Rhetorical Devices

Rhetoric

the art of eloquence and persuasion

3 modes of persuasion

ethos, logos, and pathos

ethos

appeal based on the character of the speaker. In order to be believed, the speaker seeks to gain the reader’s trust by establishing him/herself as an expert through knowledge, experience, or reputation.

logos

appeal based on logical argument that relies on: 1. demonstrable evidence or reason, and 2. rational explanation.

pathos

appeal based on emotion. The speaker appeals to the reader’s emotions, values, goals, interests, or beliefs.

Rhetorical question

a question asked for an effect, not actually requiring an answer. “Do you want me to give you something to cry about?” ~Mom.

restatement

restating an idea using different words. “But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land.” ~Martin Luther King, Jr. from “I Have a Dream”

understatement

deliberately describing something as less than it really is for an ironic effect. Black Knight:“It’s just a flesh wound. ‘Tis but a scratch!” King Arthur: “A Scratch? Your arm’s off!...” ~ Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Hyperbole (overstatement)

ironic use of exaggeration to emphasize a point. “An hundred years should go to praise Thine eyes and on thy forehead gaze; Two hundred to adore each breast; But thirty thousand to the rest...” ~ Andrew Marvell, from “To His Coy Mistress”

parallelism

Repeating words or phrases with similar grammatical structures. "It is by logic we prove, but by intuition we discover.“ ~ Leonardo da Vinci

simile

the comparison of two dissimilar objects/ideas using “like” or “as”. “I will fall like an ocean on that court!” ~ John Proctor in The Crucible the comparison of two dissimilar objects/ideas using “like” or “as”. “I will fall like an ocean on that court!” ~ John Proctor in The Crucible

metaphor

the comparison of two dissimilar objects/ideas without using “like” or “as” “But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land.” ~Martin Luther King, Jr. from “I Have a Dream” the comparison of two dissimilar objects/ideas without using “like” or “as” “But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land.” ~Martin Luther King, Jr. from “I Have a Dream”

repetition

Repetition of the exact same words or phrases for effect. “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

cadence

the natural rise and fall of the voice.

diction

a writer’s or speaker’s specific choice of words tallvsgangly persistentvs.stubborn fat catvs.rich man

connotation

all the meanings, associations, or emotions that a word suggests frugalvs.cheap terroristvs.freedom fighter

imagery

language that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell). “there came to my ears a low, dull, quick sound, such as a watch makes when enveloped in cotton. I knew that sound well, too. It was the beating of the old man’s heart. It increased my fury, as the beating of a drum stimulates the soldier into courage.” ~ from “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allen Poe language that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell). “there came to my ears a low, dull, quick sound, such as a watch makes when enveloped in cotton. I knew that sound well, too. It was the beating of the old man’s heart. It increased my fury, as the beating of a drum stimulates the soldier into courage.” ~ from “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allen Poe

allusion

a brief and often indirect reference to a person, event, or place (real or fictitious), or to a work of art or literature. “One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. ” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

antithesis

a contrasting of opposing ideas in adjacent phrases, clauses, or sentences. "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today!" ~Martin Luther King, Jr., “I Have a Dream”

deductive reasoning

Reasoning from the whole to the part. (general to specific. Ex: Since I know all fire is hot, when I encounter fire I don’t touch it because I know that particular fire will be hot too.

inductive reasoning

Reasoning from the part to the wholes to parts (specific to general). Ex: Oooooooh…this ice is cold! I guess all ice must be cold then. Reasoning from the part to the wholes to parts (specific to general). Ex: Oooooooh…this ice is cold! I guess all ice must be cold then.

logical fallacy

An incorrect or problematic argument that is not based on sound reasoning.

non sequitur

A type of logical fallacy in which an inference is made that does not follow from its premise. Ex: If I buy this car, everyone will like me.

hasty generalization

A type of logical fallacy in which a conclusion is drawn from limited or insufficient evidence and is often the result of bias, whether intentional or not. Ex: The first green vegetable you try is broccoli. You don’t like the way it tastes. Broccoli is green. Therefore, you don’t like all green vegetables.