Appeals to nostalgia

Nostalgia is a sentimental longing for the past, an affection for days long ago.

In persuasive writing, nostalgia is often used to evoke memories of childhood or simpler times. These feelings of warmth, security and familiarity can be used by writers to build support for a particular point of view. When you are reading persuasive texts, it’s easy to identify appeals to nostalgia because writers often describe the past in a favorable and optimistic light, leveraging these memories of warmth and security to compel readers to return to simpler times.

Appeals to nostalgia in action

Activity: Read the following opinion piece, identify persuasive techniques, including an appeal to nostalgia, and explain the effect they may have on the intended audience.

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