What are Rhetorical Devices?

What is rhetoric? And why bother studying it?

•  “the art of effective expression (speaking & writing) and the persuasive use of language”

•  We study rhetoric because: –  it helps us to better appreciate appeals to

our ethos, pathos, & logos (more on this to come)

–  it helps us to become more effective persuasive speakers and writers

Examples?

•  What are some of the techniques by which people use language persuasively?

Maybe you named some of these examples:

•  Formal diction leads readers/listeners to believe something is ethically or legally important

•  Emotional diction (sometimes called “sensationalism”) leads readers/listeners to recognize that ideas expressed are important to the writer/speaker

•  Allusion can associate a new idea to a traditionally respected source

Here is a real-life example of rhetoric in action…

•  If you were trying to persuade a student to get to class on time, you might say, “it is SSHS policy that students serve detention after three tardies”. What makes this statement effective?

•  The statement sounds formal and authoritative!

Ethos, Pathos, Logos

•  Greek philosopher Aristotle argued that there are three basic ways to persuade an audience that you are right.

Ethos •  Persuasive appeal of one’s

character. Tells us that the author is reliable and competent

•  Example: “I am a father, a taxpayer, and have served you as senator for 20 years. I deserve your vote to continue my service.

AK Senator Hollis French

Pathos

•  Appeal to emotion (of course, meant to evoke emotional response)

•  Example: “Imagine for a moment a tragic collision on the Stevenson Drive. A family is killed and many others are injured. The cause is determined to be pot holes. We must use more state funds to pay for road improvements.”

Logos

•  Appeal to reason (evokes a rational response)

•  Example: “Springfield’s roads are in a state of disrepair. Without quality roads, our transportation system will falter and hinder our economy. Hence, we must use more city funds to pay for road repairs.”

Rhetorical Strategies

•  The strategies that follow are just some of the ways to make your writing/speaking more persuasive…

Parallel Structure •  Parallel Structure-repetition of

grammatically similar words, phrases, clauses, or sentences to emphasize a point or stir the emotions of a reader/listener. Used to create a sense of rhythm, balance, and order in writing or speech. – Chiasmus=“inverted parallelism” (i.e. eat to

live, not live to eat)

Parallel Structure

The coach told the players: “You will get some sleep tonight, you will not eat too much right before the game, and you will do some warm-up exercises before the game.”

Rhetorical Question •  Rhetorical Question is question not

answered by writer because the answer is obvious or obviously desired. Used in persuasion to encourage the reader/listener to reflect on what the answer must be.

•  “How much longer must our people endure this injustice?”

Allusion •  Short, informal reference to famous

person, event, story. Relies on reader/listener to be familiar with the reference and hidden meaning. Used to stimulate ideas, associations, add extra information.

Allusion •  This is an allusion because it is a

reference to a Star Wars character on the poster.

»  This is an allusion because it is a reference to a well-known recruiting poster used during WWI.

Analogy •  Comparison between two things that

are alike in certain respects. Used in persuasion to demonstrate the logic of one idea by showing how it is similar to an accepted idea. –  (“Pupils are more like oysters than

sausages. The job of teaching is not to stuff them and then seal them up, but to help them reveal the riches within.”-Sydney Harris)

Alliteration •  Repetition of initial consonant sounds.

Used to call attention to a phrase and fixes it in the reader’s/listener’s mind.

•  (i.e. “Let us go forth to lead the land we love.”- John F. Kennedy Inaugural speech)

Humor

•  Humor can be used to make you like the writer/speaker and “win you over” – Hyperbole-exaggeration for emphasis/

effect (“at night she needs a paint scraper to take off her makeup”)

– Sarcasm (“Obama doesn’t have the experience of being Miss Wasilla!”)

–  Irony (verbal, situational, dramatic) (“it is ironic that the window store had all of its windows broken by vandals”)

– Understatement (From Monty Python: Army officer loses a leg, “Stings a bit.”)

Audience

•  When attempting to persuade, consider your audience.

•  For example, you would not use caustic satire to persuade a potential employer to hire you.

•  (“The food served here is great if you are a teenager with two dollars in your pocket.”)

Active Voice v. Passive Voice •  Active Voice- The boy hit the ball. The

subject of this sentence actively hits the ball.

•  Passive Voice- The ball was hit by the boy. The subject sits passively, doing nothing while some outside agent performs the action.

Here’s why it is better rhetoric to use active voice…

•  Active voice sentences are shorter. – The fighter punched Ali and dodged the

uppercut. (Active= 8 words) – Ali was punched by the fighter, and then an

uppercut was dodged by him. (Passive= 14 words)

Active sentences are clear and to the point

•  When you use passive voice, you have to use boring phrases like “by so-and-so” or leave this out and let your sentence become unclear. – The airplane was flown to Bermuda (by the

pilot). – My car has been driven to Dallas. (By

whom? A car thief? The teletubbies?)

To Identify the Evil Passive Voice

•  Is there a form of the verb “to be” such as is/am/are/was/were/be/being/been? (Can’t create passive voice without this)

•  Could you insert “by so-and-so” after the verb? (the dog was fed (by the owner)

•  ID the subject and main verb. Is the subject “doing” the action? Or is it sitting passively?

Use inside of box to ID rhetorical devices

•  Metaphor •  Symbolism •  Rhetorical Questions •  Emotionally “loaded words” (To

advertise a new movie…”the most awe-inspiring display of artistry ever presented on the big screen.”)