What is Rhetoric?

RhetoricThe art or study of using language

effectively and persuasively.

The art of finding and analyzing

all the choices involving language

that a writer/speaker might make

a situation so that the text becomes

meaningful, purposeful, and effective

for readers.

Rhetorical Devices

The specific features of texts that

cause them to be meaningful,

purposeful, and effective for

readers.

How do I

ANALYZE a

text?

DictionDetails/ImageryFigurative Language

Abstract Ideas:fear, loyalty, freedom, chaos…

repetition contrastshiftjuxtaposition

Evidence from the text

Concrete

Details (CD)

Associations to abstract ideas

Commentary

(CM)

Relationships to the rest of the text

Commentary

(CM)