Next, we returned to working with the rhetorical device homework sheet. We reviewed answers for the front of the sheet and talked about how to come up with examples (which should be counter examples on homework). Everyone had the rest of the period to work on this.
When the homework sheet for rhetorical devices was complete, everyone returned to looking at former President Bush's speech on the "Iraqi" threat and identified his use of six rhetorical devices throughout that speech (there were two sets of these six). If you don't remember which set you were focused on analyze the speech for use of the following:
parallelism, anaphora / enthymeme, syllogism / procatalepsis, concession
If you need help in determining which device is used, it may help to consider these pairings like this:
If the speaker makes a reference to something:
Allusion - a story, event, person, etc. that the audience may know
Anecdote - a true story that helps them prove a point
If the speaker makes a comparison:
Analogy - point by point comparison for educative purposes
Simile - uses “like” or “as” to compare two things
Metaphor - general comparison for poetic purposes
If the speaker makes an exaggeration:
Hyperbole - they are being over the top
Understatement - they have down-played the significance of something
If the speaker asks a question:
Rhetorical question - the question is not meant to be answered
Hypophora - they outline an answer to the question
If the speaker makes a logical statement where one thing leads to another
Syllogism - there is a clear progression of statements linking ideas
Enthymeme - there is a progression of statements liking ideas, but the speaker makes a leap
If the speaker acknowledges a counter argument
Concession - they agree with the counter argument
Procatalepsis - they disagree with the counter argument and explain why it’s wrong
If the speaker uses a repeated structure
Anaphora - exact words or phrases are repeated
Parallelism - phrases are set up in a similar way
Tomorrow we will be looking at different logical fallacies.
Handouts:
Rhetorical Devices handout
Rhetorical Device Identification and Practice
Homework:
Finish analyzing former President Bush's "Iraqi Threat" speech for his use of rhetorical devices (based on the set of devices you were assigned in class).
