Joel Skelton

Abstract

This study investigated persuasive strategies used in ancient Egypt and ancient China. In an effort to attain a better understanding of the utilization of persuasive tools from these two ancient societies, this study was completed by examining Ptahhotep's Maxims from Egypt and Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching from China. A thematic analysis revealed the most common themes found in Ptahhotep's Maxims (e.g., humility) and Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching (e.g., comparison). A content analysis examined persuasive tactics within passages of both texts. It was found that Ptahhotep principally utilized negative expertise and loss-framed messages while Lao Tzu utilized positive expertise and gain-framed messages. An analysis of the results revealed no significant differences of persuasive tactics between both ancient texts.

Publication Date

11-15-2013

Document Type

Thesis

Student Type

Graduate

Degree Name

Communication and Media Technologies (MS)

Department, Program, or Center

Department of Communication (CLA)

Advisor

Patrick Scanlon

Advisor/Committee Member

Tracy Worrell

Advisor/Committee Member

Michael Laver

Comments

Physical copy available from RIT's Wallace Library at P93 .S54 2013

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

Plan Codes

COMMTCH-MS

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Included in

Rhetoric Commons

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