AP Lang: Rhetorical Devices and Choices Quick Guide

Diction (word choice) creates tone (speaker's attitude). Describe diction with adjectives (e.g., "somber diction") and explain how specific words establish the tone, avoiding phrases like "uses diction."

For Common Rhetorical Choices, use active verbs and explain their purpose:

• Comparison: "the writer compares A to B to illustrate that…"

• Contrast / Juxtaposition: "the speaker contrasts X and Y to emphasize that…"

• Repetition: "the writer repeats 'word/phrase' to emphasize…"

• Anecdote / Example: "the speaker recalls a time when" or "provides facts."

• Details: "the writer vividly describes" or "precisely details" to convey a message.

• Questions: "the speaker poses a question so that the audience will…"

Employ broader verbs like acknowledges, addresses, or showcases when choices aren't obvious, and higher-level verbs such as assuage, elucidate, or underscore for deeper analysis. Ultimately, use rhetorically accurate, active verbs with adjectives or adverbs (e.g., "boldly claims"), vary syntax, and always delve deeper into what the speaker is doing and why, connecting it to their overall purpose.

To effectively analyze rhetoric, prioritize rhetorical choices (verbs like "repeats," "juxtaposes") over rhetorical devices (nouns) to describe a writer's actions. For Rhetorical Appeals, focus on how the speaker "appeals to logic," "emotions," or "credibility" using specific techniques (e.g., facts for logos, vivid details for pathos).