Rhetorical Strategies

Juxtaposition

placing two contrasting things side by side

Paradox

a seemingly contradictory statement that reveals a truth

Repetition

repeating a word or phrase for emphasis

Sensory imagery

language that appeals to the five senses

Anecdote

a short story or personal example

Sound device

use of sound for rhetorical effect

Metaphor

direct comparison between unlike things

Simile

comparison using “like” or “as”

Adjective diction

deliberate choice of descriptive adjectives

Antithesis

contrasting ideas in balanced structures

Allusion

reference to a well

Expert testimony

statement or evidence from a qualified expert

Statistical data

numerical information used as evidence

Understatement

making something seem less important than it is

Overstatement

making something seem more important or extreme

Hyperbole

extreme exaggeration for effect

Litotes

understatement using a negative expression

Anaphora

repetition at the beginning of clauses or sentences

Asyndeton

leaving out conjunctions between words or phrases

Polysyndeton

using many conjunctions between words or phrases

Synecdoche

using a part to represent the whole

Metonymy

replacing something with a closely related term

Parallelism

using similar grammatical structures

Chiasmus

reversing the structure of a phrase or sentence

Oxymoron

two contradictory terms placed together

Generalization

broad statement about a group or idea

Reasoning

using logic to support a conclusion

Jargon

specialized language used by a particular group

Loaded language

words with strong emotional associations

Inclusive language

language that includes the audience, such as “we” or “us”

Concession

acknowledging an opposing point

Counterargument

an argument against the main claim

Simple sentence

sentence with one independent clause

Complex sentence

sentence with an independent clause and dependent clause

Ethos

appeal to credibility or character

Pathos

appeal to emotion

Logos

appeal to logic or reason