Rhetorical Devices Flashcards

Use this to study for the summative in English class

Expert Opinion

Using the opinion of an expert to give credence to an argument.

Quotations

Using quotes from experts or famous figures to provide “moral backing” or “expert approval” to an argument.

Personal Experience

Using a personal experience to help establish credibility (ethos) or garner sympathy (pathos).

Call to Action

A phrase or sentence in a speech or text that asks the audience to take specific action. Example: “Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy” (MLK).

Ethical Duty

A reminder to the audience of their “moral” or “ethical” duty. Equates morality with the given argument.

Anecdote

A story that appeals to an audience’s emotions.

Charged Language/ Loaded Language

Language that appeals to emotions. Sometimes called loaded language. Example: “A thirst for freedom.”

Rhetorical Question

A question asked to create a dramatic effect or make a point, not to get an answer. Example: “Do you want to live in a world like that?”

Anaphora/Repetition

The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses. Example: “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny compared to what lies within us.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

Parallelism

Repeating a grammatical structure or arrangement of words to create rhythm and momentum. Example: “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.”

Analogy

Drawing a comparison that shows a similarity between two seemingly unlike things to give emphasis to an argument. Example: In “I Have a Dream,” King compares the fact that African-Americans do not have the same freedoms and rights as white citizens to a bad check.

Facts and Figures

Use of facts and statistics to give credibility to an argument.

Juxtaposition

Placement of two or more things side by side to show their contrast.

Counter arguments/rebuttal

A response to an argument with the sole purpose of disproving it.

Allusion

A reference to a person, place, event, or historical marker to create resonance or give a symbolic meaning.

Euphemism

The substitution of a less offensive or more agreeable phrase for one that may offend.

Compare/Contrast/ Antithesis

Setting up a comparison between two things or bringing up the opposite of something.