Rhetorical Devices

A Handbook and Activities for Student Writers

Hyperbole (Page 14, 2 and 4)

Definition: exaggeration Example: “I told you a million

times…”2. School in general4. The weather

Understatement (Page 16, 2 and 3)

Definition: force of description is less than what one would expect.

Example: “The Middle East is currently having some political squabbles.”

2. The meal was…3. Our team…

Litotes (Page 20, 2; Page 21, 3)

Definition: emphasize a point by using a word opposite to the condition

Example: This place is not good.2. Original example--3. “It isn’t very serious. I have this

tiny little tumor on the brain.”

Antithesis (Page 23, 2; Page 24, 1 and 2)

Definition: place two opposing ideas next to each other

Example: Life can be kind and mean, full of joy and heartache.

2. Original example--1. “We are caught in war, wanting peace. We are

torn by division, wanting unity.”2. “If a free society cannot help the many who are

poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.”

Hypophora (Page 29, 2 and 6)

Definition: asking a question and then answering it

Example: Why should you vote for me? I’ll give you a few reasons…

2. What are “American values”?6. So you ask, “How are humans

really that different from other animals?”

Rhetorical Question (Page 31, 2)

Definition: ask a question where the answer is implied

Example: In this age of modernity, can we truly condone such horrific acts?

2. Answers vary

Procatalepsis (Page 34, 2; Page 36, 2)

Definition: directly addressing objections

Example: Many other experts…, but I do not.

34, #2. Answers vary36, #2. Issue: All forms of religious

expression should be banned/recognized in public schools.

Distinctio (Page 38, 3, 4, 6, 9)

Definition: to elaborate on the definition of a word so there are no misunderstandings

Example: At this point we have a short time left-a short time being less than fifty years.

3. deep:4. work:6. bright:9. common:

Simile (Page 43, Ex. 2, #2; Page 44 #2; Page 45 #5)

Definition: comparing two things that are somewhat related

Example: You should sing tonight as a bird in spring.

Page 43, Exercise 2, #2. Original example using “so”

Page 44, #2. Original example using “as”

Page 45, #5. Best friend simile

Metaphor (Page 54, 1; Page 56, 2; Page 59, 4)

Definition: comparing two unlike things by saying one thing is another

Example: Dr. King was a king among men.

1. Word: light2. Solitude4. I couldn’t understand what she was

saying; the words just confused me.

Analogy (Page 65, 2; Page 66, 2; Page 69, 2)

Definition: to compare something well known to something less well known in order to clarify or to further elaborate a point

Example: Texting and note-passing65, 2. Original example66, 2. Leading a sports

team/corporation69, 2. Multiple choice

Allusion (Page 74, 7; Page 75, 2)

Definition: reference to a well-known event, person, place

Example: Math has become my Achilles heel.

7. Bill Gates2. Original example

Eponym (Page 80, choose 2; Page 81,

2) Definition: reference a famous

person and his/her attributes to someone else

Example: A modern day Moses, he led his nation to a new beginning.

Page 80, Choose 22. Original Example

Sentential (Page 88-90, choose 2; Page 91,

2) Definition: to use a quotation,

maxim, or wise saying Example: “The early bird gets the

worm”Page 88-90, Choose 22. Original Example

Exemplum (Page 96, 4; Pages 98-99, Ex. 2

and 3) Definition: provide and example to

illustrate your point Example: To see the truth in this we

need look no further than the daily television news…

4. Those who have a good education will ultimately make more money.

Exercise 2Exercise 3

Climax (Page 102, 1 and 2)

Definition: organizing ideas so they move from least to most important

Example: Curiosity leads to discovery, leads to knowledge, leads to wisdom.

1. Original Example2. Original Example

Parallelism and Chiasmus(Pages 108-110, choose 2; Page 112, 2

and 3) Parallelism: using the same structure within a sentence or

multiple sentences Example: To communicate is to speak, to pause, and to

listen. Chiasmus: parallelism where the original form is flipped

around Example: He smiled happily and joyfully laughed.108-110- Choose 22. During my vacation, I plan to watch movies, play golf,

and catch fish.3. The boys enjoyed operating their paper route and the

money they made.

Anadiplosis

Anadiplosis: take the last word of a sentence/phrase and repeat it near the beginning of the next sentence/phrase

Example: In education we find the measure of our own ignorance; in ignorance we find the beginning of wisdom.

Conduplicatio

Definition: take an important word from anywhere in the sentence and repeat it at the beginning of the next sentence/phrase

Example: This law destroys the fruits of thirty years of struggle, bringing us back to less enlightened time. Law should be evolutionary.

