Rhetorical Devices
Writing
Public Speaking
Persuasive Appeals
Literary Devices
100

Ask not what your country will do for you, but what will you do for your country? 

What two devices are being used in this famous JFK quote? 

Hypophora--rhetorical question


Chiasmus-reversal (will for you...you do for...)

100

Define claim, counterclaim, and rebuttal.

claim-your central argument

counterclaim-the other side of your argument

rebuttal-an example that reveals why the counterclaim is wrong. 

100

On average, human beings are more afraid of ________________ than death. 

Speaking in front of a crowd

100

When a commercial includes somber music and images of sad dogs standing in the rain...the advertisement is appealing to your emotions, or THIS appeal: __________________________

PATHOS

100

DAILY DOUBLE

In Dwight's speech, identify the devices he used in the following excerpts: 

"Blood alone moves the wheels of history." 

"Have you ever asked yourself in an hour of meditation, how long you have been striving for greatness?" 

"It is a struggle. A never-ending, lifelong fight." 

"Be worthy of this honor during a historical hour."

"Salesmen and women, we must never acquiesce, never divide. We must unite." 

200

Define 'scesis onomaton' and provide an example. A sample. A specimen. An exemplar. 

SO=a list of generally synonymous words


Example: We were victorious, accomplished, successful.  

200

In writing creatively, as you did with your narrative essay this semester, identify two devices of 'show don't tell' techniques you were encouraged to use. 

-dialogue

-sensory detail

-give characters gestures and movements while they speak

-show vs. tell a visual emotion--what does scared look like? 

200

Provide two common DOs and DONTs of public speaking/giving a speech

DO:  practice, make eye contact with crowd, be confident, be brief, speak clearly and project your voice, etc.


DON'T: insult audience, chew gum, mumble, curse, fidget excessively, etc. 

200

Identify two ways a speaker or presenter can come across as using ethical appeal before they even begin their presentation. 

-Dressed professionally

-Poise

-Confidence

-Prepared

200

"In hurried Gatsby, in his white suit and gold colored tie" (84). 

What device is Fitzgerald using here and what does it 'stand for'/symbolize? 

Motif--use of color

white/gold=Daisy, purity, wealth...

300

We must feed the vines of hope so they remain strong and full of livelihood and not perish in a weakening death. 


What two devices are at work here? Identify them in the sentence. 

vines of hope=metaphor


strong/livelihood/weakening death=antithesis

300

Claim: Uniformed dress codes should be enforced at all high schools because it would eliminate inappropriate or distracting clothing. 

Counterclaim: 

Rebuttal:  

Answers will vary

Counterclaim: Freedom of dress allows students to be creative with their own style and be comfortable while at school. 

Rebuttal: When these students enter the working world, they will have to adhere to a strict dress code or even wear a uniform that isn't exactly their style! 

300

What is a target audience and provide an example. 

Target audience: who a message or information is being aimed at. 

Ex: A commercial for dog food=people who have dog and will buy the product

Ex: Steve Job's commencement address at Stanford=the graduates

300

Identify the three different persuasive appeals we worked with this semester and provide an example/definition of each. 

Ethos-Ethical (I trust you)

Pathos-Emotion (You make me react with feeling)

Logos-Logical (numbers, statistics, percents)

300

"Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice..."

Identify three familiar literary devices being used in above passage. Who spoke these famous words? Where? 

Alliteration

Metaphor x2

Allusion

MLK Jr. In Washington DC. 

400

The animals are suffering-they didn’t ask for that. The animals are confused-they didn’t ask for that. The animals are neglected-they didn’t ask for that.


Identify two devices being used. What advertiser or organization might use wordage like this in an ad or commercial? 

Anaphora-repeats at beginning

Antistrophe--repeats at the end


SPCA, PETA, Animal activists 

400

Turn the following 'tell' sentence into a quick 'show'...

It was a nice spring day. 

The welcoming sun shone through the young leaves and their shadows danced over the lawn. Low in the blue sky, a pair of robins fluttered together looking for worms in the garden just below. 

400

What is the technique when speakers incorporate their own personal experience with the issue or topic into their speech/presentation? 


Why is this technique often effective?

Anecdotal evidence


It helps the audience connect with the speaker, maybe strengthen trust (ethos) or relatability. 

400

Dissect the displayed advertisement for the appeals being used.  How might they 'work' on an audience? 

Ethos-Flo is a 'pro', a well known/recognized spokesperson for insurance company


Pathos-I feel happy/confident/it is so easy! Great!

Logos-Numbers compare costs/$$ with competitor 

400

Provide an example of the following devices from Catcher in the Rye:

-symbolism

-characterization

-conflict 

symbols: red hard, baseball glove

characterization: Holden is depressed. Cynical. Immature. Curious. Observant. 

Conflict: H's brother died

500

Using the post-test from the other day, skip ahead to the JFK speech. Each group member must provide one of the devices they labeled. 

antithesis, allusion, anaphora, chiasmus, alliteration, metaphor...

500

Put the following parts of a web. resource in proper MLA format:

-Print

-Ethan York

-New York Times

-The Demise of a Generation (title of article)

-7 June 2019

York, Ethan. "The Demise of a Generation." The New York Times. 7 June 2019. Print. 

500

DAILY DOUBLE

Speakers often use PATHOS to appeal to their audience. Identify three other words, one of which MUST be one of our S2 vocabulary words, that share the same root as this emotional appeal.

500

Who is the 'ethos' in the building about health issues?

What kind of logos could Mr. Herbert provide about suspension rates?

How could the yearbook committee use pathos to convince their target audience to buy a yearbook?

-School nurse, Ms. Grise, Ms. McGinley 

-#s re: how many suspensions this year, %s about infractions, amounts of re-offenses, how many days out on average, etc. 

-Make you feel sentimental about memories...

500

What vocabulary word did we have in class that was also an example of a rhetorical device? Provide the word, its definition, part of speech, and an example of it in action. 

antithesis (noun)

opposite

We rise like brothers or fall like fools.