Comprehensive Guide to Rhetorical Devices and Choices for AP Lang

Rhetorical Device (The Noun): Generally defined as a tool or item the writer uses. It is expressed as a noun. There are extensive lists containing $50$ to $100$ rhetorical devices, but memorizing these is often less effective than understanding how they function. - Examples: repetition, juxtaposition, anecdote.
Rhetorical Choice (The Verb): This is what the writer is doing in the text. It is expressed as a verb. For the AP Lang exam, focusing on choices rather than just identifying devices is critical for successful analysis. - Examples: "repeats," "juxtaposes," "recalls a time when."
Conversion Strategy: Most nouns (devices) can be turned into verbs (choices). For example, if you identify the device "juxtaposition" (which is contrast), you can express it as the choice "juxtaposes."

Effective Phrasing: Students often mistakenly write that a writer "uses logos/ethos/pathos." It is more effective to phrase these as appeals: - Logos: Instead of "uses logos," write "appeals to logic." - Pathos: Instead of "uses pathos," write "appeals to [specific emotion]," such as nostalgia or patriotism. - Ethos: Instead of "uses ethos," write "appeals to credibility."
The "Entree and Side Dish" Analogy: In a rhetorical analysis essay, the rhetorical choice should be the "entree" (the star of the show), while the appeal serves as the "side dish." Together they make a full plate, but the choice should be the main focus of the paragraph.
Determining the "How": To move beyond surface-level identification, ask: "What is the writer doing to create the appeal?" - Logic (Logos) Evidence: Inclusion of facts, statistics, or specific examples. - Credibility (Ethos) Evidence: Use of personal pronouns (me, I, my) or testimonies from expert/credible sources. - Emotion (Pathos) Evidence: Created through specific details, word choice, or illustrative examples meant to convey a certain feeling.

Definitions: - Diction: Word choice. - Tone: The speaker’s attitude toward the subject, which is created through the word choice.
Common Mistakes: - Writing "The writer uses tone": Tone is not "used"; it is created. - Writing "The writer uses diction": This is essentially saying the writer uses words, which lacks depth.
Precision in Diction: Always use an adjective or descriptor before the word "diction." - Examples: "somber diction" (for sadness), "authoritative diction," or "patriotic diction." - Avoid vague descriptors like "precise diction," as they do not provide enough context for analysis.

Devices: Metaphor, simile, and allusion are all ways to create meaningful comparisons.
Strategy: Instead of identifying the device name, use the verb "compares."
Sentence Frames for Comparison: - "Adams compares a judicious traveler to a river to illustrate that…" - "The speaker compares family traditions in order to…"
Analysis Requirement: You must identify both sides of the comparison and explain the "why" (the purpose) using phrases like "to illustrate that" or "in order to."

Definition: Contrast highlights meaningful differences, whereas comparison highlights similarities.
Verbs to Use: "contrasts" or "juxtaposes."
Sentence Frame for Contrast: - "Sotomayor contrasts a Melting Pot and a salad bowl to emphasize that…"
Goal: Identifying the what (the items being contrasted) and the why (what the contrast emphasizes).

Vocabulary: - Anaphora: The repetition of a phrase at the beginning of successive clauses. - Epistrophe: The repetition of a phrase at the end of certain clauses.
Practical Advice: You do not need to memorize these specific terms to be successful. It is perfectly acceptable to say the writer "repeats."
Syntactic Description: If you want to be precise without using technical terms, describe the location: "By repeating 'we' at the beginning of successive clauses…"
Analysis Focus: Do not just say repetition is used "to emphasize." Identity why that specific phrase is repeated. What is the speaker trying to make the audience feel or understand?
Synonyms for Repeats: Echoes, iterates.

Anecdote Definition: A very short story within a passage. It is usually, but not always, about the speaker.
Distinction: An example is intended as proof; an anecdote is a narrative story.
Phrases to Signal an Anecdote: - "The speaker recalls a time when…" - "Tells a story about…" - "Reminisces on…" - "Recalls an incident when…"

Context: These elements are the building blocks of logical appeals.
Stronger Verbs: Instead of "uses facts," say the writer "includes," "provides," or "introduces" examples/facts.
Sentence Frame: "Including statistics allows the speaker to logically support his claim that…"

Detail: Generally more appropriate for non-fiction texts.
Imagery: Generally more appropriate for fiction and poetry.
Effective Verbs: "vividly describes" or "precisely details."
Questions for Analysis: Why were these specific details chosen? How do they resonate with the audience? Do they create an emotional appeal?

Rhetorical Questions: Not all questions in a text are rhetorical. If uncertain, simply say the speaker "poses a question."
Hypophora: A technique where the speaker asks a question and then immediately answers it.
Sentence Frames: - "The speaker poses the question [insert question] so that the audience will…" - "By answering his or her own question, the speaker…"

If you struggle to find specific devices like repetition or anecdotes, analyze what the speaker is doing in the beginning, middle, and end using broader verbs.
Action Verbs: - Acknowledges - Addresses - Justifies - Presents - Showcases

Syntactic Variety: Vary your sentence structure. Instead of always writing "The writer [verb]," use different structures like: - "By [verb]-ing…" - "[Verb]-ing [detail], the author…"
Precision with Adjectives/Adverbs: Use descriptors like "boldly claims" or "logically claims" to make analysis more precise.
Scuba Dive, Not Water Ski: A metaphor credited to Kathy Smith. Water skiing is skimming the surface (shallow analysis). Scuba diving is digging deep into what the speaker is doing and why they are doing it.
The "Why" Barrier: Always connect the rhetorical choice to the speaker's purpose using phrases like "because," "in order to," or "emphasizes that."