Rhetoric- the use of spoken or written word (or images) to convey your ideas and convince an audience; also known as the art of persuasion. When analyzing any piece of rhetoric, you consider the rhetorical triangle (the relationship of audience, speaker, and message).

Alliteration- draws attention to a string of words through the repetition of their initial sounds.

Ex: Lucy licked lollipops.

Allusion- a direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly known, such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art. Allusions can be historical, literary, religious, topical, or mythical.

Ex: “I didn’t have any bus fare, but fortunately some good Samaritan helped me out!” This is an allusion to the Biblical story of the good Samaritan, from Luke 10:29-37 – a good Samaritan is someone who helps others in need, just as the Samaritan does in the story.

Analogy- a comparison between items that share a similarity, but are actually quite different.

Ex: Seasons of life; life is a highway

Anaphora – A sub-type of parallelism, when the exact repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of successive lines or sentences.

Ex: MLK used anaphora in his famous “I Have a Dream” speech (1963)

Chiasmus -two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of their structures in order to produce an artistic, memorable, thought-provoking effect.

Ex:“Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” JFK

Climactic Word Order- presents several facts in order of least important to most important.

Ex: The young woman’s career rise was meteoric; after beginning as an administrative assistant, she became a supervisor, and three short years later, the president.

Ethos- setting up a source as credible and trustworthy

Ex: "He has a PhD in the subject and years of experience in the field" is an appeal to ethos.

Exaggeration- emphasizes a fact through hyperbole.

Ex: The wait until Christmas seemed like an eternity.

Figurative Language -the use of language in a non-literal way; i.e. metaphor, simile, etc.

Ex: "The sky is a jewel box tonight!"

Imagery- an appeal to one or more of the senses by creating a vivid impression through the use of details and figures of speech like metaphors, simile, personification.

Ex: Fingers of fear ran down his spine.; She ran like the wind.

Logos- appealing to someone's sense of concrete facts and logic.

Ex: Citing peer-reviewed scientific studies is an appeal to logos.

Paradox- a statement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense but upon closer inspection contains some degree of truth or validity.

Ex: Think of the beginning of Dickens’ Tale of Two Cities: “It was the best of times, it was the        worst of times....”

Parallelism- repeats specific words, phrases  or clauses in a series giving key emphasis to key words, making them memorable.

Ex: Abraham Lincoln said government was “of the people, by the people, for the people.”

Pathos- appealing to someone's emotions.

Ex: Animal shelters ads with pictures of cute sad animals and dramatic music are using pathos.

Repetition- the repetition of words, phrases, ideas; used for emphasis and rhythm.

Ex: It was a strange night, a hushed night, a moonless night.

Rhetorical Question- one whose answer is already known or implied.

Ex: You don’t expect me to do homework on the weekend, do you?

Sentence Fragments- place emphasis on key words to create an overall effect, such as humour or suspense. (syntax)

Ex: A dark day. A dreary day. Typical for gray and cold November.

Understatement- creates the reverse effect and adds a touch of irony by making the fact seem less important.

Ex: Julius Ceasar’s best friend, Brutus, wasn’t the most loyal friend in the world.