Please purchase Better Essays and Persuasive Techniques in order to access the Free Online Study Exercise Program: Buy Now: $24.95 (including postage).
Exercise 22: Too Young to Sail, p. 58
Mr Henry Smart uses Abby Sunderland’s experiences as a case study to prove that teenagers lack the emotional maturity to sail solo around the world.
- Appeal to emotions: The author elicits sympathy for those whose lives are placed at risk. For example, Ms Sunderland nearly drowned in the “high seas” off Perth. She was not well enough equipped to cope with the “rough situation”. He also comments that her experience endangered the lives of her rescue party.
- Appeal to common sense: Because of her age, Mr Smart believes that Abby was not mature enough to cope with the challenges of life at sea. Mr Jon Sayer supports his view. He believes that the boat was adequate, but she did not have the skills or the intelligence to cope with the hazardous conditions at sea. The author seeks to make readers understand that they are courting danger because of their age. This also seeks to frustrate members of the public.
- Appeal to hip-pocket nerve: Mr Smart draws attention to the fact that taxpayers had to pay for her rescue mission. It cost around $300,000. He seeks to make people angry at the fact that she is now making money by trying to sell her story. This makes us frustrated at the waste of money.
- Appeal to duty of care/ morals: Mr Smart implies that her parents were negligent and irresponsible by letting their daughter sail around the world. He refers to the fact that many people see it as “child abuse”. The author also criticises the motives of the young sailors and suggests that they, too, lack duty of care and are wilfully endangering the lives of others. This seeks to shame the parents.
- Appeal to expert opinion: Mr Smart refers to Mr Bullimore who had a similar first-hand experience while he was sailing around the world. He is a credible expert because he understands the dangers at sea. His boat capsized and he was trapped for five days. He states that Ms Sunderland’s journey is encouraging “copy-cat crimes”. Such people do not necessarily enjoy sailing but chase fame. He reinforces Mr Jon Sayer’s opinion that she lacked the maturity to cope with the dangers. The purpose of his opinion is to warn young sailors and encourage members of the public to realise that there are many risks associated with sailing.
Attacking tactics: Mr Smart attacks Abby Sunderland’s motives and maturity. He suggests that she is not sailing because of her passion but because she is pursuing fame and fortune. He states sceptically, “she cashes in”. He thereby expects readers to distrust her motives. In addition, Abby endangered the lives of the rescue parties. “What about the lives of the sailors…” Mr Smart instils in Abby and in similar teenagers a sense of guilt for the fact that they did not recognise the consequences for others. Also, they will “encourage copy cat” sailors and teenagers will get younger.
The author also uses negative words to suggest it is “selfish soul-searching”. (Note the alliteration!) He depicts her as someone who is selfish and greedy for fame and money.
List of persuasive techniques : Too young to sail (Exercise 22)
- Real life example of Abby Sunderland to prove that that she is too young for such a dangerous sailing adventure
- Use of emotive terms: “she nearly drowned in the high seas”
- Appeal to common sense and depictions of teenagers: they lack the maturity to cope with life-and-death decisions at sea (also presented as selfish); such trips lead to “copy-cat” adventurers who seek attention; Abby typically searches fame and wealth and uses her story for her own personal ends (“selfish soul searching” – an alliterative and emotive phrase: designed to provoke anger)
- Expert opinion and advice from Jon Sayer (Wild Eyes): it is not the boat; Tony Bullimore’s experience and advice shows that adults have just as much difficulty
- Rhetorical question: “what about the lives of …)
- Attack on typical youthful expeditions: such adventures are wilfully endangering the lives of others, particularly that of their rescuers; the trip jeopardises the safety of others.
- Appeal to duty of care: the teenager and parents lack a sense of responsibility, especially to those who would need to rescue her in the case of danger.
Continue your Better Essays Learning Journey
- See Chapter 3: Persuasive Strategies
- Return to the Better Essays Home Page