Amplifying a Point
This rhetorical technique involves continuously reiterating a key word or phrase to reenforce its importance and make it more memorable.
You might pull one of these from Ghandi, Abraham Lincoln, or another influential figure to add authority to your argument.
What are QUOTES?
You could use one of these to provide a past precedent or other context to make your argument more convincing.
What is a HISTORICAL EXAMPLE?
If you made specific word choices to convey atmosphere, emotional feeling, or tone, you'd be using this.
What is DICTION?
What the author wants the audience to think, feel, or do is called this.
What is the PURPOSE?
You can prompt the audience to think critically and agree with you, even though the answer is only implied when asking one of these.
What is a RHETORICAL QUESTION?
It's easy to build credibility when you offer a personal, first-hand experience with a real-world situation in one of these.
What is an ANECDOTE?
These longer, more detailed illustrations fully explore a specific situation or case to support a point.
What is an EXTENDED EXAMPLE?
If you used this, you'd actually be appealing to the senses with details that immerse the audience or create tension.
What is IMAGERY?
This would be the rhetorical name for the problem that the author hopes to address in their argument.
What is the EXIGENCE?
This is a great way to show your audience the consequences or impacts of making one decision versus another.
What is CAUSE AND EFFECT?
If you were old school, you might want to conduct some of this to find reliable data or expert testimony to support your argument.
What is SCHOLARLY RESEARCH?
BONUS: This is the number of chickens Mr. Blankenship owns.
What is 4?
(Doris, Minnie, Mabel, and Flo)
Metaphors, similes, and personification are rhetorical comparisons also known as this.
What is FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE?
Before laying out the thesis of your argument, you may want to provide a little background information on the topic; so, it's a good idea to use some of this.
What is CONTEXT?
These rhetorical devices highlight similarities between complex concepts to make them simpler to understand.
What are ANALOGIES?
If you did this, you would have to acknowledge that the situation could not be reduced to a simple solution. But it might make you seem more thoughtful and realistic.
What is a CONSESSION TO COMPLEXITY?
One of these illustrates what could happen if certain conditions are met or actions are taken, helping to explain abstract ideas.
What is a HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLE?
BONUS: This is the official name for a hashtag or the pound symbol: #.
What is an OCTOTHORPE?
(It was the drawing on the board yesterday)
This is the part of any thesis that lays out what the author intends to prove or argue.
What is the OVERARCHING CLAIM?
This rhetorical tactic involves contrasting two very different ideas to highlight the strengths of one and expose the flaws of the other.
What is JUXSTAPOSITION?
You might be accused of this of you listed your professional credentials, personal achievements, or even tried demonstrating some of your more favorable values.
What is ESPOUSING QUALIFICATIONS?
These rhetorical devices are used to illustrate a point by drawing on shared knowledge or familiar ideas.
What are ALLUSIONS?
If you adjusted the length, order, or phrasing of your sentences to impact the audience, you'd be messing with this.
What is SYNTAX?
In an explicit thesis, this is the "roadmap" to the rest of the argument, summarizing the claims the author will make throughout.
What is the FOCUS?