Rhetorical Devices
Strategies to Influence and Persuade People
Lesson Frame
 We
will learn what rhetorical devices
make a claim/proposition effective.
 At
the end of class (exit ticket):
I will explain how I will use a rhetorical
device to persuade my parents to let me
go to a movie they wouldn’t normally let
me watch.
Essential Question
How
does a writer
effectively
persuade a reader?
You actually have heard of them
 Rhetorical
devices may sound like a new
concept, but it’s been with us all of our
lives. You may be familiar with some of
these figures of speech: similes,
metaphors, allusions, alliteration, etc.
They are used in both poetry and prose to
make ideas not only memorable, but lead
to an overall theme.
Universally Important
 These
devices aren’t just important in
fiction and poetry; other writers use them
to make their messages stand out. For
centuries speakers and writers have known
that rhetorical devices affect listeners and
readers in powerful ways.
Non-Fiction Focus
 The
main purpose of a rhetorical device in
a non-fiction piece is to persuade.
Just the basics
 In
addition to the rhetorical devices named
above, the following devices are common
across many persuasive works:
Repetition
Anaphora
Parallelism
Analogy
Allusion
Repetition
 Repetition-
uses the same word or phrases
more than once for emphasis. In a longer
piece like a poem, entire stanzas may
repeat for emphasis.
 …a
government of the people, for the
people, by the people... –from “The
Gettysburg Address” by Abraham Lincoln
Repetition in Media
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wvYhkdBhjo
Anaphora
 Anaphora-
The repetition of the same
word or group of words at the beginning of
successive clauses.
 Let
there be justice for all. Let there be
peace for all. Let there be work, bread,
water and salt for all. –from “Glory and
Hope” by Nelson Mandela
Anaphora in Media
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Is3icfcbmbs
Parallelism


Parallelism- uses similar grammatical constructions
to express ideas that are related or equal in
importance. Often creates a rhythm. In other words,
the use of a series of words, phrases, or sentences
that have similar grammatical form/syntax.
We cannot, we must not, refuse to protect the right
of every American to vote in every election. . . . And
we ought not, and we cannot, and must not wait
another eight months before we get a bill. –from “We
Shall Overcome” by Lyndon Baines Johnson
Parallelism in Media
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enrqdbvxaeM
Analogy
 Analogy-
makes a comparison of likeness
between two otherwise dissimilar
things/subjects; a familiar object or idea is
used to explain a more abstract concept.
 Have you heard the canned, frozen and
processed product being dished up to the
world as American popular music today? –
from a commencement address by Billy Joel
Analogy in Media
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ub_a2t0ZfTs
Allusion
 Allusion-
brief, often direct reference to a
person, place, event, work of art,
literature, or music which the author
assumes the reader will recognize.
 Maycomb
County had been recently told it
had nothing to fear but fear itself.-from
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee in
reference to FDRs first inaugural address.
Allusion in Media
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYecfV3ubP8
Lesson Frame Revisited
 We
will learn what rhetorical devices
make a claim/proposition effective.
 At
the end of class (exit ticket):
I will explain how I will use a rhetorical
device to persuade my parents to let me
go to movie they wouldn’t normally let
me watch.
I will explain how I will use a rhetorical
device to persuade my parents to let me go
to a movie they wouldn’t normally let me
watch.
 Which
 What
 How
rhetorical device will you use?
will you actually say?
will that help you convince your
parents?