Rhetorical techniques

• Hyperbole: exaggeration used to emphasize a point


  E.g. “I’m drowning in paperwork.” “I’m really hungry, I could eat that entire pizza.”
• Emotive language: the use of descriptive words, often adjectives, that can show the reader how the author or character feels about something, evoke an emotional response and persuade the reader


  E.g. The wolf was attacked by the bear.

  The defenseless wolf was attacked by the gruesome bear.
• Register: create a unique tone or style; level of formality - varies for different purposes


  E.g. Legal document, register of advertising, register of banking, text message to a friend
• Contrast: used to emphasize the differences between two people, places or things; opposite


  E.g. black and white

  Short and tall

  Love and hate
• Repetition: simple repeating of a word, within a short space of words – multilinguistic written or spoken device


  E.g. I have to practice my timetables so I can learn them over and over and over again.
• Structure: descriptive theory of major aspect of organization; arrangement of the element of the story


  E.g. Sentence types: multi-clause or single clause Multi-clause – to build up layers of description to create a vivid action Single clause – to show tension
• Humour: makes audience laugh, or that intends to induce amusement or laughter to break the monotony or boredom (Irony)


  E.g. This is not a joke but a mouse did scare the poor cat.
• Figurative language: figures of speech – simile, metaphor, etc.
• . Antithesis: places two completely contrasting clauses / ideas


  E.g. Keep your mouth close and your eyes open.

  Man proposes, God disposes.

  Love is an ideal thing, marriage is a real thing.
• Tripling: rule of three or tricolon – three similar words / phrases / clauses / sentences


  E.g. The beautiful, the tender, the kind.

  Intelligent, witty, brave

  Friends, Romans, countrymen
• Alliteration and assonance: occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words


  E.g. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. Sally sells seashells on the seashore.
• Onomatopoeia: the formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named


  E.g. cuckoo, sizzle, meow, bow-o-wow
• . Rhetorical questions: questions asked to create a dramatic effect or to make a point rather than to get answer


  E.g. Can fish swim?

  Why did you do this to me?
• Short sentences or paragraphs


  E.g. We swam hard.

  She hurried.
• Lists: strategy in which writer develops lists of words / phrases / images /ideas Brainstorming stage


  E.g. Benefits, challenges, Pros & cons

  Apples, pears, oranges, lemons, grapes – Fruits

  Shirts, blouses, jackets, trousers, pants, skirts - clothing