Question

Read the scenario about a formal discussion.

A mayoral candidate is having an open discussion with voters about a proposed plan to fund welfare programs by raising property taxes. The candidate strongly supports the plan and speaks forcefully about it. She focuses on the importance of a social safety net by asking voters to imagine needing the services themselves. She avoids the topic of the state’s budget concerns and asking voters to hold their questions and concerns until the very end.

Which statement best describes what kind of a speaker the political candidate is?

The candidate is an effective speaker because she shares others’ opinions and viewpoints and appeals to voters’ emotions.
The candidate is an effective speaker because she takes a strong position on the issue.
The candidate is an ineffective speaker because she does not address her personal opinion on the state’s budget concerns.
The candidate is an ineffective speaker because she does not support her opinions with facts.

Answer 1

The first statement. She’s using an emotional appeal—asking listeners to imagine needing the services and aligning with voters’ viewpoints—which is a rhetorically effective technique.