Rhetorical Choices

  1. Logos - Appeal to Logic: typically created through the use of (though not limited to) facts, statistics, examples, conditional sentences, or syllogisms. Ask yourself how the speaker creates the logical appeal and what makes it logical? How does using logic help the speaker develop the argument?

  2. Pathos - Appeal to Emotion: can be created through details or images. Identify how the speaker creates the appeal to emotion and the specific emotion he/she is appealing to.

  3. Ethos -to Ethics: typically created by the author speaking from their own expertise on a topic, or by referencing credible sources. Identify how the speaker strengthens their own credibility, and how this impacts how the audience receives him/her.

  4. Call to Action: typically found at the end of a passage (though not exclusively,) a call to action is when the speaker explicitly (directly) or implicitly (subtly) implores the audience to act. To determine the call to action, ask yourself "what does the speaker want the audience members to do now that they've heard this message/argument?"

  5. Comparisons/Contrasts: Ask yourself why the author is comparing or contrasting those "things" and why the comparison or contrast is meaningful. Ask yourself what is the speaker revealing or proving by creating this comparison or contrast.

  6. Detail: adds specifics to a message or argument; can help create imagery; typically used to evoke a specific emotional response from the audience

  7. Allusion: There are many types of allusions, including reference to famous literature, art, and people. For example, biblical allusions are common in some speeches. While not every reference is an allusion, writers may allude to something to help the listener/reader make meaningful connections.

  8. Anecdotes: Often, these short personal stories have a narrative style. You want to explain how the story develops the writer's message and why the writer selected it.

  9. Exemplification: the use of examples to prove an argument; examine why that specific example was selected. If the speaker includes a series of examples, examine the order of the examples and ask yourself why the speaker chose that order. Examples tend to be logical, so ask yourself how the examples help the speaker develop the argument.

  10. Parallelisms: created when words, phrases, ideas, or arguments are phrased in a grammatically similar or identical way. Parallelisms can create balance or rhythm. The balance of clauses, sometimes through repetition, allows the speaker to emphasize important points. After identifying the parallel elements, ask yourself why the speaker emphasizes these elements and how this helps further the argument.

  11. Questions: Questions can be asked in isolation or in a series. Sometimes speakers answer their own questions, known as hypophora. Other times speakers do not answer their questions. Not all unanswered questions are rhetorical questions though.

  1. Repetition: After identifying the particular words or phrases that are being repeated, ask yourself why these words or phrases are significant. How do they help convey the speaker's argument? What is the speaker trying to emphasize through repetition? Does the repetition create coherence or a rhythm.

  2. Definition: When writers use this common device, they define the term. You want to explain why this definition is there. In other words, explain how the definition helps portray the message.

  3. Syntax: Examine the sentence structure. Why does a particular sentence or group of sentences stand out? Is it because it is long and involved or concise and impactful? Does the speaker incorporate fragments in a meaningful way? If so, why and how?

  4. Tone: Tone is the speaker's attitude toward a particular subject. The speaker's word choice and use of appeals and other choices helps to create a particular tone. When examining tone, identify which words, appeals, or choices help to create that tone. When examining a shift in tone, note the original tone and the tone that the speaker shifted to.

  5. Diction (Word Choice): Which words seem to have the most meaning or deepest impact? How would you classify or describe these words? What tone do these words create? Are the words repeated? If so, why? What is the connotation of the word? What is the denotation?