Rhetorical Devices + Examples

The central claim and overall purpose of a work

Thesis

Ex. Recycling is essential for protecting the environment and conserving natural resources

Thesis

A predisposition or subjective opinion

Bias

Ex. Our hotel is the best in London because it has the comfiest beds and best views

Bias

Writing that urges readers to action or promote a change.

Call to action

Ex. Buy now!

Call to action

A short account of an interesting or humorous incident, intended to illustrate or support a point.

Anecdote

Ex. Last year, when my alarm failed, I missed the school bus for the first time. I learned that preparation always matters

Anecdote

A comparison to a directly parallel case; the process of drawing a comparison between two things based on a partial similarity of like features.

Analogy

Ex. Her smile was like sunshine, brightening everyone's day

Analogy

An expression that means something other than the literal meanings of its individual words.

Idiom

Ex. I was going to tell you my good news, but my sister stole my thunder by announcing her engagement

Idiom

The voice and attitude the writer has chosen to project

Tone

The overall atmosphere of a work and how that atmosphere makes a reader feel.

Mood

A contrast in language to bring out a contrast in ideas.

Antithesis

Ex. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times

Antithesis / Juxtaposition

A brief reference to a person, event, or place - real or fictitious - or to a work of art.

Allusion

Ex. Ignore Jon, he's a real Scrooge

Allusion

When a writer bases a claim upon an isolated example or asserts that a claim is certain rather than probable.

Generalization

E.g. All birds lay eggs

Generalization

Placing two ideas side by side or close together.

Juxtaposition

The rhetorical technique of anticipating counterarguments and offering a refutation.

Anticipating Audience Response

Ex. Why should the government listen to farmers? Because our lives literally depend on them

Anticipating Audience Response

Substitutions of an inoffensive, indirect, or agreeable expression for a word or phrase perceived as socially unacceptable or harsh.

Euphemism

Ex. "He passed away last night" instead of "He died last night"

Euphemism

A phrase or statement that while seeming contradictory or absurd may actually be well founded or true. Used to attract attention or to secure emphasis

Paradox

Ex. I must be cruel, only to be kind

Paradox

Recurrent images, words, objects, phrases, or actions that tend to unify the work.

Motif

Motif in To Kill a Mockingbird:

Mockingbird

The character that the speaker portrays.

Persona

Persona of To Kill a Mockingbird:

Six-year-old girl

A timeworn expression that through overuse has lost its power to evoke concrete images.

Cliche

Ex. Every cloud has a silver lining

Cliche

The discrepancy between appearance and reality: verbal, situational, dramatic.

Irony

What rhetorical device is the character using: A character says, "What lovely weather we're having!" while walking into a hurricane

Irony

A self contradictory combination of words.

Oxymoron

Ex. Parting is such a sweet sorrow

Oxymoron

Appealing to logical reasoning and sound evidence

Logos

Ex. All men are mortal. Socrates is a man. Therefore, Socrates is mortal

Logos / syllogism

Appealing to the audience's shared values

Ethos

Ex. Having worked as a surgeon for over 20 years, I can confidently recommend this surgical tool

Ethos

Evoking and manipulating emotions

Pathos

Ex. The sight of broken glass glistening on a lonely highway can be devastating to anyone who has been involved in a drunk driving tragedy

Pathos

A concise or tersely phrased statement in principle, truth, or opinion. Often found in fields like law, politics, and art

Aphorism

Ex. Brevity is the soul of wit

Aphorism

In arguing a point, a speaker should always lend his opponent some credit for his/her ideas. In this way, the speaker persuades the audience that he is fair and has done the research, thereby strengthening the argument.

Lending Credence

A question asked solely to produce an effect and not to elicit a reply.

Rhetorical Question

Ex. What's in a name?

Rhetorical Question

When a writer delivers relevant opposing arguments.

Refutation

Ex. Many people believe that the peregrine falcon is still on the endangered species list. However, this is not true. The last subspecies were removed from the list in 1999

Refutation

A narrative in which character, action, and setting represent abstract concepts apart from the literal meaning of a story. The underlying meaning usually has a moral, social, religious, or political significance

Allegory

Example of allegory:

The Tortoise and the Hare

A formula for presenting an argument logically. In its simplest form, it consists of three divisions: a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion.

