Rhetorical Techniques Basic

ethos

credibility of author

pathos

appeal to emotion

logos

appeal to logic

diction

word choice; shapes tone

syntax

sentence structure; add emphasis on certain things

tone

convey attitude and influence how reader interprets the message

parallelism

using similar grammatical structure; emphasize key ideas and make them memorable

rhetorical question

question asked for effect; make the reader think/agree silently with the author

anecdote

short personal story or example; makes argument relatable  

allusion

reference to famous person, event, or text; used to give depth and connect author’s ideas to greater world

juxtaposition

placing two opposing ideas close to each other; highlights differences

connotation

cultural meaning of a word; subtly influences how the reader feels about a topic

metaphor/similie

comparison; makes abstract ideas more relatable 

hyperbole

exaggeration; highlights importance

irony

difference between what is said and what is meant; creates humor and highlights contradictions

anaphora

repetition of a word at the start of a phrase; creates emphasis and rhythm

antithesis

placing contrasting ideas next to each other; highlights differences

chiasmus

reversal of grammatical structures; creates balance and emphasisin a sentence or phrase.

kairos

urgency of the present; shows that the argument is relevant and urgent