Rhetorical Strategies Chart

Rhetorical Devices Figurative Language Syntax Fallacies

Rhetorical Device Definition Example Rhetorical Function

Ad Hominem Argument against a You didn’t finish high Prioritize emotion over
person instead of a school, how could you reason, degrade
position possible know? opponent, and mislead
argument
Analogy Comparison of two similar Teaching and Serving To make the audience see
situations to show their example a point through that
similarities comparison
Anecdote A short amusing or Throughout the day yesterday, I Humanize speaker with
kept hiding a speaker next to my
interesting story about a brother and blasting "Tunak
real events
real incident or person Tunak Tun" out of nowhere. If
you don't know it, it is a terrible
song. So today at three in the
placed a speaker on my pillow
and blasted "Tunak Tunak Tun".
That’s my story.

Antithesis Two opposite ideas You are easy on the eyes, Call attention to
expressed in one but hard on the heart distinctions
sentence
Aphorism Short, concise observation If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it Uses a famous saying to
that contains a general evoke a sense of truth and
truth authority on the subject
Apostrophe A speech or address to a Romeo oh Romeo To give details without
person who is not present objection or opinion
 Rhetorical Strategies Chart
Rhetorical Devices Figurative Language Syntax Fallacies

Asyndeton Absence of conjunctions I came. I saw. I Adds power, drama,

conquered. importance, and finality
Chiasmus Two or more clauses that All for one and one for all Makes symmetry and
are balanced by reversal gives a well rounded feel
Circular Reasoning Redundant argument God is real because it says Uses a false authority,
where a point is used so in the bible. And the relies on the opponent
incorrectly to justify itself bible is right because god not seeing the cyclical
helped write it. nature of the argument
Colloquialisms Slang, informal language Bamboozle-to deceive, Go Make the speaker more
nuts-go insane relatable
Deduction Generalization to specific All cats have good smell. Make the audience
Therefore, Fluffy, a cat, comfortable with a
has a good smell generalization then
provide evidence with a
specific example
Dichotomy Divides something into Good and evil Allows readers to see
two opposite and equal Heaven and Hell conflicting sides with
parts more clarity
Either/Or Presents only two sides Republican or Democrat Relies on lack of
when there are many knowledge
Ethos Appeal to the Authority or As a doctor, it is my duty Build trust and
credibility of the speaker to tell you to stay off that
ankle
Faulty Cause Mislocates the cause of Our garage sale made lots Show a false cause and
 Rhetorical Strategies Chart
Rhetorical Devices Figurative Language Syntax Fallacies

one phenomenon in of money before Joan effect, places blame

another that is only showed up, she definitely
seemingly related caused it
First Person Perspective A point of view where the I saw her fall to her knees, More intimate, speak
narrator relates nearly pulling out her hair directly to the audience
information from their in frustration. I felt the
point of view same way as the woman.
Generalizations Common properties of Homework is hard. To make a claim easier to
specific instances are accept
formulated as general
concepts or claims
Hyperbole Exaggerated statements The only thing we have to The exaggeration presents
or claims not meant to be fear is fear itself a level of vagueness so
taken literally that the speaker doesn’t
have to commit to
evidence
Induction Building an example from She’s been married and Starting with concrete
specific to general divorced twice; she must proof then generalizing
be a difficult wife makes it easier to accept
Juxtaposition Act of placing two or Better late than never Used to create a deeper
more things side by side meaning and
often to compare or understanding through
contrast or to create an comparison
interest
 Rhetorical Strategies Chart
Rhetorical Devices Figurative Language Syntax Fallacies

Litotes Ironic understatement in He was hardly To be funny, polite or

which the affirmative is unattractive tactful.
expressed by the negative
of the contrary
Logos Appeal to logic data Arguments need logic and
numbers make you sound
more credible
Metaphor Equates two things that His face was wooden Create imagery and
aren’t the same deeper meaning
Overstatement State something more Mom you are the greatest Emphasis
profoundly than it is mom in the whole world
Paradox An assertion that is If I know one thing, It is Arrest attention and
contradictory, or cannot that I know nothing provoke thought
be true but if it isn’t true
than it is.
Parallelism Use of successive verbal Mother was busy washing The balance between
constructions in writing dishes, gathering the clauses and phrases
which corresponds in laundry, and dusting the makes sense and is easy
grammatical structures furniture to follow
Pathos Use emotion to persuade Adopt the sad dog Make the reader feel
commercial empathy for the subject
 Rhetorical Strategies Chart
Rhetorical Devices Figurative Language Syntax Fallacies

Periodic Sentence A sentence deliberately Despite the blinding snow Arouse interest, introduce
structured to have the and freezing drama
main point at the end temperatures, the team
continued.
Polysyndeton The use of many I was so cold I wore a Used to change rhythm of
conjunctions between sweater, and a hat, and a text and show gravity of
parts of a sentence. boot and mittens. something
Rhetorical Question Ask a question to make a If all your friends jumped Make a point with drama
point instead of get a off a cliff, would you?
legitimate answer
Second Person Writing where reader is You need to vote like your To put more pressure on
Perspective addressed directly life depended on it audience
Slippery Slope Rapid increase in intensity If you give a mouse a Scare tactic, doesn’t
of a problem cookie… always work
Straw Man When someone Twists a Caroline says don’t be so Belittle and weakening a
position because that is men to the new girl. position
easier Jenna says she cannot
believe Caroline is
choosing the new girl over
her.
Synecdoche Using part of something Wheels Use short hand and build
to represent the whole Kleenex familiarity
Crockpot
 Rhetorical Strategies Chart
Rhetorical Devices Figurative Language Syntax Fallacies

Third Person Perspective Writing technique where Uses he, she, they, them, Give more perspective
all thoughts and ideas can it
be heard
Understatement Presentation of I only miss you when it To minimalize an idea and
something as being rains its weight
smaller, worse, or less
important than it actually
is
Zeugma One word refers to two or He fished for trout and for Develop personality based
more different things compliments writing style
Power of 3 Writing technique that suggests 3 Musketeers, 3 wise men, etc Things are more appealing
groups of 3 are more appealing when in groups of 3