Borderline Persuasion Analysis

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As expressed in the previous chapter, there is no clear and concise definition as to what exactly is and is not persuasion. Therefore, persuasion has several names and meanings making it difficult to define this complex topic. In this chapter, the author examines some of the reasons as to why defining this phenomenon is such a hassle. To do this, the author first describes two important factors that clarify the source of differences among definitions of persuasion, which are the ideas of pure versus borderline persuasion. Following these characteristics, the author presents five other controversial factors that also contribute to the differences among definitions of persuasion. When a person focuses on pure persuasion when defining the overall term, much of their definition will focus on what the book describes as “clear cut cases of persuasion”. These are types of persuasion that most people would agree upon. The textbook uses the examples of commercials and presidential debates as illustrations of pure persuasion. In addition to the fact that most people would agree that these examples are undoubtedly acts of persuasion, these examples were also used because each instance contains central concepts or actions that most people would normally associate with persuasion. …show more content…

The disagreement may come about because these types of persuasion are less clear and sometimes “iffy” cases. The text exemplifies borderline persuasion using the idea of a derelict, or abandoned object, and its effects or ability to “persuade” pedestrians to keep their distance. Some people may not agree that the object persuaded the pedestrians but others may; therefore, making this instances a prime example of the idea of borderline

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