Rhetorical Strategies/Devices

Grade Level: High School

(Elements creators of text use to put forth their arguments)

Diction/Word Choice/ Repetition of certain words: Why, with all the words at his or her disposal, does a writer choose to use or repeat particular words? (Questions to consider: What could they mean or symbolize? What effect do they have on the tone of the piece? On the sound of the piece?)

Imagery: Language that evokes one or all of the five senses: seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling, touching. (Questions to consider: Where is the language the most vivid? Why? The author will usually slow down to describe things he/she considers important for a reason? What do the images contribute to his or her argument?)

Metaphor and Symbolism: Non-literal, imaginative substitutions in which, for instance, a tree becomes a metaphor for family, or springtime symbolizes rebirth. (Questions to consider: Why does the author chose the metaphors or symbols he/she does? How do they fit within his or her argument?)

Structure: Linear or fragmented, chronological or driven by a theme or some other unifying device. (Questions to consider: How does the author’s structure reflect his or her argument? How does it forward his/her message?)

Narration/Voice: Usually first or third person. (Questions to consider: If it’s told in first person how does the author present himself/herself in the piece? The author is not the narrator—the narrator is a construct of the author, even in first person nonfiction—so how is the writer forwarding his/her argument through narration?)

Allusion: A reference to something real or fictional, to someone, some event, or something in the Bible, history, literature, or any phase of culture. (Questions to consider: If the author uses a historical, literary, or biblical allusion what effect do you think it has on the author’s intended audience? Is the allusion a way to gain logical credibility or a way to make an emotional impact?)

Alliteration: repetition of the initial consonant sounds beginning several words in sequence. (Questions to consider: What effect does sound have? How does the writer use sound to emphasize certain images or points?)

Personification: attribution of personality to non-human thing. (Questions to consider: How does this reflect the author’s view of the environment? What emotional effect does it have on the reader?)

Tone: Gut reactions are useful here. Examine your own responses. What is it that makes you respond as you do? Are you the author’s intended audience? If not, who is? The attitude a writer takes towards a subject or character: serious, humorous, sarcastic, ironic, satirical, tongue-in-cheek, solemn, objective.

Aristotelian Appeals
Logos-Appeals to the head using logic, numbers, explanations, and facts. Through Logos, a writer aims at a person's intellect. The idea is that if you are logical, you will understand.
Ethos-Appeals to the conscience, ethics, morals, standards, values, principles.
Pathos-Appeals to the heart, emotions, sympathy, passions, sentimentality.