Syllogism

The substitution of a term naming an object closely associated with the word in mind for the word itself.

Metonymy

Example of metonymy:

Suit for business executive

Claims involving opinions, attitudes, and subjective evaluation

Claim of Value

Ex. The Wizard of Oz is the greatest movie of all time

Claim of Value

Claims advocating courses of action that should or should not be undertaken

Claim of policy

Ex. Smoking should be banned in all public places

Claim of policy

Claims exploring what something means or what something is made up of

Claim of definition

Ex. Cheerleading is a sport

Claim of definition

The evidence offered in support of a claim

Grounds

Ex. (The writer is arguing that you should buy his tooth-whitening product) Studies show that teeth are 50% whiter after using the product for a specified time

Grounds

The assumption the speaker makes about the audience

Warrant

What is the warrant in this statement: You should take an umbrella because it's raining

You don’t want to get wet

A statement that indicates the force of the argument

Qualifier

Ex. He is a somewhat intelligent student

Qualifier

Makes a statement (sentence type)

Declarative Sentence

Ex. The sun rises in the east

Declarative sentence

Asks a question (sentence type)

Interrogative Sentence

Ex. Are you coming to the party?

Interrogative sentence

Gives a command (sentence type)

Imperative sentence

Ex. Please turn off the lights

Imperative sentence

Makes an interjection (Sentence type)

Exclamatory sentence

Ex. What a beautiful sunset!

Exclamatory sentence

A story presenting events in an orderly, logical sequence

Narration

Ex. As I stepped onto the stage, my heart pounded with excitement and nerves. This was my first time performing in front of a live audience, and I wanted to do my best. The music started, and I began to sing

Narration

Using sensory language and physical characteristics of a person, place, or thing to communicate to readers

Description

Ex. The cottage was probably built in Tudor times. It has a thatched roof and black beams. Surrounding the cottage is a small garden with old wooden fencing

Description

The process of breaking down a whole into smaller parts

Division

Example of division:

Breaking down an airplane into its individual parts: cockpit, wings, wheels, engines

The process of sorting individual items into categories.

Classification

Explaining what something, or even someone, is - that is, its essential nature.

Definition

Ex. An emaciation, that is, his skeleton-like appearance, was frightening to see

Definition

Writing that provides a series of facts, specific cases, or instances that relate to a general idea.

Exemplification

Ex. Regular exercise is essential for maintaining good health. It helps improve cardiovascular fitness, as seen in activities like jogging and swimming, which strengthen the heart

Exemplification

Writing that highlights the similarities and differences between 2 or more topics

Compare/Contrast

Ex. Basketball and soccer are both team sports played with a round ball that provide cardiovascular exercise

Compare/Contrast

Text that explains how to do something or how something occurs.

Process Analysis

Ex. First, a paper filter is placed into the pour-over dripper and rinsed with hot water to remove any paper taste and warm the brewing equipment. Next, the water is discarded, and medium-ground coffee is added to the wet filter. Then, a small amount of hot water (just off the boil) is poured over the grounds to "bloom" them, allowing them to de-gas for about 30 seconds. Afterward, the remaining water is slowly and steadily poured over the grounds in a circular motion until the desired amount of brewed coffee is collected in the mug or carafe below. Finally, the dripper is removed, resulting in a clean and aromatic cup of coffee.

Process analysis

Method of reasoning that moves from a general premise to a specific conclusion

Deductive reasoning

Ex. All marine mammals breathe air. Dolphins are marine mammals. Therefore, dolphins breathe air

Deductive reasoning

Method of reasoning that moves from specific evidence to a general conclusion based on this evidence.

Inductive Reasoning

Ex. The first three patients I treated who had a fever and a cough also tested positive for the flu. Therefore, the next patient with a fever and cough will likely also test positive for the flu

Inductive reasoning

Choice of words in a work and an important element of style.

Diction

Language describing ideas and qualities

Abstract Language

Language describing observable, specific things.

Concrete Language

Example of abstract vs concrete language:

The case sought to establish equality vs The case sought to legalize gay marriage

Words characteristic to familiar conversation

Colloquialism

Ex. Hey man, you wanna go grab some grub? I'm starving, and I gotta run to the store later

Colloquialism