This document defines rhetoric and discusses its history and uses. It explains that rhetoric was defined by Aristotle as discovering all means of persuasion on a topic. Rhetoric can be used in speeches, which have three main types or genres. There are also many rhetorical devices that can be used in writing, such as alliteration, metaphor, and hyperbole, to draw attention to ideas and emphasize messages. Overall, the document discusses how understanding and using rhetoric can improve communication skills.

1. What is Rhetoric

2. Objectives
 Explain the history of rhetoric
 Define rhetoric in speaking(speech)
 Discuss the type of rhetorical devices in writing

3. History of rhetoric
During the 4th century B.C., Aristotle wrote
the Rhetoric in which he defined rhetoric as
discovering all available means of persuasion on
a topic. Thus, for Aristotle, rhetoric has a clear
persuasive function, but also an epistemic
function. It serves as a way to discover
what is known and what can be known about a
subject.

4. Rhetoric in speech
 In rhetoric, a formal address delivered to an
audience.
 It is an oration or oral presentation.
 Classical rhetoric recognized three main type or
genres of speech which are deliberative, judicial,
and epideictic.
 There are 3 major parts to every speech which
are introduction, body, and, conclusion.

5. Type of Rhetorical devices in writing
1) Alliteration (repetition of initial sound)
The initial consonant sound is usually repeated
in two neighboring words (sometimes also in
words next to each other). Alliteration draws
attention to the phrase and is often used for
emphasis.
2) Allusion (indirect reference to a person,
event or piece of literature)
Allusion is used to explain or clarify a complex
problem. Note that allusion works best if you
keep it short and refer to something the
reader/audience is familiar with. For example:
famous people, history, and the bible.

6. Type of Rhetorical devices in writing
3) Anaphora (successive clauses or
sentences start with the same word(s)
The same word or phrase is used to begin
successive clauses or sentences. Thus, the
reader’s/listener’s attention is drawn directly to
the message of the sentence.
4) Antithesis (contrasting relationship between
two ideas)
Antithesis emphasis the contrast between two
ideas. The structure of the phrases/clauses is
usually similar in order to draw the reader’s/
listener’s attention directly to the contrast.

7. Type of Rhetorical devices in writing
5) Hyperbole (deliberate exaggeration)
used sparingly, hyperbole effectively draws the
attention to a massage that you want to
emphasize.
6) Metaphor (figurative expression)
metaphor compares two different things in a
figurative sense. Unlike in a simile (A is like B),
“LIKE” is not used in metaphor (A is B).

8. Type of Rhetorical devices in writing
7) Metonymy (figurative expression, closely
associated with the subject)
metonymy (unlike metaphor) uses figurative
expressions that are closely associated with the
subject in terms of place, time or background.
8) Personification (attribution of human
characteristics to animals, inanimate objects or
abstractions)
animals, inanimate objects or abstractions are
represented as having human characteristics
(behavior, feelings, character.) personification can
make a narration more interesting and lively.

9. Type of Rhetorical devices in writing
9) Simile (direct comparison)
two things are compared directly by using “like”
(A is like B)
other possibilities are for example:
- A is (not) like B
- A is more/less than B
- A is as … as B
- A is similar to B
- A is …, so is B
- A does …, so does B

10. Type of Rhetorical devices in writing
10) Understatement (weaken or soften a
statement)
A statement is deliberately weakened to sound
ironical or softened to sound more polite.
note that understatement is a common feature
of the English language (especially British
English) used in everyday life situations.

11. Conclusion
 We employ rhetoric whether we are conscious of it or
not, but becoming conscious of how rhetoric works
can transform speaking, reading and writing, making
us more successful and able communicators and
more discerning audiences.
 It is more important to recognize how figures of
speech or rhetorical devices affect readers and be
able to use them effectively to persuade and
communicate than it is to identify them.
 Rhetoric speeches are intended to get listener to
accept a particular point of view, and then motivate
them into action. The art of giving a persuasive
speech is as much about using languages effectively
as it is about communicating a convincing argument.

12. References
 Roskelly, H. What Do Students Need to Know About
Rhetoric? Greensboro, North Carolina: University of
North Carolina.
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/repos
itory/ap06_englang_roskelly_50098.pdf
 Keefer, A. How to Write a Rhetoric Speech. Demand
Media. http://classroom.synonym.com/write-rhetoric-speech-
4533.html
 http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-rhetorical-
devices.html
 http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/documents/1951-/martin-luther-
kings-i-have-a-dream-speech-august-28-
1963.php
 http://estylistics.blogspot.com/2012/06/oxymoron-antithesis-
irony-stylistic.html