AP Lang Exam Rhetorical Essay Devices

Ethos

Use self credibility to enhance audience’s belief in you

Pathos

Uses emotion to enhance message

Logos

use logic and statistics to prove something - real examples and proof

Diction

Word choice, words placement, negative or positive connotations, tone, style

Syntax

sentence structure: how the author manipulates sentences to put more emphasis

• dashes

• parenthesis

• fragments

Tone

How the author uses tone to enhance his or her message and make the piece feel more emotional, or humoristic, or serious, or informal.

Imagery

How the author expands on something and creates a picture rather to put the reader in his or her shoes to understand the message better.

Metaphor

creates a non-literal comparison between two unalike things, suggesting that one thing is the other

Simile

a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind using ‘like’ or ‘as’

Personification

attributing human characteristics to non-human objects or abstract concepts, allowing readers to relate to inanimate things.

Hyperbole

an exaggerated statement or claim not meant to be taken literally, used for emphasis or effect.

Alliteration

the repetition of the same initial consonant sounds in a sequence of words, often used to create rhythm or emphasis.

Assonance

the repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words, creating rhythm and musicality in writing

Anaphora

the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences, often used to create emphasis or a memorable effect.

Epistrophe

the repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses or sentences, often used for emphasis or rhetorical effect.

Juxtaposition

the placement of two or more ideas, characters, settings, or phrases side by side in a narrative or poem to highlight contrasts and comparisons.

Antithesis

a person or thing that is directly opposite to someone or something else.

Paradox

a statement that seems self-contradictory or logically unacceptable but may in fact be true.

Parallelism

the use of similar structures in two or more clauses or sentences to create rhythm or emphasize an idea.

Rhetorical questions

questions asked for effect rather than to elicit an answer.

Anecdote

a brief story used to illustrate a point or convey a message.

Allusion

a brief/passing reference to a person, place, thing, or idea of historical, cultural, literary, or political significance.

Connotation

the implied or associated meaning of a word or phrase that goes beyond its literal definition.

Colloquialism

the use of informal words or phrases in speech or writing, often specific to a particular region or group.

Understatement

a rhetorical device that intentionally makes a situation seem less important or serious than it is.

Irony

a rhetorical device where the intended meaning is different from the actual meaning of the words used, often involving a contrast between expectation and reality.

SPACE

Speaker - who is the author/narrator? What background knowledge do we have about them(identity, role, career, etc.) The author, or persona they adopt.

SPACE

Purpose - What is the author’s goal? Why did they write this? (Persuasion, inspiration, information, criticizing, etc.) The reason - what they want the audience to think, feel, or do.

SPACE

Audience - who does the text target, and how does it achieve that appeal to them?

SPACE

Context - what is going on historically, socially, or politically at the time that could help us understand the message and that shape the text?

SPACE

Exigence - the spark/event that triggered the text - what immediate event or issue made the speaker feel the need to write/speak now?

Diction

the choice of words and style of expression used by a speaker or writer, which can influence tone and convey meaning.