Persuasive discourse in EFL debate

Abstract

The aim of this article is to investigate the use of persuasive strategies in multinational university students' EFL debate, in which a group of multinational students had to act out the roles of proponents and opponents in debates carried out in an institutional setting. Their use of persuasive discourse was analyzed by using the principles based on Aristotelian rhetoric. According to the results, the students were able to use rhetorical devices, to express ethos, pathos and logos, in their argumentation. They were able to use logical reasoning, give examples and statistical information, and support their arguments with evidence. Their persuasive strategies consisted of restructuring, repetition, questions, appeals, and intonational, assertive use of voice. A comparison of crosscultural differences showed that the non-Finnish students used logical reasoning, restructuring, and appeals more frequently than the Finnish students in their L2 debating. © 2012 ACADEMY PUBLISHER Manufactured in Finland.