AP English Language and Composition

Rhetorical Device

A technique used by writers to persuade or convey meaning, including strategies such as metaphor, simile, and alliteration.

Typically expressed as nouns / what the writer is “using”

Rhetorical Choice

Typically expressed as verbs / what the writer is “doing”

Ex: repeats, juxtaposes, recalls a time when..

Ethos (credibility / trust)

An appeal to the character, credibility, and authority of the speaker.

• How it works: Establishes trust by highlighting the speaker's experience, credentials, or expertise.

• Example: A doctor discussing a health issue, or a company president referencing their years of industry experience

Logos (logic / reasoning)

• An appeal to logic, reason, and evidence.

  • How it works: Supports an argument with facts, statistics, data, and logical reasoning.

  • Example: A scientific report citing data, or an advertisement stating a product "kills 98% of all bacteria".

Pathos (emotions / values)

An appeal to the emotions of the audience.

• How it works: Uses emotional language, stories, or imagery to create a connection with the audience and evoke feelings like empathy, anger, or pity.

• Example: A charity using a story about a suffering animal to encourage donations, or using emotionally charged language to describe the impact of a policy. 

Diction

Word choice

Tone

speakers attitude towards a certain subject

Metaphors

a figure of speech that compares two different things by stating that one is the other, highlighting similarities for emphasis or symbolism

Ex. “You are a clown” is not literal, but rather to emphasize a specific emphasized quality. In this case, foolishness. 

Similies

A simile is a figure of speech that compares two unlike things using the words "like" or "as" to create a more vivid description.

Ex. "as busy as a bee," "sings like an angel," and "as quiet as a mouse".