Rhetorical Strategies

What is rhetoric?

Rhetoric is the art of persuasive speaking or writing Having excellent rhetoric can help you win the argument

Alliteration

The close repetition of consonant sounds, usually at the beginnings of words

Examples: Best Buy, Captain Kid, Dynamic Duo, Phil the Fish

Allusion

A reference to a person, object, or event from the Bible, mythology, literature, or popular culture

Example: If you tell him that, you are opening up Pandora’s box.

Example: They thought they were Romeo and Juliet.

Antithesis

A technique of putting two opposite ideas near each other in a sentence to create a powerful effect

Example: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” (Charles Dickens)

Example: “We are caught in war, wanting peace.” (Richard Nixon)

Example: “Ask not what your country can do for you–ask what you can do for your country.” (JFK)

Metaphor

Short comparison of the characteristics of two unlike things, without using “like” or “as.”

Example: “The moon was a golden grapefruit high up in the sky.”

The moon is being compared to a grapefruit.

Simile

Short comparison of the characteristics of two unlike things, using “like” or “as.”

Example: “Our ignorance is like a vast sea, deep and wide.”

Metaphor vs. Simile

Metaphor: This bread is a rock. Simile: This bread is like a rock. Simile: This bread is as hard as a

rock. Tip: The word “simile” has an “l” and

an “s.” Think “l” for like and “s” for as.

Parallel Structure

Creating balance in a sentence by using the same grammatical pattern

Example: “Less measurable but no less profound” – (Barack Obama)

Example: “from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city” – (MLK, Jr.)

Refrain

Repeating a word, phrase, or sentence throughout a speech to create some kind of rhythm.

Example: “Twinkle, twinkle, little star” is repeated many times throughout the song.

Rhetorical Questions

These questions are used for effect and are not to be answered. It is to draw the audience’s attention to a specific area.

Example: “What is the legacy we are leaving for our future generations when we abuse the earth?”

How to Conduct Research

Not all information over the internet is considered legitimate.

To determine the validity of a web source, you must ask yourself several questions.

Consider these types of sources

Major newspapers (www.latimes.com, www.nytimes.com)

Major magazines (www.newsweek.com, www.time.com, www.usnews.com, www.nationalgeographic.com, www.economist.com)

Major broadcast media (www.abcnews.com, www.cnn.com)

More Sources

Government organizations (www.epa.gov, sites that end with .gov)

Educational institutions (www.ucla.edu) Health & medical websites (kidshealth.org,

www.mayoclinic.com, www.nih.gov, www.webmd.com)

Non-profit foundations (www.lungcancer.org, www.americanheart.org, http://ww5.komen.org)

NOT acceptable sources

Special interest websites Blogs Websites published by one person or a group of people

(The information provided on these sites are not first-hand facts. These individuals do not conduct research, and they did not collect the data first-hand.)

These do not pass the test of objectivity or authority as stated by Cornell University

Important

Make sure you read the “About Us” link of any website you visit. That will be the first step in determining whether the source is appropriate.

Five criteria for evaluating Web pages

byOlin and Uris Libraries

Cornell University

http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/research/evaluate.html

Accuracy of Web Documents

Who wrote the page and can you contact him or her?

What is the purpose of the document and why was it produced?

Is this person qualified to write this document?

Authority of Web Documents

Who published the document and is it separate from the "Webmaster?"

Check the domain of the document, what institution publishes this document?

Does the publisher list his or her qualifications?

Objectivity of Web Documents

What goals/objectives does this page meet?

How detailed is the information? What opinions (if any) are

expressed by the author?

Currency of Web Documents

When was it produced? When was it updated' How up-to-date are the links (if

any)?

Coverage of the Web Documents

Are the links (if any) evaluated and do they complement the documents' theme?

Is it all images or a balance of text and images?

Is the information presented cited correctly?

Writing your speech

Format• Introduction• Body• Conclusion

Use rhetorical strategies to dazzle your audience!

Introduction

Purpose is to grab the audience’s attention Use a hook

General statement about life Rhetorical question Statistical fact (i.e. CO2 levels highest in one million years) Quote from a well-respected famous person An anecdote (see next slide)

Using an Anecdote in the Introduction

Tell a brief story One that introduces your topic Real story (proper identification) Make up a scenario (create a mental

image)

Starting with an Anecdote

Imagine a mountain of gleaming plastic bottles. Imagine a lake without water. This could be our future tomorrow, if we don’t make a change today. Our world is headed for an ecological disaster, unless we take drastic steps to change our inheritance.

Lake Mead

Body of the Speech

Include arguments for your side Include evidence, facts, statistics,

quotes (Concrete Details)

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”The Declaration of Independence

Purpose of the Conclusion

Drive home your argument Summarize your speech Provide closure Leave the audience thinking

How to Conclude

Visualization – create a mental picture (show, don’t tell)

Refer back to your opening statements

Ask a rhetorical question Call to action – get the audience to

act