Notes – Rhetoric Devices & Appeals to Audience

Academic Vocabulary Author’s Purpose – the reason the author wrote something Point of View – The author’s take on the topic being discussed Rhetoric – a style of speaking Rhetorical Devices - A rhetorical device uses words in a certain way to convey meaning or to persuade. It can also be a technique to evoke an emotion on the part of the reader or audience. Appeals to Audience - The modes of persuasion, often referred to as rhetorical strategies or rhetorical appeals, are devices in rhetoric that classify the speaker's appeal to the audience. Tone - the sound of someone’s voice that shows what they are feeling

Rhetorical Devices Allusion - a reference to an event, literary work or person - I can’t do that because I am not Superman. Biblical Allusion - An allusion is an implicit reference to another work, especially in literature. A biblical allusion is an implicit reference to a story or character of the Bible. Amplification - repeats a word or expression for emphasis - Love, real love, takes time. Metaphor - compares two things by stating one is the other - The eyes are the windows of the soul.

Rhetorical Devices Antithesis - makes a connection between two things - “That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.” (Neil Armstrong) Parallelism - uses words or phrases with a similar structure - I went to the store, parked the car and bought a pizza. Anaphora - repeats a word or phrase in successive phrases - "If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh?” (Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare)

Types of Appeals Rhetorical Appeals: the three main avenues by which people are persuaded. Logos: Strategy of reason, logic, or facts. Any type of argument which appeals to someone’s rational side is appealing to logos. Ethos: Strategy of credibility, authority, or “character.” Appeals to ethos to demonstrate the author’s trustworthiness, expertise and honesty and attempt to put the author in a more positive light to the audience. Pathos: Strategy of emotions and affect. Pathos appeals to an audience’s sense of anger, sorrow, or excitement. Aristotle argued that logos was the strongest and most reliable form of persuasion; the most effective form of persuasion, however, utilizes all three appeals.