Rhetorical Choices Examples (Identification)

And much like barging into Schaumburg High to start a diversity club, the idea of running for public office felt good—like I was flexing that bravery muscle again

Metaphor

They gave up their community, their careers, their language, their own names. These were the steep taxes they paid to make a better life for me.

Metaphor

And much like barging into Schaumburg High to start a diversity club, the idea of running for public office felt good—like I was flexing that bravery muscle again. So I bravely quit my job. I bravely ran for Congress. And I bravely lost by a landslide.

Anecdote, repetition, metaphor

But I did it authentically, as myself, as Reshma. In the early stages of campaigning, I was told to change my name to Rita, given the advice that people are 15 more likely to vote for you if they can pronounce your name. But my bravery had brought me this far. I wasn’t going to stop now. I could never turn my back on Reshma to become a Key-Chain Rita. (1 Earlier in the essay, Saujani recalls a childhood incident in which she was unable to find her name in a display of key chains with names printed on them.)

Pathos (Appealing to sympathy)

I had imagined this moment in my head many times, as I’m sure my father had. I wanted to run to him, embracing him enthusiastically and without any reservations, as any child would run to their own father—but I just . . . can’t. Everything about this man is foreign to me, from his voice to his smell. I had only seen his face in photographs, only heard recordings of his disembodied voice. He feels almost like a celebrity, someone I recognize from somewhere, but who is himself unknown and unknowable

Contrast

So, with about as much agency as any 25 four-year-old possessed, I kept on, ever the obedient child, dutifully memorizing my English flash cards.  (píngguo)—Apple.  (ma¯o)—Cat.  (xia¯ngjia¯o)—Banana.  (bàbama¯ma)

Child voice to appeal to empathy

My whole family—my yéye, na˘inai, gu¯gu, gu¯fu¯, even my cousin JingJing—spoke of this “Canada” as if it were some sort of idyllic paradise, a place of abundant snacks and endless affection. “You can eat whatever you want,” Na˘inai would say, as if I didn’t already have pretty regular access to all of my favorites on Héxìnglù.

Contrast

I wore my nicest clothes on the day, an outfit of absolute fire consisting of a collared rugby shirt with blue and purple stripes, a pair of brown overalls with yellow polka dots and a vest that looked like a burlap sack. That’s right, I was pattern clashing way before it was cool.

Irony to create humorous mood

My gu¯gu and gu¯fu¯ came over and we prepared a feast that filled our little round table: white mushrooms with sliced pork, large tail-on shrimp, bean curd, soy-sauce ribs and Russian-style red sausage—my father’s favorite, apparently

Vivid descriptions as symbol of family’s love

I perk up anxiously as my yéye answers, opening the door to reveal a scrawny, square-faced man with bowl-cut hair wearing a big cozy sweater along with the bleary gaze of exhaustion that comes after an eighteen-hour train ride from Beijing

Vivid descriptions

“Zhenning Liu” is exactly who this man is to me; not “Dad,” not “Father,” not “Bàba” . . . but a stranger, an acquaintance at best.

Repetition

I know that in embarking on non-violence, I shall be running what might fairly be termed a mad risk

Self-aware and frank tone

Conversion of a nation that has consciously or unconsciously preyed upon another, far more numerous, far more ancient, and no less cultured than itself, is worth any amount of risk. I have deliberately used the word conversion. For my ambition is no less than to convert the British people through non-violence, and thus to make them see the wrong they have done to India

Word choice of ‘conversion’

I want to serve them even as I want to serve my own. I believe that I have always served them. I served them up to 1919, blindly. But when my eyes were opened and I conceived non-co-operation, the object still was to serve them

Repetition

For my ambition is no less than to convert the British people through non-violence, and thus to make them see the wrong they have done to India. I do not seek to harm your people. I want to serve them even as I want to serve my own. I believe that I have always served them. I served them up to 1919, blindly. But when my eyes were opened and I conceived non-co-operation, the object still was to serve them

Metaphor, comparison (the speaker and the British people were both blind)

I employed the same weapon that I have, in all humility, successfully used against the dearest members of my family. If I have equal love for your people with mine, it will not long remain hidden. It will be acknowledged by them, even as the members of my family acknowledged, after they had tried me for several years

