Rhetorical Devices and Structure

Communicating an idea to an audience

SPEAKER

Informative

Informative

Demonstrative

Informative

Demonstrative

Persuasive

Informative

Demonstrative

Persuasive

Entertaining

Rhetoric—the art of effective persuasive speaking

Rhetoric—the art of effective persuasive speaking

Rhetorical Triangle

Rhetoric—the art of effective persuasive speaking

Rhetorical Triangle

SPEAKER

MESSAGEAUDIENCE and MESSAGE

Parallelism

Parallelism

Repetition

Parallelism

Repetition

Rhetorical Question

Parallelism

Repetition

Rhetorical Question

Analogy

Parallelism

Repetition

Rhetorical Question

Analogy

Hyperbole

Figure of balance identified by successive words, phrases, clauses with the same or very similar grammatical structure.

"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.“

-- John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address

"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.“

-- John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address

Repeating words/phrases for clarity or emphasis

"I said you're afraid to bleed. [As] long as the white man sent you to Korea, you bled. He sent you to Germany, you bled. He sent you to the South Pacific to fight the Japanese, you bled. You bleed for white people. But when it comes time to seeing your own churches being bombed and little black girls be[ing] murdered, you haven't got no blood."

-- Malcolm X, Message to the Grassroots

A question, not for the purpose of further discussion, but to assert or deny an answer; a question whose answer is obvious or implied.

A question, not for the purpose of further discussion, but to assert or deny an answer; a question whose answer is obvious or implied.

A statement in the form of a question

A question, not for the purpose of further discussion, but to assert or deny an answer; a question whose answer is obvious or implied.

A statement in the form of a question

A question posed which causes the audience to agree with the speaker

Can anyone look at the record of this Administration and say, "Well done"?

Can anyone compare the state of our economy when the Carter Administration took office with where we are today and say, "Keep up the good work"?

Can anyone look at our reduced standing in the world today and say, "Let's have four more years of this"?

-- Ronald Reagan, 1980 Republican NationalConvention Acceptance Address

An extended metaphor or long simile in which an explicit comparison is made between two things for the purpose of furthering a line of reasoning or drawing an inference

"I don't think there's anything certainly more unseemly than the sight of a rock star in academic robes. It's a bit like when people put their King Charles spaniels in little tartan sweats and hats. It's not natural, and it doesn't make the dog any smarter.“

-- Bono, 2004 Commencement Address at The University of Pennsylvania

deliberate exaggeration of a person, thing, quality, event to emphasize a point external to the object of exaggeration; intentional exaggeration for rhetorical effect.

"So first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.“

-- Franklin Delano Roosevelt,

First Inaugural Address

"I've tried to offer leadership to the Democratic Party and the Nation. If, in my high moments, I have done some good, offered some service, shed some light, healed some wounds, rekindled some hope, or stirred someone from apathy and indifference, or in any way along the way helped somebody, then this campaign has not been in vain."

"My senior year, I received a telephone call from a gentleman by the name of Mr. Gil Brandt of the Dallas Cowboys. And he stated that the Cowboys was interested in drafting me, and I couldn't ignore it. I decided to attend the Cowboys training camp. That year, 1967, the Dallas Cowboys had 137 rookies in training camp. Gil Brandt was signing everybody that could walk. Only five made the team that year, and I was one of the five."

"Withdrawal of U.S. troops will become like salted peanuts to the American public; the more U.S. troops come home, the more will be demanded."

"The minister who has been called by God, ordained by God, appointed by God, and anointed by God, is assumed guilty until proven innocent."

"Some have asked, 'How could you have the United States Senate vote on Judge Thomas' nomination and leave Senators in the dark about Professor [Anita] Hill's charges?' And to this I answer, 'How can you expect us to have forced Professor Hill against her will into the blinding light which you see here today."