Language & Style (Rhetorical Devices)

Hinweis der Redaktion

1. -active voice: subject performs the action ⊘ subject is acted upon/receiver of the action
2. -concrete language: specific, tangible, definite
3. -offer vivid imagery: modify nouns with descriptive adjectives – sight, smell, taste, sounds, touch
4. -strive for simplicity: fewer rather than more words, shorter rather than longer sentences
5. Why use rhetorical devices? Makes you more interesting. Avoid clichés because they are boring. Your point doesn’t get made. This is not a complete list. Imagery – Also Oxymoron, Irony, Onomatopoeia Rhythm – Also Assonance, Anastrophe, Asyndeton
6. Explicit
7. Implicit
8. Must include explanation.
9. Arrangement of words, phrases, sentences in similar form – three parallel elements = triad Use parallelism to use similar constructs to approach the same sentence. Add balance and break up repetition by adding parallelism to further emphasize your ideas. Parallelism - the way each sentence is formed - the relationship or tense between the noun and the verb is always the same (arrangement)
10. Anaphora – speaker repeats word/phrase at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses or sentences Epistrophe – speaker repeats word/phrase at the end of them
11. Alliteration – lends speech a poetic, musical rhythm – Jesse Jackson “Down with dope, up with hope.” Alliteration - repeating similar sounds next to or near the other one. Don’t always have to be at the beginning of the word.
12. Antithesis – speaker sets off two ideas in balanced opposition to create a powerful effect I hope you live without the need to dominate, and without the need to be dominated. Good judgment seeks balance and progress. Lack of it eventually finds imbalance and frustration.
13. *And I am also addressing you as an American…
14. Draw two nouns per person Create as many stylistic devices as people in your team Each noun should only be used once but you can mix and match. You can do this if you get stuck trying to come up with something creative in your speech. Example: Persuasive speaking and chainsaws = dangerous in the wrong hands