Personal anecdote, comparison, ethos (personal experience to establish credibility)

If we want to sever the British connection it is because of such evils. When they are removed, the path becomes easy. Then the way to friendly negotiation will be open. If the British commerce with India is purified of greed, you will have no difficulty in recognizing our independence. I invite you then to pave the way for immediate removal of those evils, and thus open a way for a real conference between equals, interested only in promoting the common good of mankind through voluntary fellowship and in arranging terms of mutual help and commerce equally suited to both

Appealing to logic, word choice (positive connotations - equals, common good of mankind, voluntary friendship, mutual help)

Identify the shift in tone and what it is:
I know that in embarking on non-violence, I shall be running what might fairly be termed a mad risk. But the victories of truth have never been won L without risks, often of the gravest character. ine 5 Conversion of a nation that has consciously or unconsciously preyed upon another, far more numerous, far more ancient, and no less cultured than itself, is worth any amount of risk. I have deliberately used the word conversion. For 10 my ambition is no less than to convert the British people through non-violence, and thus to make them see the wrong they have done to India. I do not seek to harm your people. I want to serve them even as I want to serve my own. I believe that I have always 15 served them. I served them up to 1919, blindly. But when my eyes were opened and I conceived non-co-operation, the object still was to serve them. I employed the same weapon that I have, in all humility, successfully 20 used against the dearest members of my family. If I have equal love for your people with mine, it will not long remain hidden. It will be acknowledged by them, even as the members of my family acknowledged, after they had tried me for several years. If the people 25 join me, as I expect they will, the sufferings they will undergo, unless the British nation sooner retraces its steps, will be enough to melt the stoniest hearts. The plan through civil disobedience will be to combat such evils as I have sampled out. If we want 30 to sever the British connection it is because of such evils. When they are removed, the path becomes easy. Then the way to friendly negotiation will be open. If the British commerce with India is purified of greed, you will have no difficulty in recognizing our 35 independence. I invite you then to pave the way for immediate removal of those evils, and thus open a way for a real conference between equals, interested only in promoting the common good of mankind through voluntary fellowship and in arranging terms 40 of mutual help and commerce equally suited to both. You have unnecessarily laid stress upon communal problems that unhappily affect this land. Important though they undoubtedly are for the consideration of any scheme of Government they have little bearing 45 on the greater problems which are above communities and which affect them all equally. But if you cannot see your way to deal with these evils and my letter makes no appeal to your heart, on the eleventh day of this month, I shall proceed with such co-workers of 50 the Ashram1 as I can take, to disregard the provisions of the salt laws. I regard this tax to be the most iniquitous of all from the poor man’s standpoint. As the independence movement is essentially for the poorest in the land, the beginning will be made with 55 this evil. The wonder is that we have submitted to the cruel monopoly for so long. It is, I know, open to you to frustrate my design by arresting me. I hope that there will be tens of thousands ready, in a disciplined manner, to take up the work after me, and, in the act 60 of disobeying the Salt Act2, to lay themselves open to the penalties of a law that should never have disfigured the statute book. I have no desire to cause you unnecessary embarrassment, or any at all, so far as I can help. If 65 you think that there is any substance in my letter, and if you will care to discuss matters with me, and if to that end you would like me to postpone publication of this letter, I shall gladly refrain on receipt of a telegram to that effect soon after this reaches you. 70 You will, however, do me the favour not to deflect me from my course, unless you can see your way to conform to the substance of this letter. This letter is not in any way intended as a threat, but is a simple and sacred duty, peremptory on a civil 75 resister. Therefore, I am having it specially delivered by a young English friend who believes in the Indian cause and is a full believer in non-violence and whom Providence seems to have sent to me, as it were, for the very purpose. 1 A spiritual retreat or monastery for a community of Hindus 2 The India Salt Act (1882) enforced the British colonial government’s monopoly on the collection, manufacture, and sale of salt in India.

