How To Lose Your Argument & Infuriate People

As its name suggests, Persuasive Writing involves producing a written work designed to convince the reader to think or feel a certain way. There are various techniques in this style, which I have had the joy of explaining to students I tutor, and among them are:

* Emotive language
* Alliteration
* Anecdotes
* Adjectives
* Adverbs

The list of techniques is a bit more extensive, but I just wanted to provide a few examples.

However, if you want to persuade your reader that your argument is a complete flop with the depth of a teaspoon, use stupid terminology. Nobody told Brad Emery this in his defence of Prime Minister Morrison, of late hashtagged as Scotty From Marketing. Emery purports to be a freelance writer, and is the Director of Communications with the NSW Minerals Council. He is also a former advisor to the Coalition. Hey, Brad, I don't care if you want to stick up for Morrison; it's your right, and I don't believe in censorship. However, even though I already didn't agree with your obsequious fawning, any admiration I MIGHT have had for your article (probably a moot point because there was NONE) went completely down the toilet with your use of what would have to be the laziest, most bog-standard, pointless, braindead, injudicious, laughable, and downright futile term ever: 'unAustralian'. You used that abomination of a word (and I have doubts as to its veracity in terms of lexicon) to describe the behaviour of people levelling abuse at the Prime Minister. 'It's been un-Australian', your article bleated.

That dog turd of a term is always bandied by people who are: (1) losing their argument; and (2) can't think of a way in which to strengthen their argument. Seriously, what does that numbnuts word even mean?

Brad, by using this term, you have adulterated, diluted, and lenified your argument to the point where it is about as effective as using a piece of confetti to staunch the flow from the arse of a diarrhetic elephant.  Think about your actions.

Anybody wishing to use this vacuous term in an argument: don't bother, because in resorting to same, you've lost your argument.