Persuasion on the picket line

Strikes have come to Warwick, and they will follow the same formula they have for over a century. Since strike action became legal, writing has been crucial to their success, be it via persuasion, inspiration or demands. However, language has been at the centre of human communication throughout our entire existence, and we have always used it, both in written and spoken forms, to elicit reactions in our environment.

Certainly, the current times are marked by fragmented politics and seemingly constant conflict between ideas, governments and people, but that is something which is by no means unique to now. For as long as we have had discord in society, writers have taken the front line to address everything from social issues to scientific advancement, giving a voice to ideologies such as feminism, pacifism and equal rights. In all that time, words have proven they might just be enough to change the world.

Language has been at the centre of human communication throughout our entire existence

At its core, persuasive writing has been implemented by people since the earliest civilisations. Now, it is commonly used by editorials, advertisements, critics and politicians to influence readers into supporting a cause. Principally, it has its roots in three modes of persuasion, or ethical strategies. These are ethos, pathos and logos, which appeal to authority, emotion and the logical mind, respectively. Ideally, a piece of writing would be authored by an individual who is qualified to speak on the subject, would appeal to reader’s emotions through metaphors, impassioned language or intimidation, and finally, would contain claims that are factually supported. There is a fourth strategy which is less used: Kairos. This is reserved for texts calling an individual to action, and as such is the method of emphasising the here and now, encouraging readers to act to their advantage in the present situation. Certainly, kairos has been one of the key aspects of writing in the face of adversity, and is used to summon the masses to one’s own cause.

Such successful writings often feature similar techniques embodying the strategies. Facts and statistics, principally, are known to be paramount in convincing readers of a writer’s credibility. Interestingly however, readers are known to be more persuaded by writing that at least acknowledges the other side of the argument. Reasonability is a valued virtue in other humans, and observing it in another’s writing will cause the reader to deem the author as more rational and intelligent. Especially in today’s political climate, where fact-checking is necessary and fake news spreads easily on the internet, coming across as a fair debater is a useful tool that sets oneself apart in a sea of biased individuals.

Since protests have existed, the written word has held within it the ability to empower and inspire the people

However, speeches, debates and essays are not the only way to make oneself heard. People have been motivated by writing that is far more commonplace. Pamphlets and leaflets were handed out on the streets during many of the original equal rights movements. Today, the front page image of a protester holding a sign has become ordinary, yet still powerful. The image of another person, with their demands and thoughts scrawled on a piece of cardboard, elicits emotions in those who sympathise and oppose their cause by embracing pathos. The words sympathy, pathetic and empathy are all derived from pathos, and it is arguably the most useful strategy of all. It adds fuel to the fire, and the larger the flames, the more attention an argument receives. Emotion, in any form, is intrinsic to being human, and it is through manipulating emotion, and provoking it, that we can truly begin to shape the world. It is how people come to march and policies begin to change.

So far, 2018 looks to be the year for speaking out, but let’s not forget that people have been speaking out for a long, long time. For all the years that protest has existed, the written word has held within it the ability to empower and inspire the people. So, in an age where the world’s governments seem to continually provoke their own people, it is important to remember we have been here before, and we have been armed with the best weapon possible since the start. It is time to talk. It is time to write. Judging from history, it always has been and always will be.