Rhetorical Devices Do you know them?
Familiar Rhetorical questions Ethos Pathos Logos Juxtaposition Repetition Connotative language
Also Familiar Metaphor Simile Symbolism Anecdote
The Art of Persuasion Bandwagon Plain Folks Glittering Generalities Transfer Testimonial Logical Fallacy Name-calling – ad hominem Fear
… more .. Assertion False dilemma Simplification Card stacking
Parallelism
Parallelism Stylistic device that exploits syntax Creation of grammatically parallel sentences helps reader/listener understand points better because they are “smooth” and repetitious in form What dangers could arise from parallelism?
Hypophora
Hypophora Speaker/author begins by asking a question and then answers the question How does this differ from a rhetorical question?
Antithesis
Antithesis Stating what one does not believe in to clarify beliefs. “There are no red states or blue states, there are only the United States of America.” (Obama)
Tricolon and Polysyndeton
Tricolon and Polysyndeton Tricolon – a list of three or a sentence with three parts/clauses “cats, dogs and chickens” Can be used to build an image Can be used to unite three pieces of evidence Dangers? Polysyndeton – the interjection of “and” between items/parts of a list “cats and dogs and chickens” Stresses importance of every word individually (rather than as a grouping)
Allusion
Allusion Using phrases that “echo” another speech or famous passage Creates an association between speaker/author/platform and … Something historically valued An ideology shared with the intended audience
Parody Take a well-known advertisement, text, or genre and mock someone or something by imitating them or the original. Draws attention to a cultural value Easy comparison between the original and the parody
Pastiche Take a well-known advertisement, text, or genre and mock someone or something by imitating them or the original. Less obvious imitation than parody, could be passed off as a genuine example Draws attention to a cultural value
Narrative and Counter-Narrative
Media – The Fourth Estate Traditional division of power: Religious groups (first estate) Nobility (second estate) The rest of the population (third estate) Media/The Press – is it the fourth estate? The media is supposed to reflect the state of a nation… but what happens when the media becomes a separate entity, ceasing to reflect and starting to determine public opinion?