This document discusses schemes, which are patterns of language that structure reality and affect the relationship between writers and readers. Schemes include parallelism, isocolon, antithesis, ellipsis, asyndeton, polysyndeton, anastrophe, parenthesis, anaphora, epistrophe, antimetabole, and climax. Schemes balance ideas, omit unnecessary information, use unusual word orders, and repeat words or phrases to draw attention and increase emotional intensity in writing. The document provides examples of different schemes and questions to consider about their rhetorical effects.

1. SCHEMES
(in sentences) (and their rhetorical effects)

2. Schemes are patterns of language.

3. • They structure reality in specific ways.
• They help writers organize their relations to readers:
o by signaling the level of formality of prose
o by controlling the emotional intensity
o by showcasing the writer’s wit and mastery
o by inviting readers to complete the pattern
What is the rhetorical function of schemes?

4. • What do these verbal devices do?
• How do they structure the realities or
experiences they are used to express?
• How do they affect interactions between writer
and reader?
Questions to ask about schemes:

5. SCHEMES of BALANCE
Similar structure creates relationships
between ideas or emphasizes sameness or
differences.

6. We are more often arrested, convicted, and mobbed.
(parallelism)
Photographs make him appear either darkly handsome or
dolefully goofy.
(isocolon)
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
(antithesis)
examples: schemes of balance

7. SCHEMES of OMISSION
Highlight important information, help create
economy of expression.

8. The girl went up on her toes and made a slow turn and danced
through the smoke.
(ellipsis)
The bags are a record of the cities where I’ve wandered into yarn
stores: Madison, Portland, Cambridge, New York.
(asyndeton)
jIf there be cords, or knives, poison, or fire, or suffocating streams,
I’ll not endure it.
(polysyndeton)
examples: schemes of omission

9. SCHEMES of
UNUSUAL WORD ORDER
capture readers’ attention and highlight information

10. In silence waited the sloths.
(anastrophe)
You think you’re safe - and indeed, some of you are – until you spy
the gleaming knives.
(parenthesis)
examples: schemes of unusual
word order

11. SCHEMES of REPETITION
Create patterns, draw attention, increase emotional
intensity

12. We saw it in the courage of passengers who rushed terrorists to save others…We saw it
in the endurance of rescuers…We saw it in the unfurling of flags…We saw it in the
decency of people.
(anaphora)
Today the white rhino is extinct. The Guam broad-bill is probably extinct. The ivory-billed
woodpecker is most certainly extinct.
(epistrophe)
We should eat to live, not live to eat.
(antimetabole)
The whispering grew to a rushing, and the rushing grew to a roaring, and the screaming
grew to a mighty screaming.
(climax)
examples: schemes of repetition