REFLECTION - PERSUASIVE PROPAGANDA

My group members and I have worked on theme 2 which is communication and

the topic is persuasive propaganda for the exhibition. The main content of persuasive
propaganda is persuasive speaking and persuasive writing.
First and foremost, persuasive speaking gives me the opportunities to explore
various situations where they might be called upon to give a persuasive speech. I am
also able to experience persuasive speeches from the point of view of the listener and
come to understand some techniques used by the speakers who are trying to convince
their audience. I also get the opportunity to examine some moral and ethical issues
related to persuasion techniques. On the other hand, persuasive writing makes me have
the opportunities to read and respond to the persuasive writing of others and decide
what it is that makes an effective piece of persuasive writing.
My main resource is an online article entitled Learning How to Use the Three
Main Rhetorical (the art of speaking or writing effectively.) Styles. Rhetoric or
persuasive writing and speaking involve three main forms: Ethos, Logos, and
Pathos (http://www.rpi.edu/dept/llc/webclass/web/project1/group4/). They are
defined as appeal of the character of the speaker (ethos), logic (logos) and
emotion (pathos) respectively. The writer mentioned that rhetorical appeals can be
achieved through visual information structure, colour and graphic images.
The new knowledge that Ive gained on the topic that I work on are numerous.
First and foremost, learning persuasive writing and speaking enable me to
recognize the importance of effective communication in various situations, that
communication is a multi-faceted process which involves problem solving and
decision making. Thus, persuasive writing and speaking are both constructive and
meaningful processes.
Other than that, in persuasive writing I get the insight on the behaviours of
effective writers who write confidently in a variety of formats for a variety of
purposes and audiences. In addition I also get the opportunity to practise the
behaviours of effective, strategic readers that enhance my own written
presentations with appropriate visual, audio, multimedia, and other aids.
Through persuasive speaking, on one hand, I am convinced to recognize that
speech is an important tool for thinking, learning and communication. On the other
hand I am able to practise the behaviours of effective speakers that speak clearly
and confidently in a variety of situations. Persuasive speaking also recognize
listening and reading as the active, constructive processes as well as writing and
speaking.
The topic of persuasive propaganda is very interesting as it allows me to explore
further the meaning of propaganda in Malaysia which always involves negative impact

to audience such as some techniques to influence opinions and to avoid the truth.
These techniques often rely on some element of censorship or manipulation either by
omitting significant information or distorting it. Therefore, I clearly understand now why
Bersih 2.0 (http://bersih.org/?page_id=352) was considered illegal and banned by the
government. The group actually uses propaganda and illegal demonstrations to oppose
the current government in Malaysia. Most of their quests have already been carried out
by the government all these 55 years of independence. However, this group tried to
create havoc and chaos to influence the public to go against the government. The
popular techniques used by this group are name-calling and band-wagon. Name-calling
is names or words used to create a specific feeling, positive or negative, about a person
or item without supporting evidence. Band-wagon is more concern on or depends on
peer pressure to give negative images if an individual is not doing what everyone else is
doing.
In a nutshell, all the four skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) involve
active and constructive processes. With the knowledge, I am able to enhance my
spoken and written presentations with appropriate visual, audio, multimedia, and
other aids. I found this assignment very informative as I learn many new
interesting terms and vocabularies such as ethos, logos, pathos, name-calling and
band-wagon. Persuasive propaganda is actually very important to promote
effective and efficient communication. However, we the communicators are the
one responsible in ensuring the intention of the communication to give either good
or bad impact to the audience.

REFERENCES

Learning How to Use the Three Main Rhetorical (the art of speaking or writing
effectively.) Styles. (2011). Retrieved September 29, 2011, from
http://www.rpi.edu/dept/llc/webclass/web/project1/group4/
http://www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/docs/comm20/index.html
http://www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/docs/comm20/mod8.html
http://www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/docs/comm20/mod6.html