what are rhetorical strategies?

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What are Rhetorical Strategies?

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What are Rhetorical Strategies?. What is rhetoric ? And why bother studying it?. “the art of effective expression (speaking & writing) and the persuasive use of language” We study rhetoric because: it helps us to better appreciate appeals to our ethos, pathos, & logos (more on this to come) - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 2: What are Rhetorical Strategies?

What is rhetoric? And why bother studying it?

• “the art of effective expression (speaking & writing) and the persuasive use of language”

• We study rhetoric because:– it helps us to better appreciate appeals to

our ethos, pathos, & logos (more on this to come)

– it helps us to become more effective persuasive speakers and writers

Page 3: What are Rhetorical Strategies?

Examples?

• What are some of the techniques by which people use language persuasively?

• Jot these down in your notes

Page 4: What are Rhetorical Strategies?

Maybe you named some of these examples:

• Formal diction leads readers/listeners to believe something is ethically or legally important

• Emotional diction (sometimes called “sensationalism”) leads readers/listeners to recognize that ideas expressed are important to the writer/speaker

• Allusion can associate a new idea to a traditionally respected source

Page 5: What are Rhetorical Strategies?

Here is a real-life example of rhetoric in action…

• If you were trying to persuade a student to get to class on time, you might say, “it is WHS policy that students serve detention after three tardies”. What makes this statement effective?

Page 8: What are Rhetorical Strategies?

Ethos

• Persuasive appeal of one’s character. Tells us that the author is reliable and competent

• Example: “I am a father, a taxpayer, and have served you as senator for 20 years. I deserve your vote to continue my service.

AK Senator Hollis French

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Rhetorical Strategies

• The strategies that follow are just some of the ways to make your writing/speaking more persuasive…

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Parallel Structure

• Parallel Structure-repetition of grammatically similar words, phrases, clauses, or sentences to emphasize a point or stir the emotions of a reader/listener. Used to create a sense of rhythm, balance, and order in writing or speech.– Chiasmus=“inverted parallelism” (i.e. eat to

live, not live to eat)

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Allusion• Short, informal reference to famous

person, event, story. Relies on reader/listener to be familiar with the reference and hidden meaning. Used to stimulate ideas, associations, add extra information.

• If I want to persuade you to wash your hands, I may say “thou shalt wash thy hands”. I am trusting that you respect the commandments and, hence, my statement.

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Analogy• Comparison between two things that

are alike in certain respects. Used in persuasion to demonstrate the logic of one idea by showing how it is similar to an accepted idea.– (“Pupils are more like oysters than

sausages. The job of teaching is not to stuff them and then seal them up, but to help them reveal the riches within.”-Sydney Harris)

Page 23: What are Rhetorical Strategies?

Audience

• When attempting to persuade, consider your audience.

• For example, you would not use caustic satire to persuade a potential employer to hire you.

• (“The food served here is great if you are a teenager with two dollars in your pocket.”)

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Active Voice v. Passive Voice• Active Voice- The boy hit the ball. The

subject of this sentence actively hits the ball.

• Passive Voice- The ball was hit by the boy. The subject sits passively, doing nothing while some outside agent performs the action.

Page 25: What are Rhetorical Strategies?

Here’s why it is better rhetoric to use active voice…

• Active voice sentences are shorter.– The fighter punched Ali and dodged the

uppercut. (Active= 8 words)– Ali was punched by the fighter, and then an

uppercut was dodged by him. (Passive= 14 words)

Page 26: What are Rhetorical Strategies?

Active sentences are clear and to the point

• When you use passive voice, you have to use boring phrases like “by so-and-so” or leave this out and let your sentence become unclear.– The airplane was flown to Bermuda (by the

pilot).– My car has been driven to Dallas. (By

whom? A car thief? The teletubbies?)

Page 27: What are Rhetorical Strategies?

To Identify the Evil Passive Voice

• Is there a form of the verb “to be” such as is/am/are/was/were/be/being/been? (Can’t create passive voice without this)

• Could you insert “by so-and-so” after the verb? (the dog was fed (by the owner)

• ID the subject and main verb. Is the subject “doing” the action? Or is it sitting passively?

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Use inside of box to ID rhetorical devices

• Metaphor

• Symbolism

• Rhetorical Questions

• Emotionally “loaded words” (To advertise a new movie…”the most awe-inspiring display of artistry ever presented on the big screen.”)