NAME	MEANING	EXAMPLE	EFFECT
Rhetorical question	A question that is not expected to be answered	“So, is it really fair to objectify them in the way that we do, to share those images?”	Makes the audience think about their own opinions, persuade and subtly influence, emphasise a point
Personal anecdotes	A short story about an experience in the speaker’s life	“I grew up in a very small country town in Victoria … It was all very normal”	Gives the speaker credibility on the subject, shows the audience why they think this way, make a point or teach a lesson, sets the stage
Inclusive language	Using words such as ‘us’, ‘we’, and ‘our’, and ‘us’ and ‘them’	“We know from our first Australians that our country teaches us much”	Puts the speaker and the audience on the same team, unites
Tricolon	Repeating something three times with similar length and form	“They killed the dog. They stole the TV. They took the car”(pronoun-verb-noun)	Makes a single, powerful impression
Emotive language	The use of select language and techniques	“Their loss is a profound tragedy for their families and friends”	Softens the blow of a statement, stimulates an emotional response
Anaphora	Repeating the beginning of a sentence	“I have a dream that … I have a dream today”	Delivers an artistic effect, appeals to emotions
Similes	Comparing one thing to another using ‘like’ or ‘as’	“The nominees here tonight, like the land they are drawn from, are diverse and different”	Contrasts the abilities of one thing to another
Repetition	Saying something multiple times, be it a word or a phrase	"Fear leads to anger; anger leads to hatred; hatred leads to conflict; conflict leads to suffering"	Creates emphasis, helps an idea stick in the audience's minds
Metaphors	Comparing one thing to another	“We can see far from here. And this year, the view is different from last”	Contrasts / compares, make ideas more exciting and understandable
Rule of three	Repeating things three times eg. Three adjectives, three body paragraphs	“Father, Son, and Holy Spirit”“Mind, body, spirit”“Live, love, laugh”	Creates emphasis, groups similar or complimenting ideas / words together
Sensory imagery	Using words and phrases that appeal to the five senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch.	“And this land - the home of the world’s only continent nation - has a seamlessness about it that accommodates so much difference”	Creates a descriptive, realistic and specific picture in the audiences head
Humor	Uses jokes and a comedy in a speech	“And these images, there are lots of them out there, they are what we call inspiration porn”	Makes the speaker sound like a friendly and sociable person
Trivialising	Using words like ‘just’, ‘only’, ‘simply’ and ‘hardly’ in a speech	“This is hardly a logical argument”“This is simply not true”“This is just one side”	To demean and make an argument / idea seem weaker; make something seem less important than it is
Personification	Applying human characteristics to something non-human / abstract ideas	“You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face”	Adds energy and relatability to something otherwise lifeless; paints an image in the audience's mind

LETTER	WORD	MEANING
S	Speaker	The person / voice that tells the story / gives the speech
O	Occasion	The time and place of the piece; the context that prompted the writing
A	Audience	The group of listeners to whom the speech is directed
P	Purpose	The reason behind the speech / its aim
S	Subject	The main idea or point; can be easily explained
T	Tone	The attitude and and emotions of the speaker

NAME	MEANING / HOW IT IS CREATED
Kairos	How timely the speech is, if it uses undated references, mentioning current events
Ethos	How credible the speaker is, if they are well educated on the topic of discussion
Logos	Using logic and evidence in a speech to back up points, reasoning
Pathos	Using empathy and descriptive language to appeal to the audiences emotions

Rhetorical devices