1 / 14

Rhetorical Devices

Rhetorical Devices. What are they? How do I recognize t hem? Why do authors u se them? -Article of the Week Wednesday Activity. What Are Rhetorical Devices?. Authors use rhetorical devices to enhance their writing & for an intended effect Three rhetorical devices we will focus on include:

dalit
Download Presentation

Rhetorical Devices

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Rhetorical Devices What are they? How do I recognize them? Why do authors use them? -Article of the Week Wednesday Activity

  2. What Are Rhetorical Devices? • Authors use rhetorical devices to enhance their writing & for an intended effect • Three rhetorical devices we will focus on include: • Repetition • Diction (word choice) • Syntax (sentence length, word order, etc.)

  3. Repetition • What is it? • Repeating key words, phrases, or sentences • Can be used consecutively (back to back, sentence to sentence) or in separate paragraphs throughout a text • Parallel structure • How will I recognize it? • As you read, you will see words repeated, sentences formed the same way, paragraphs starting with the same phrase, etc. • Parallel structure can also fall under this category • Why do authors use it? • Creates a rhythm, emphasizes an idea/concept/message • Makes the passage or text memorable

  4. Diction • What is it? • Word choice (house vs. home); used to achieve a particular emotion, tone of voice, or other associative meaning • A writer’s diction determines his/her style & helps determine tone. • How will I recognize it? • By looking at specific words & patterns • In examining a writer’s diction, you will look at: • Meaning, Complexity, Formality (we won’t worry with Specific vs. Concrete or Sound) – see next few slides for what each of these is about • Why do authors use it? • Develops their style & the tone of the text

  5. Diction = Meaning • Consider the MEANING & INTENSITY of words: • Denotative: (containing an exact meaning; dictionary definition) • dress (a woman’s piece of clothing) • Connotative: (containing a suggested meaning; the feelings/images associated the word evokes) • gown (what Cinderella wore to the ball) • Short vs. Vertically Challenged • Thin vs. Malnourished

  6. Diction = Complexity • Consider the COMPLEXITY & INTENSITY of the word choice • Monosyllabic (one syllable) • Polysyllabic (many syllables) • War – Armageddon • The higher the ratio of polysyllabic words, the more formal or technical the language becomes & typically the higher the Lexile level

  7. Diction = Formality • Consider the FORMALITY of the word choice • Archaic: “Certainly this is an equivocation of some degree.” • Formal: “I am not sanguine about the decision of the Woodlake Union High School Board.” • Informal: “I am not optimistic about the school board’s decision.” • Conversational: “I’m not comfortable about the board’s decision.” • Colloquial: “I’m not cool with what the brass decided.” • Slang: “I’m ticked off at what the suits did.” • Vulgar: “I’m royally p-----.”

  8. Syntax – What is it? • What is it? • The arrangement of words & phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language; sentence structure • Syntax deals with word order, sentence length, sentence focus, & punctuation (rhetorical questions are part of syntax) • It’s not just WHAT you say; it’s HOW you say it!

  9. Syntax – How Will I Recognize It? (Pt. 1) • Rhetorical questions: • Questions authors ask but expect no reply (teacher: do you want more homework tonight?) • Word Order: • Most sentences follow subject-verb-object/complement format • Am I ever sorry! (inverting subject & verb) • Hungry, without a doubt, he is. (complement at beginning of sentence) • Sara I like – not Susan. (object before verb) • See Word Order Slide for additional examples • Sentence length: • Short: specific, to the point. Usually important information or emphasis. (Especially effective when used among or after longer sentences) • Long: Descriptive, explanatory, detailed

  10. Syntax – How Will I Recognize It? (Pt. 2) • Punctuation: • Usually found at the end of sentences (period, exclamation mark, etc.) or in the middle of phrases or sentences (semi-colon, dash, colon, italics) – see Punctuation Choice slide for more information • Sentence Focus (word order): • Deals with variation & emphasis within a sentence; varying the location of the main clause determines writer’s focal point (periodic vs. loose sentences) – See Periodic vs. Loose Sentences slide for more information

  11. Syntax = Punctuation Choices • Semicolon: gives equal weight to two or more independent clauses in a sentence. The balance reinforces parallel ideas & gives equality to both clauses. • He is my best friend; I have known him most of my life. • Colon: directs reader attention to the words that follow. It sets the expectation that important, closely related information will follow; words after a colon are emphasized. • He is my best friend: he helps me through hard times & celebrates good times with me. • Dash: marks a sudden change in thought or tone, sets off a brief summary, or sets off a parenthetical part of the sentence; it conveys a casual tone. • John – my best friend – lives right down the street. • Italics: used to talk about a word as a word; also used for emphasis. • Of all the people I’ve ever known, John is my best friend.

  12. Syntax = Word Order • Changing the word order in a sentence can create new meaning: • Jim said that he drives only a truck. (he drives nothing else) • Jim said that only he drives a truck. (no one else drives a truck) • Jim only said that he drives a truck. (he probably doesn’t really drive a truck) • Only Jim said that he drives a truck. (no one else said it)

  13. Syntax = Periodic vs. Loose Sentences • Periodic sentence (syntactical tension held to end; main clause last): As long as we ignore our children & refuse to dedicate the necessary time & money to their care, we will fail to solve the problem of school violence. (Emphasis is on the problem) • Loose sentence (reaches closure early; main clause at start of sentence): We will fail to solve the problems of school violence as long as we ignore our children & refuse to dedicate the necessary time & money to their care. (Emphasis on the cause of failure)

  14. Syntax – Why Do Authors Use It? • Rhetorical Questions: used for effect & to get the audience thinking. They can also lead to action. • Word Order: switching the expected word order can startle the reader & draw attentionto the sentence • Sentence Length: draw readers’ attention • Punctuation:used for sentence construction and/or emphasis • Sentence Focus: to maintain tension in readers & hold main point to the end or present it at the beginning

More Related