Rhetorical Devices
The perspective from which a narrator or character tells a story. First-Person, Second-Person, Third-Person Limited, or Third-Person Omniscient.
What is Point of View?
Using words such as "like" or "as" to make a direct comparison between two very different things.
"After winning the championship, the girls soccer team celebrated like they had just won the lottery."
What is Simile?
Techniques which appeal to emotion
Stories or personal narratives
Vulnerability, passion
Direct quotes
Loaded language and descriptions to get the audience to feel something
What is Pathos?
After the Carolina Panthers win the Super Bowl, a fan says, "I’d say that was a pretty good game."
What rhetorical device is found in this example sentence?
A certified personal trainer shares workout advice on TikTok and explains their professional qualifications.
What rhetorical appeal is this?
An indirect reference to something commonly known, such as a literary text, art, song, or historical event.
"After pulling off an impossible comeback in the championship game, the quarterback was called the David who defeated Goliath."
What is Allusion?
A work that reveals a critical attitude toward human vices, follies, or social institutions to a humorous effect.
I care so much about my education that I’ve spent the last three hours watching TikToks about people who care about their education. #AcademicWeapon
What is Satire?
Techniques to build credibility
Trustworthy, credible experts
Describes his or her own expertise or authority on the subject
Provides an argument and rebuttal
What is Ethos?
Ella Langley writes songs to tell her story, connect with her fans, and express her emotions.
What rhetorical device is present in this sentence structure?
Parallelism
Dolly Parton encourages people to support childhood literacy through her Imagination Library.
What rhetorical appeal is used?
Ethos
Placing things side by side for the purposes of comparison in order to make a point.
While one student spends hours studying for the SAT, another student scrolls through TikTok and ignores their upcoming test.
What is juxtaposition?
A terse statement which expresses a general truth or moral principle, serving as a memorable summation.
"Actions speak louder than words."
What is an Aphorism?
Techniques which appeal to logic
Statistics/data
Logical reasoning
If-then statements
Evidence that is objective and unbiased
What is logos?
Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater decided to "go their separate ways" in June 2026.
What rhetorical device is found in this sentence?
Euphemism
John Krasinski hosted a Youtube news show during Covid called Some Good News where he shared positive stories during a hard time. The slogan was "We would love to hear Some Good News and share it with the world."
What rhetorical appeal is he using?
Pathos
A kind of metonymy where a whole is represented by naming one of its parts, or vice versa.
"Just bought some new wheels"
What is Synecdoche
Replacing an actual word or idea with a related word or concept.
"Hollywood is obsessed with superhero movies."
What is Metonymy?
What rhetorical appeal does this example demonstrate?
When promoting her new skincare line, a dermatologist explains which ingredients are proven to help protect your skin.
What is Ethos
After hitting his tee shot into the bunker, the golfer used his sand wedge to get back onto the fairway and save par.
What rhetorical device is found in this sentence?
Jargon
If you spend three hours scrolling TikTok every day, you spend more than 1,000 hours a year on the app.
What rhetorical appeal is used?
Logos
A seemingly contradictory situation which is actually true.
"The more you know, the less you learn."
What is a paradox?
When a single word governs or modifies two or more other words, changing its meaning for each.
When the student walked into school, she broke hearts and the dress code.
What is Zeugma?
What rhetorical appeal does this example demonstrate?
If students who study for at least 30 minutes a night score 20% higher on tests, then studying regularly can improve academic performance.
What is logos
The Rizzler may be small in size but big in charisma.
What rhetorical device is used in this sentence?
Antithesis
A tribute was posted on Dolly Parton's website, "A rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see, Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth, and kindness that made us all feel like family. Dolly Parton’s legacy is one of love, compassion, and resilience."
What rhetorical appeal is seen in this example?
Pathos