Exercise 3.2

Exercise 3.2
Advocate (n): one who pleads another’s cause or in support of something
Convince (v): to persuade by argument or evidence
Entice (v): to tempt with hope of reward or pleasure
Induce (v): to persuade. To bring on or about
Influence (n)(v): power to affect others. To have influence or effect on
Manipulate (v): to work to handle skillfully. To manage artfully or shrewdly, often in an unfair way
Persuade (v): to cause to do something, especially by reasoning, urging, etc; convince

I think that persuasion is a key part to being a public relations writer. Often when one is writing to either inform or persuade their audience, they are using tools of persuasion to express their idea or point of view. I think the ultimate goal of public relations is to have your audience walk away with a similar thought, idea, opinion or desire to what you have expressed in your writing.
Persuasion is a powerful tool in general and if one can master it, the possibilities are endless as to what one can achieve. People hold so many different opinions and attitudes and others are constantly trying to change them. With public relations, the art of persuasion can mean the difference between convincing your audience to trust your writing and to listen to what you’ve said. Since there are so many different forms of communication, media and writing in general, a public relations writer must be able to captivate the audience’s or consumer’s attention quickly. Persuasion is a great way to play off the emotions or desires of the audience and to get them to pay attention immediately. If the interest of the reader is lost within the first seconds or minutes, the message that one is conveying will not be heard or understood.