Rhetorical Devices Used by Speakers and Writers

1
Rhetorical Devices Used by Speakers and Writers

• Rhetorical devices are the nuts and bolts of
  speech and writing the parts that make a
  communication work. Separately, each part of is
  meaningless, but once put together they create a
  powerful effect on the listener/reader.

2
Parallelism

• Writing structures that are grammatically
  parallel helps the reader understand the points
  better because they flow more smoothly.
• If there is anyone out there who still
  doubtswho still wonderswho still questions

3
Repetition

• Repetition can be effective in creating a sense
  of structure and power. In both speech and
  literature, repeating small phrases can ingrain
  an idea in the minds of the audience.

• Yes, we can, to opportunity and prosperity. Yes,
  we can heal this nation. Yes, we can repair this
  world. Yes, we can.

4
Antithesis

• A figure of speech in which sharply contrasting
  ideas are juxtaposed in a balanced or parallel
  phrase or grammatical structure
• Obama is famous for having said There are no red
  states or blue states. There are only the United
  States of America.

• "It was the best of times, it was the worst of
  times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age
  of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it
  was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season
  of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was
  the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair,
  we had everything before us, we had nothing
  before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we
  were all going direct the other way."(Dickens, A
  Tale of Two Cities)

5
Figurative speech

• People like to think in metaphors. The image of
  bending the arc of history up towards hope is
  powerful. Figurative speech tends to work best
  when set off by concrete images.
• the arc of history with the backyards of Des
  Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the
  front porches of Charleston

6
Tricolon

• A tricolon is a list of three, or a sentence in
  which there are three parts or clauses. The
  cumulative effect of three has a powerful effect
  on an audience.

7
Allusion

• By using allusion, you not only associate
  yourself with the ideas of the original text but
  also create a bond with the audience by evoking
  share knowledge
• The words government of the people, by the
  people, and for the people are lifted from the
  Gettysburg Address

8
Varied Sentence Length

• Varying the sentence length is always a good way
  to strengthen any writing style, be it speech
  writing or essays.
• --To the best campaign team ever assembled in
  the history of politics you made this happen,
  and I am forever grateful for what youve
  sacrificed to get it done. But above all, I will
  never forget who this victory truly belongs to.
  It belongs to you. It belongs to you.