Rhetorical Choices

Rhetorical devices are typically expressed as:

nouns/what the writer is “using”

Rhetorical Choices are typically expressed as:

verbs/what the writer is “doing”

Turn these rhetorical devices into rhetorical choices: repetition, Juxtaposition, anecdotes

Repeats, juxtaposes, recalls a time when

Should we say “the writer uses logos, ethos, and pathos”?

No

What should we say instead of “the writer uses logos, ethos, and pathos?”

“the writer appeals to logic, appeals to credibility, appeals to (specific emotion)”

How to avoid saying “the writer uses logos, ethos, and pathos”?

Think about what the writer is doing to create the appeal

How does a writer “use logos”?

Through Facts, stats, examples, conditional sentences, syllogisms

How does a writer “use ethos”?

Through personal pronouns (e.g. me, I, my), examples/testimonies from experts or credible source

How does a writer “use pathos”?

Through details and word choice

Diction:

Word choice

Tone:

The speaker’s attitude toward the subject

Is tone “used”?

No, it is created through word choice

Should we say “the speaker uses diction”?

no, it just means that the writer uses words

What should we say instead of “the speaker uses diction”?

Add an adjective in front of the “diction” (e.g. somber, authoritative, patriotic)

Devices of comparison:

Metaphors, similies, allusions

Should we say “the writer uses metaphors”?

No

What should we say instead of “the writer uses metaphors”?

“the writer compares (something) to (something) to (a purpose)”

In the topic sentence of a paragraph in an essay analyzing rhetorical devices, you should include:

the what and the why

Rhetorical choices for contrasing:

Contrast and juxtaposition

Should we say “the speaker juxtaposes”?

No

What should we say instead of “the speaker juxtaposes”?

“the speaker contrasts/juxtaposes (something) and (something) to (a purpose)”

The same expression is repeated at the beginning of 2 or more consecutive lines

Anaphora

The same expression is repeated at the end of 2 or more consecutive lines

Epistrophe

Rhetorical devices of repetition:

anaphora and epistrophe

What to say instead of “the writer uses anaphora”?

“by repeating (a word) at the beginning of successive clauses, the writer (a purpose)”

Anectodes:

Short (often personal or witty) stories within a passage

Is an example an anectode?

Not necessarily

Instead of saying “uses an anectode”, we can say:

“recalls a time when”, “tells a story about”, “reminisces on”, “recalls an incident when”

Facts, stats, and examples create what appeal:

logical

Instead of saying “uses facts, stats, and examples”, say:

“the writer includes/provides/introduces (a stat/fact/example) in order to (a purpose)”

Detail vs imagery:

Appropriate for nonfiction vs fiction+poetry

Instead of saying “uses details/imagery”, say:

“vividly describes”/”precisely details”

How to analyze the details that the writer includes?

Examine word choices within details and consider what appeal they create, think about how they help the writer convey his/her message and why would they resonate with the audience

Are all questions rhetorical questions?

no

Hypophora:

When someone asks a question and answers it

how to write starting sentence for the writer posing a question?

“the writer poses the question “(question)” so audience will (purpose)”

How to write starting sentence for the writer using hypophora?

“By answering his own question, speaker (purpose)”

What should you do if you can’t find any rhetorical choices?

Ask yourself what the speaker is doing in the beginning, middle, and end of the passage

Rhetorically accurate verbs that signal a rhetorical choice: (just memorize 5-6)

asserts/contests/contends, affirms, challenges/defends, concedes, demonstrates, illustrates, implies, highlights, portrays, qualifies, reveals, showcases, acknowledges, addresses, justifies, presents, showcases

Verbs to use in rhetorical analysis essays:

assuage, appease, elucidate, engender, underscore

Assuage:

To make an unpleasant feeling less intense

Appease:

To pacify or placate someone by giving in to their demands

Elucidate:

To explain / make clear

Engender:

To cause or give rise to a feeling

Underscore:

To emphasize

How to make your statements more precise in rhetorical analysis essays?

Include adjectives or adverbs

Example of including adjectives or adverbs to make statements more precise in rhetorical analysis essays:

“he boldly claims” instead of “he claims”

Examples of different syntax / sentence structures to use in rhetorical analysis essays:

speaker (does) x in order to…; By (doing) x, speaker … because …; (doing) x allows speaker to…, thus helping him …

Should we use fancy words or Latin names in the rhetorical analysis essay?

no

What should you not do to identify rhetorical choices?

Look for specific rhetorical choices (e.g. where is there juxtaposition in the essay?) because the choice that you are thinking of might not be present or not important in the essay

What is a must-have rhetorical choice for every essay?

