It gives a detailed account on how to write a speech using its literary devices.

1. SPEECHWRITING
REPETITION, RHETORICALQUESTIONS, QUOTES, ANECDOTES &PARALLELISM

2. OBJECTIVES
• After this lesson, students should be able to:
• identify and define the rhetorical devices of speech writing
• put these components into practice

3. WHAT IS RHETORICAL DEVICE?
•Definition: A technique used when an author or a speaker
chooses language with the intention of persuading the
reader towards aspecific belief.
• They are used to…
– Enhance arguments
– Communicate moreeffectively

4. WHY DO WE USE
RHETORICAL DEVICES
ESPECIAL LY IN SPEECH
WRITING?

5. TYPES OF RHETORICAL DEVICES
USED IN SPEECH WRITING
1. Rhetorical Question
2. Repetition
3. Parallelism
4. Anecdotes
5. Quotes
• And there are many, many more...

6. RHETORICAL
DEVICE
PARALLELISM

7. WHAT IS PARALLELISM?
• Definition: The use of similar grammatical
constructions to express ideas that are related or of
similar importance.
• EXAMPLES
• ➔ Monica brewed espresso, steamed milk, andtold
• jokes asshe prepared Rachel’s latte.
• ➔ Mike likes to hike, to swim, and to ride a bicycle.
• ➔ The production manager was asked to write his
report quickly, accurately, and thoroughly.

8. HOW TO CREATE PARALLEL STRUCTURES?
• When combining ideas, look for ways to create parallel words and
phrases when using conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).
• Parallelism may involve repetition of some words, but more generally
involves repetition of parts of speech (e.g. nouns, verbs, adjectives). It is
sometimes referred to as parallel structure or parallel construction.
BOXPlace a
around the
conjunction and
circle the parallel
elements.
● The industrialbase was old,
gross, and stinky.
● The guy went before school,
during lunch, and afterschool
to bring her gifts.

9. PARALLEL STRUCTURE
Words and Phrases
With the -ing form (gerund) of words:
Parallel:
Mary likes hiking, swimming, and bicycling.
With infinitive phrases:
Parallel:
Mary likes to hike, to swim, and to ride a bicycle.
OR
Mary likes to hike, swim, and ride a bicycle.

10. EXAMPLE 1
• Not Parallel:
Mary likes hiking, swimming, and to ride a bicycle.
• Parallel:
Mary likes hiking, swimming, and riding a bicycle.
• Not Parallel:
The production manager was asked to write his report quickly, accurately, and in a
detailed manner.
• Parallel:
The production manager was asked to write his report quickly, accurately, and
thoroughly.

11. EXAMPLE 2
2
• Not Parallel:
The teacher said that he was a poor student because he waited until the last minute to
study for the exam, completed his lab problems in a careless manner, and his motivation
was low.
• Parallel:
The teacher said that he was a poor student because he waited until the last minute to study
for the exam, completed his lab problems in a careless manner, and lacked motivation.

12. EXAMPLE OF PARALLELISM
• Throughout history, many famous leaders have used parallel structure to communicate
with the public. Here is a famous saying by Abraham Lincoln:
• (Clause 1) You can fool all the people some of the time, (Clause 2) and some of the
people all the time, (Clause 3) but you cannot fool all the people all the time.
• Lincoln repeats people and time in all three clauses. But he changes the order of the
words some and all. The 28-word quotation is easy to memorize because of its rhythm
and parallel structure.

13. CLAUSES
• A parallel structure that begins with clauses must keep on with clauses.
Changing to another pattern or changing the voice of the verb (from active to
passive or vice versa) will break the parallelism.
• Example 1
• Not Parallel:
The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, that they
should not eat too much, and to do some warm-up exercises before the game.
• Parallel:
The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, that they
should not eat too much, and that they should do some warm-up exercises
before the game.
• — or —Parallel:
The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, not eat too much,
and do some warm-up exercises before the game.

14. EXAMPLE 3
• Not Parallel:
The salesman expected that he would present his product at the
meeting, that he would have time to show his slide presentation,
and that questions would be asked by prospective
buyers. (passive)
• Parallel:
The salesman expected that he would present his product at the
meeting, that he would have time to show his slide presentation,
and that prospective buyers would ask him questions.

15. SOME HELPFUL HINTS ON HOW TO
REVISE SENTENCES FOR PARALLEL
STRUCTURE
1) Figure out what parts of the sentence are being compared.
2) 2) Decide whether they are parallel, i.e. arranged or constructed in the
same way.
3) 3) If they are not, make them parallel by making the grammatical
construction the same in each part.

16. HOW THESE SENTENCES ARE
PARALLEL IN CONSTRUCTION?
"Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to
fish, and you feed him for a lifetime."
.

17. PARALLEL OR NON-PARALLEL !
1. When I pack my own lunch I like to pack apples, oranges, and to eat pears..
2. Fast dancing is more fun than dancing slowly.
3. Never ask a woman to reveal her age, her weight, or her insecurities.
4. Would you rather run in a marathon, participate in an eating contest, or judge in a
beauty pageant?
5. After the prom, Jesse and Jamie went to the studio for pictures, McDonald’s for
burgers, and the Wal-Mart for kicks.
6. My friend Jack, who works at the circus, taught me to eat fire and juggling.
7. The students studied, reviewed, and have passed the test.
8. The corporation will sponsor only those projects that are worthy and it thinks have
a chance at winning awards.
9. When we go camping, we hike trails, roast marshmallows, and fish every day.
10. She waited for the interview with anxiety and nervously.

18. PARALLELISM PRACTICE ANSWERS
1. When I pack my own lunch I like to pack apples, oranges, and to eat pears. NP
2. Fast dancing is more fun than dancing slowly. (Parallel)
3. Never ask a woman to reveal her age, her weight, or her insecurities. (Parallel)
4. Would you rather run in a marathon, participate in an eating contest, or judge in a
beauty pageant? (Parallel)
5. After the prom, Jesse and Jamie went to the studio for pictures, McDonald’s for
burgers, and the Wal-Mart for kicks. (Non-parallel)
6. My friend Jack, who works at the circus, taught me to eat fire and juggling. NP
7. The students studied, reviewed, and have passed the test. (Non-parallel)
8. The corporation will sponsor only those projects that are worthy and it thinks have
a chance at winning awards. (Non-parallel)
9. When we go camping, we hike trails, roast marshmallows, and fish every day.
(Parallel)
10. She waited for the interview with anxiety and nervously. (Non-parallel)

19. WHAT IS AN ANECDOTE?
• An anecdote is a short story taken from personal experience.
Anecdotes can be useful for setting the stage for a speech or
personal essay. An anecdote relays a story that is relevant to the
context of your content.

20. EXAMPLE OF ANECDOTE
• Once in a family wedding Uncle Harry slipped into a bathtub and passed
out . That was terrifying! But he enjoyed it the most . Since that day his
bathtub has become his bed. Dangerously hilarious person!

21. QUOTE
 Do not use a lengthy quote.
 Always properly punctuate the quote.
 Acknowledge the originator of that quote.
 Always use the quote that is relevant to your content.
• Examples:
• According to the Code on Campus Affairs, "No absence from class is excused.“
• “Some are born great . . . and some have greatness thrust upon 'em," wrote William
Shakespeare, who I'd like to think would be tearing things up at HBO if he were alive
today.

22. PLENARY
• Create a sentence in parallel structure about this lesson.