What is Rhetoric

Objectives

Explain the history of rhetoric

Define rhetoric in speaking(speech)

Discuss the type of rhetorical devices in writing

History of rhetoric

During the 4th century B.C., Aristotle wrote

the Rhetoric in which he defined rhetoric as

discovering all available means of persuasion on

a topic. Thus, for Aristotle, rhetoric has a clear

persuasive function, but also an epistemic

function. It serves as a way to discover

what is known and what can be known about a

subject.

Rhetoric in speech

In rhetoric, a formal address delivered to an

audience.

It is an oration or oral presentation.

Classical rhetoric recognized three main type or

genres of speech which are deliberative, judicial,

and epideictic.

There are 3 major parts to every speech which

are introduction, body, and, conclusion.

Type of Rhetorical devices in writing

1) Alliteration (repetition of initial sound)

The initial consonant sound is usually repeated in two neighboring words (sometimes also in words next to each other). Alliteration draws attention to the phrase and is often used for emphasis.

2) Allusion (indirect reference to a person, event or piece of literature)

Allusion is used to explain or clarify a complex problem. Note that allusion works best if you keep it short and refer to something the reader/audience is familiar with. For example: famous people, history, and the bible.

Type of Rhetorical devices in writing

3) Anaphora (successive clauses or sentences start with the same word(s)

The same word or phrase is used to begin successive clauses or sentences. Thus, the reader’s/listener’s attention is drawn directly to the message of the sentence.

4) Antithesis (contrasting relationship between two ideas)

Antithesis emphasis the contrast between two ideas. The structure of the phrases/clauses is usually similar in order to draw the reader’s/ listener’s attention directly to the contrast.

Type of Rhetorical devices in writing

5) Hyperbole (deliberate exaggeration)

used sparingly, hyperbole effectively draws the

attention to a massage that you want to

emphasize.

6) Metaphor (figurative expression)

metaphor compares two different things in a

figurative sense. Unlike in a simile (A is like B),

“LIKE” is not used in metaphor (A is B).

Type of Rhetorical devices in writing

7) Metonymy (figurative expression, closely

associated with the subject)

metonymy (unlike metaphor) uses figurative

expressions that are closely associated with the

subject in terms of place, time or background.

8) Personification (attribution of human

characteristics to animals, inanimate objects or

abstractions)

animals, inanimate objects or abstractions are

represented as having human characteristics

(behavior, feelings, character.) personification can

make a narration more interesting and lively.

Type of Rhetorical devices in writing

9) Simile (direct comparison)

two things are compared directly by using “like”

(A is like B)

other possibilities are for example:

- A is (not) like B

- A is more/less than B

- A is as … as B

- A is similar to B

- A is …, so is B

- A does …, so does B

Type of Rhetorical devices in writing

10) Understatement (weaken or soften a

statement)

A statement is deliberately weakened to sound

ironical or softened to sound more polite.

note that understatement is a common feature

of the English language (especially British

English) used in everyday life situations.

Conclusion We employ rhetoric whether we are conscious of it or

not, but becoming conscious of how rhetoric workscan transform speaking, reading and writing, makingus more successful and able communicators andmore discerning audiences.

It is more important to recognize how figures ofspeech or rhetorical devices affect readers and beable to use them effectively to persuade andcommunicate than it is to identify them.

Rhetoric speeches are intended to get listener toaccept a particular point of view, and then motivatethem into action. The art of giving a persuasivespeech is as much about using languages effectivelyas it is about communicating a convincing argument.

References Roskelly, H. What Do Students Need to Know About

Rhetoric? Greensboro, North Carolina: University of North Carolina. http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/repository/ap06_englang_roskelly_50098.pdf

Keefer, A. How to Write a Rhetoric Speech. Demand Media. http://classroom.synonym.com/write-rhetoric-speech-4533.html

http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-rhetorical-devices.html

http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/documents/1951-/martin-luther-kings-i-have-a-dream-speech-august-28-1963.php

http://estylistics.blogspot.com/2012/06/oxymoron-antithesis-irony-stylistic.html