Diction

Questions to ask to analyze diction: (no need to memorize, just look though)

What kind of diction is being used? What tone does the diction create? Do the diction and tone create and appeal? Which one? Is there anything unique about the syntax? Is the writer using pronouns in a meaningful way? Why is the author using these particular words?

Two ways to analyze rhetorical choices regarding tone:

How a choice creates a tone or tone/tone shift as a choice

Questions to ask yourself when analyzing tone:

Which words/appeals/choices create this tone?, why is this tone effective for the audience/occasion?, What does the tone suggest about the author and/or his/her attitude towards the subject?, If the tone shifts, what does it shift from and to?

If you notice an appeal, ask yourself:

How the author is creating that appeal

Questions to ask yourself regarding logos:

Why does the author need to appear reasonable?, Why would the audience respond well to this logic?, What is the writer trying to prove? How does this support his/her argument?

Examples of emotions in pathos:

Patriotism, fear, nostalgia, sympathy

Should you say “appeal to emotion”?

no

Emotional appeal is formed through:

other rhetorical choices

What to say instead of “uses pathos”:

“evokes a sense of …” “elicits a feeling of…” “cultivates a sense of…” “Appeals to (specific emotion)”

What to say instead of “Uses ethos”:

“Bolsters his/her credibility” “presents an ethical issue” “raises a moral dillema/concern”

Examples of why writers use repetition:

emphasize a message, create cohesion/rhythm, reinforce previously mentioned ideas

Writers using repetition to emphasize a message is common in:

speeches

Why is writers using repetition to emphasize a message common in speeches?

People can hear the repetition

Reasons why authors use contrast:

Emphasize meaningful differences between two people/groups/objects (sometimes favoring one over the other), to highlight the differences (directly or indirectly) to compare them, emphasize contrasting emotions, link seemingly unrelated things, develop character

Exemplification:

The use of examples to prove a claim

Exemplification creates what appeal?

logical

Always link rhetorical choices to a:

purpose

Parallelism:

When components of a sentence or sentences have the same or similar grammatical construction

Why do writers use parallelism?

To create a rhythm/cadence (improves flow and increases persuasiveness), balance ideas, emphasize certain words or ideas

Common types of allusions:

biblical and mythological

Is every reference to something well-known an allusion?

No

If not sure if something is an allusion, say:

reference

Questions to ask when the writer is defining a term:

Why does the author need to define the term?, Does the author’s definition add nuance to the common meaning?, How does the definition help the writer build his argument?

Rhetorical device vs rhetorical choice:

noun vs verb form

rhetorical appeals are derived through:

rhetorical choices

Identify the tone used: “Upon analysis of the data, it's evident that the proposed hypothesis is substantiated”

formal

Identify the tone used: “Hey folks, today we'll be chatting about the latest trends in tech”

Informal

Identify the tone used: “The implications of climate change on our future generations cannot be overstated”

serious

Identify the tone used: “Why don't scientists trust atoms? Because they make up everything!”

Humorous

Identify the tone used: “Oh great, another diet plan. Just what I needed!”

Sarcastic

Identify the tone used: “Despite the setbacks, we remain confident in our ability to achieve our goals”

Optimistic

Identify the tone used: “Given the declining economy, it's doubtful if small businesses can survive”

Pessimistic

Identify the tone used: “We must act now! Every moment we waste increases the danger.”

Urgent

Identify the tone used: “The experiment concluded with the subject showing a 25% increase in performance”

Objective

Identify the tone used: “I've always found the taste of coffee absolutely heavenly”

Subjective

Identify the tone used: “We owe our success to the ceaseless efforts of our esteemed team”

Respectful

Irreverent tone:

Showing a lack of respect or seriousness

Identify the tone used: “So much for their ‘revolutionary' product. It's as exciting as watching paint dry”

Irreverent

Identify the tone used: “The film's plot was so predictable it felt like a tiresome déjà vu”

Critical

Identify the tone used: “Every setback is a setup for a comeback. Believe in your potential.”

Inspirational

Cynical tone:

Questioning the basic sincerity and goodness of people

Identify the tone used: “A politician making promises? Now there's something new”

Cynical

Identify the tone used: “We must fight to protect our planet—it's the only home we have”

Passionate

Identify the tone used: “Whether it rains or shines tomorrow, it makes little difference to me”

indifferent

Identify the tone used: “As the doors creaked open, a chilling wind swept through the abandoned mansion.”

Dramatic

Identify the tone used: “She gazed at the fading photograph, lost in the echoes of a time long past”

Melancholy

Identify the tone used: “The fire station caught on fire—it's almost poetic, isn't it?”

Ironic

Identify the tone used: “I can understand how challenging this period has been for you”

Sympathetic

Identify the tone used: “His excuse for being late was as pathetic as it was predictable”

Contemptuous