But if you cannot see your way to deal with these evils and my letter makes no appeal to your heart, on the eleventh day of this month, I shall proceed with such co-workers of 50 the Ashram1 as I can take, to disregard the provisions of the salt laws: (peaceful to a little threatening, resolved, and persistent)

It is, I know, open to you to frustrate my design by arresting me. I hope that there will be tens of thousands ready, in a disciplined manner, to take up the work after me, and, in the act 60 of disobeying the Salt Act2, to lay themselves open to the penalties of a law that should never have disfigured the statute book

Appeal to passion and sympathy

If you think that there is any substance in my letter, and if you will care to discuss matters with me, and if to that end you would like me to postpone publication of this letter, I shall gladly refrain on receipt of a telegram to that effect soon after this reaches you

Repetition

In Gandhi’s letter to Lord Irwin arguing for Indian independence:

Therefore, I am having it specially delivered by a young English friend who believes in the Indian cause and is a full believer in non-violence and whom Providence seems to have sent to me, as it were, for the very purpose

ethos: showing his credibility in being able to convert an Englishmen to believe in his cause

And of course, I couldn’t be prouder of all of you in the graduating Class of 2020 — as well as the teachers, and the coaches, and most of all, parents and family who guided have you along the way.

proud tone

Some of you have had to overcome serious obstacles along the way, whether it was an illness, or a parent losing a job, or living in a neighborhood where people too often count you out. Along with the usual challenges of growing up, all of you have had to deal with the added pressures of social media, reports of school shootings, and the specter of climate change

Empathetic tone

And then, just as you’re about to celebrate having made it through, just as you’ve been looking forward to proms and senior nights, graduation ceremonies — and, let’s face it, a whole bunch of parties — the world is turned upside down by a global pandemic

interjection: lighthearted tone

And as much as I’m sure you love your parents, I’ll bet that being stuck at home with them and playing board games or watching Tiger King on TV is not exactly how you envisioned the last few months of your senior year.

Understatement to create humorous tone

I don’t remember much from my own high school graduation. I know that not having to sit there and listen to a commencement speaker isn’t all that bad — mine usually go on way too long. Also, not that many people look great in those caps, especially if you have big ears like me

Self-deprecating humorous tone

It’s when you get to decide what’s important to you: the kind of career you want to pursue. Who you want to build a family with. The values you want to live by. And given the current state of the world, that may be kind of scary.

Short sentence fragments to add emphasis

Identify the tone shift and what it is: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/16/us/obama-graduation-speech-transcript.html

If you’d planned on going away for college, getting dropped off at campus in the fall — that’s no longer a given: (lighthearted to serious tone)

Those who were struggling before — they’re hanging on by a thread.

Idiom

It’s woken a lot of young people up to the fact that the old ways of doing things just don’t work; that it doesn’t matter how much money you make if everyone around you is hungry and sick; and that our society and our democracy only work when we think not just about ourselves, but about each other.

Parallel structure

In Obama’s speech to the graduating high school class of 2020:

It’s also pulled the curtain back on another hard truth, something that we all have to eventually accept once our childhood comes to an end.

Metaphor: comparison of curtain to that of graduation ceremony

All those adults that you used to think were in charge and knew what they were doing?

Rhetorical question

Since I’m one of the old guys, I won’t tell you what to do with this power that rests in your hands

Colloquial tone

In Obama’s speech to the graduating high school class of 2020:

First, don’t be afraid. America’s gone through tough times before — slavery, civil war, famine, disease, the Great Depression and 9/11. And each time we came out stronger, usually because a new generation, young people like you, learned from past mistakes and figured out how to make things better

Logos: inductive reasoning (past examples show America has been resilient through tough times before so it will still be able to endure tough times now)

Second, do what you think is right. Doing what feels good, what’s convenient, what’s easy — that’s how little kids think. Unfortunately, a lot of so-called grown-ups, including some with fancy titles and important jobs, still think that way — which is why things are so screwed up.

criticizing tone

But if we’re going to get through these difficult times; if we’re going to create a world where everybody has the opportunity to find a job, and afford college; if we’re going to save the environment and defeat future pandemics, then we’re going to have to do it together.

Parallel structure, repetition

So be alive to one another’s struggles. Stand up for one another’s rights. Leave behind all the old ways of thinking that divide us — sexism, racial prejudice, status, greed — and set the world on a different path.

Assertive and demanding tone

But the truth is that you don’t need us to tell you what to do.

Because in so many ways, you’ve already started to lead.

Congratulations, Class of 2020. Keep making us proud.

Prideful tone