RhetoricRhetoricThe art of using language The art of using language

effectively to persuadeeffectively to persuade

Tools of RhetoricTools of Rhetoric

ParallelismParallelism RepetitionRepetition Rhetorical Rhetorical

QuestionsQuestions Loaded QuestionsLoaded Questions Reverse Reverse

PsychologyPsychology LogosLogos PathosPathos EthosEthos

ParallelismParallelism

The repetition of grammatical The repetition of grammatical structures to express ideas that are structures to express ideas that are related or of equal importancerelated or of equal importance ““Not Not that I lovedthat I loved Caesar less but Caesar less but that I that I

lovedloved Rome more Rome more ““Have you climbed up Have you climbed up toto walls and walls and

battlements, battlements, ToTo tow’rs and windows, tow’rs and windows, yea, yea, toto chimney tops.” chimney tops.”

RepetitionRepetition

The use of words and phrases more The use of words and phrases more than once to emphasize ideasthan once to emphasize ideas ““Therein, ye godsTherein, ye gods you make the weak you make the weak

most strong; most strong; Therein, ye godsTherein, ye gods, you , you tyrants do defeat.”tyrants do defeat.”

““For For Brutus is an honorableBrutus is an honorable manman……And And Brutus is an honorable manBrutus is an honorable man…”…”

Rhetorical QuestionsRhetorical Questions

Questions that require no answer, Questions that require no answer, thus making the speaker’s rightness thus making the speaker’s rightness seem self-evidentseem self-evident ““Wherein hath Caesar thus deserved Wherein hath Caesar thus deserved

your loves? Alas, you know not!”your loves? Alas, you know not!” ““Tell me, good Brutus, can you see your Tell me, good Brutus, can you see your

face?”face?”

Loaded QuestionsLoaded Questions

Questions that limit the possible Questions that limit the possible responses from the answerer or that responses from the answerer or that assume the answer to a prerequisite assume the answer to a prerequisite questionquestion ““Who will join my tribe and have fun?”Who will join my tribe and have fun?” ““Do you understand what you did wrong?”Do you understand what you did wrong?” ““Would you rather be a Roman or a slave?”Would you rather be a Roman or a slave?” ““Would you rather not leave or stay here?”Would you rather not leave or stay here?”

Reverse PsychologyReverse Psychology

Saying the opposite of the desired Saying the opposite of the desired result to elicit the desired resultresult to elicit the desired result One who wants the company of another One who wants the company of another

by “playing hard to get”by “playing hard to get” ““You should quit school! That way you You should quit school! That way you

can make half as much as a graduate, can make half as much as a graduate, become a slave to addiction, burden become a slave to addiction, burden society, and limit your horizons!”society, and limit your horizons!”

““Good friends, let me not stir you up To Good friends, let me not stir you up To such a sudden flood of mutiny.”such a sudden flood of mutiny.”

LogosLogos The use of The use of logiclogic, facts, statistics, , facts, statistics,

reasoning, cause and effect, reasoning, cause and effect, denotation, literal and historical denotation, literal and historical analogy, and sequiturs.analogy, and sequiturs. All humans are mortal. Since Michael is All humans are mortal. Since Michael is

human, then Michael is mortal.human, then Michael is mortal. Humans see .00005% of the Humans see .00005% of the

electromagnetic spectrum.electromagnetic spectrum. Because Caesar refused the crown, he Because Caesar refused the crown, he

could not have been ambitious.could not have been ambitious.

PathosPathos

The use of The use of emotionemotion, loaded language, , loaded language, connotation, vivid description, connotation, vivid description, narration of emotional eventsnarration of emotional events ““During partial birth abortion, the doctor During partial birth abortion, the doctor

punctures the baby’s skull with seven-punctures the baby’s skull with seven-inch surgical scissors and suctions out inch surgical scissors and suctions out the brain.”the brain.”

““Forgive me, my heart is in the coffin Forgive me, my heart is in the coffin with Caesar.”with Caesar.”

““Maybelline. Because you’re worth it!”Maybelline. Because you’re worth it!”

EthosEthos

The use of credibility, institution, The use of credibility, institution, fraternityfraternity A guest speaker whose profession involves A guest speaker whose profession involves

what she speaks about.what she speaks about. A mechanic with 30 years experience.A mechanic with 30 years experience. A priest who tells you to protest military A priest who tells you to protest military

funerals because it’s the moral thing to do.funerals because it’s the moral thing to do. Brutus saying that the conspirators do not Brutus saying that the conspirators do not

need an oath because Romans always do need an oath because Romans always do what they say.what they say.

A counselor saying, “I’ve been there.”A counselor saying, “I’ve been there.”

SynecdocheSynecdoche

When part of something is used to When part of something is used to refer to the whole thingrefer to the whole thing ““All hands on deck!”All hands on deck!” ““Lend me your earsLend me your ears!”!” Describing a complete vehicle with Describing a complete vehicle with

“Nice wheels.”“Nice wheels.” Referring to your clothing as “threads”Referring to your clothing as “threads” Using “glasses” instead of “spectacles”Using “glasses” instead of “spectacles”

IdiomIdiom

An common expression that has a An common expression that has a figurative meaningfigurative meaning that nonetheless that nonetheless derives from the manner in which the derives from the manner in which the saying was first intendedsaying was first intended ““A dime a dozen” – anything that is A dime a dozen” – anything that is

common and easy to getcommon and easy to get ““Place to hang you hat” – homePlace to hang you hat” – home ““Greek to me” - not understoodGreek to me” - not understood ““Itchy palm” – expecting money Itchy palm” – expecting money

ThemeTheme

A broad idea, message, or moral A broad idea, message, or moral about a storyabout a story The The message the author wants the message the author wants the

reader to take away from the narrativereader to take away from the narrative Universal human truthUniversal human truth

Ex. “Slow and steady wins the race” Ex. “Slow and steady wins the race” or “Unchecked passion and or “Unchecked passion and impulsiveness leads to destruction”impulsiveness leads to destruction”