Rhetorical Devices 1
An appeal to credibility — when the speaker tries to prove they can be trusted.
Ethos
An appeal to emotion — when the writer makes the audience feel something.
Pathos
An appeal to logic or reason — using facts, data, or logical arguments.
Logos
“As a firefighter with twenty years of experience, I can tell you: preparation saves lives.”
Ethos
“Data shows that recycling just one aluminum can saves enough energy to power a TV for three hours.”
Logos
A short, personal story used to illustrate a point.
Anecdote
The repetition of the same beginning sound in several words.
Alliteration
Using the same word or phrase more than once for emphasis.
Repetition
“Every hour, a child goes to bed hungry while leftovers fill the trash.”
Pathos
“The internet moves like a river—powerful, endless, and impossible to stop.”
Simile
A comparison between two unlike things using “like” or “as.”
Simile
Writing that uses humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize or expose flaws in people or society.
Satire
A comparison between two unlike things without using “like” or “as.”
Metaphor
“When she opened the door to the new office, she felt like Alice stepping into Wonderland.”
Allusion
“The classroom was a battlefield, each student armed with caffeine and determination.”
Metaphor
A brief reference to a famous person, event, story, or idea.
Allusion
Using similar grammatical structures to create rhythm or balance.
Parallelism
A metaphor that continues over several sentences or an entire piece of writing.
Extended Metaphor
A commercial advertises a “Procrastination App” that lets you “delay responsibilities with one tap.”
Satire
“She wanted freedom, she needed purpose, and she demanded change.”
Parallelism
An intentional exaggeration used for emphasis or dramatic effect, not meant to be taken literally.
Hyperbole
An informal word, phrase, or expression that reflects everyday speech rather than formal writing.
Colloquialism
The placement of two contrasting ideas, images, or details side by side to highlight their differences or to create tension, irony, or deeper meaning.
Juxtaposition
“When I failed my first driving test, I thought it was the end of the world. Looking back, it was the best lesson in patience I ever learned.”
Anecdote
“Silent storms stirred the sleepy seaside town.”
Alliteration