic (a fi gure used to prove a point): ‘Seventeen per cent of the rainforest has been destroyed over the last fi fty years.’
Example of emphatic language (forceful and clear language): ‘Today, you are going to stop and think about how much junk food you eat.’
If Piggy were to make a speech as the leader of the group, he would probably use argumentative language because his main priority is the group’s survival and not his own leadership. He would use facts and appeal to the boys to use their logic.
Both persuasive and argumentative language are useful when writing a speech, but it depends on what the topic is. Identify whether you should try to persuade your audience with emotions or whether you should argue your point of view using facts and statistics.
