Description

You are asked many times during the exams in this course, what rhetorical devices are used in this text. These resources will help to clarify what 'rhetorical devices' means. Here is a summary and to the right are links with excellent examples and definitions:

Types of Rhetorical Devices

Rhetorical devices are loosely organized into the following four categories:

1. Logos. Devices in this category seek to convince and persuade via logic and reason, and will usually make use of statistics, cited facts, and statements by authorities to make their point and persuade the listener.
2. Pathos. These rhetorical devices base their appeal in emotion. This could mean invoking sympathy or pity in the listener, or making the audience angry in the service of inspiring action or changing their mind about something.
3. Ethos. Ethical appeals try to convince the audience that the speaker is a credible source, that their words have weight and must be taken seriously because they are serious and have the experience and judgment necessary to decide what’s right.
4. Kairos. This is one of the most difficult concepts in rhetoric; devices in this category are dependent on the idea that the time has come for a particular idea or action. The very timeliness of the idea is part of the argument.

(Somers, J 2019, What is a rhetorical device? Definition, list examples, viewed 19 November 2021, https://www.thoughtco.com/rhetorical-devices-4169905.