Rhetorical Choices Review

Rhetorical Choices Review

Counter-argument

Concession + Refutation.

 

Concession = acknowledging a different/opposing perspective

Refutation = providing evidence or reasoning against the opposing perspective

Example:
Some people may rightly argue that if smoking on campus is not illegal, then it should be permitted; however, second-hand smoke may cause harm to those who have health issues like asthma, possibly putting them at risk.

Anecdote

A short amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person

Example:
"I remember when I used to sit on my dad's lap while he drove around delivering mail."

Rhetorical Question

Asking a question without expecting a response


Who wouldn't want to be a millionaire?

1^st Person Pronouns

Use of personal pronouns like I, we, us, me, our, mine

Anaphora

When a writer or speaker repeats the same phrase at the beginning of a series of sentences or clauses

Give me liberty or give me death.
Go Big or Go Home

Apostrophe

A figure of speech directly addressing an absent person, abstract concept, or inanimate object.

• Heaven help us.

• Chocolate, why must you be so delicious?

Allusion

Reference to another work of literature, art, historical or current event. In many speeches and essays, references to the Bible, mythology, or other historical events are common.



The smell of donuts is like kryptonite to me.

Parallel Structure

Using the same pattern of words within a sentence or in a series of sentences.

Parallel: Her children like to swim, hike and ride dirt bikes.
NOT parallel: Her children like to swim, hike, and riding dirt bikes.

Repetition

An instance of using a word, phrase or clause more than once close proximity.

Connotative Diction

Word choice that has an implied or suggested meaning. Words that carry cultural and emotional associations or meanings in addition to their literal meanings

Juxtaposition

Putting two or more things side by side in order to compare them

“You can't teach an old dog new tricks.”
War and Peace

Exemplification

A pattern of argument that uses examples to support a claim.


The grace and beauty of a ballerina dancing on a stage is an exemplification of the principles of ballet itself — in other words, she is a living example of what ballet should be.

Test your knowledge!
Match the sentence or definition to the correct rhetorical choice

Multiple Choice

If someone says "chocolate cake is my Achilles heel," which rhetorical choice is being used?

• Apostrophe

• Ancedote

• Exemplification

• Allusion

Multiple Choice

The following sentence contains a counter-argument:

Some people may rightly argue that if smoking on campus is not illegal, then it should be permitted.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

When I get home from work, I'm going to wash the dishes and take out the trash. This sentence uses which type of pronouns?

• Third person

• First person

• Second person

• No pronouns

Multiple Choice

This type of structure uses the same pattern of words within a sentence or in a series of sentences.

• Diagonal

• Parallel

• Plural

• Perfect

Multiple Choice

Word choice that carries emotional and cultural meaning (pathos).

• Denotative Diction

• Connotative Diction

Multiple Choice

When Charles Dickens wrote: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, this is an example of what?

• Juxtaposition

• exemplification

• simile

• hyperbole