Page 116, 2. Drugs don’t just destroy victims; they destroy entire families, schools, and communities.

Pages 119-121, 2. On the victim’s wristwatch, and it places you with the body at the time of death.

Page 122 write a sentence for each

Metabasis (Page 126, 2)

Definition: summarize what as already been discussed to move on to the next point

Example: I have discussed cards and factories, and how these relate to global warming, but we have still to look at long-term atmospheric trends.

2. Original example

Parenthesis (Page 134, 2; Pages 136-137, choose 1; pages 138-139,

choose 1) Definition: an insertion, aside, or

additional information added into the main flow of writing; use (), -, or ,

Example: This continued for many years-some would say far longer than it should have-before a new brand of politician put an end to it.

Page 134, 2. Original examplePages 136-137 Choose 1Pages 138-139 Choose 1

Apostrophe (Page 142, Ex. 2; Page 144, choose 1)

Definition: directly address the reader, listener, or inanimate object

Example: I hate you, auto-correct. Why do you make me write gibberish?

Exercise 2Page 144, Choose 1

Enumeratio (Page 146, 2; Page 148,

choose 1) Definition: supplying a list of details

about something Example: This is actually a multi-

step process: Think of an example, write it down, turn it in, and get a good grade.

2. Original ExampleChoose 1

Antanagoge (Page 150, 2; Page 154, 2)

Definition: ordering ideas in a way to downplay negative points so the reader feels less strongly about them

Example: She can be quick to anger, but when you’re in need, she’ll always be there.

Page 150, 2. Original ExamplePage 154, 2. Original Sentence

Epithet (Page 157, 2; Pages 158-159,

choose 1) Definition: attaching a descriptive

adjective to a noun to create imagery or evoke an idea or emotion

Example: On the day of the historic battle, the ferocious sun rose early and looked bloody.

2. Original exampleChoose 1

Asyndeton and Polysyndeton (Pages 165,

Exercise 1) Asyndeton: no conjunctions in a list or

between clauses Example: He was tall, dark,

handsome. Polysyndeton: use a conjunction

between every item Example: We listen to hear screams,

and cries, and howls of rage.Exercise 1

Zeugma (Page 170, 2; Page 171, 3; Page 173,

7) Definition: link unexpected items in a

sentence with a shared word Example: The runner lost the race and his

scholarship.2. Original Example3. After holding the elevator door open, he held

my hand during the descent.7. The car broke down in the worst part of town.

Fear caused the driver to begin crying loudly.

Synecdoche and Metonymy (Page 176, 2 and 3; Page 178, 2; Page

179, 8) Synecdoche: using a part of something to

represent a whole Example: All hands on deck. Metonymy: refer to something closely related to

the object, instead of saying the actual subject Example: The White House answered its critics.Page 176, 2 and 3. Original ExamplesPage 178, 2. Although I was very angry, I did not

cause him any harm at all.Page 179, 8. Go see the principal.

Hyperbaton (Page 181, 1)

Definition: unusual arrangement of word order

Example: Intentions profit nothing, only promises kept matter.

1. Original Example

Aporia (Page 185, Exercise 2)

Definition: express doubt about an idea to not commit to an opinion, to appear ignorant or unbiased, or to acknowledge criticism but ignore it

Example: “Both sides have great arguments.” OR, “I don’t know if they’re aware that…” OR, “Some believe X, but…”

Exercise 2

Anaphora, Epistrophe, and Symploce

(Page 188, one example for each) Anaphora: repetition of word/phrase at the beginning

of multiple clauses or sentences Example: I have a dream…I have a dream… Epistrophe: repetition of a word/phrase at the end of

multiple clauses or sentences Example: I spoke as a child, thought as a child, and

understood as a child. Symploce: combination of anaphora and epistrophe Example: We enjoy life when we know ourselves to be

free of temptation and sin, but we enjoy life also when we give ourselves completely to temptation and sin.

Amplification (Page 193, choose 1)

Definition: repeat something that was just said but adding more detail to the original description

Example: It was a cold day, a wicked day, a day of biting winds.

Page 193, choose 1

Personification (Page 196, Exercise 2)

Definition: giving human attributes to something that is non-human

Example: That choir could really sing-the pews themselves were clapping their hands and stomping their feet.

Exercise 2

Parataxis (Original Sentence)

Definition: listing a series of clauses with no conjunctions

Example: My dad went to Las Vegas, he lost his money, he came home.

Original Example