ELC590

PERSUASIVE SPEECH
RHETORICAL DEVICES

Below are some rhetorical devices you can use to persuade your audience to accept your point of view.

Techniques Description Example

Alliteration Sequence of words in which the initial letter is the to bring health, happiness and hope for the needy.
same.
Anecdotes Short personal stories that help to make a point When my father was diagnosed with kidney failure, I felt that the
and is significant to the topic at hand world had ended. If it were not for a good Samaritan who donated
one of his kidneys, my father would not be alive today. So today I
would like to advocate the importance of organ donation
Appeal Appealing to audiences emotions If we do not stop killing whales now, they will soon become extinct.
Can you imagine a world in which we are forced to tell our children
that a mystical being called a whale used to exist but that humans
killed them all? That is not a world I want to live in
Clichs Common expressions. Is used to express ideas to Alls well that ends well.
readers quickly. Time will tell.
Definition and Providing meaning of words According to Duhaimes law dictionary, abuse is defined as physical
terminology or nonphysical misuse or maltreatment or use or treatment so as to
injure, hurt, or damage
Emotive words Words that provoke emotional reaction from the Abused animals most often die a slow, organizing death.
audience. She is slender. (Positive connotation) vs, She is thin. (Negative
connotation)
Inclusive Using the words we or us to get the audience to Whaling doesn't create the money it used to. It is now more important
language the side of the speaker. to save our remaining whales and let whale tourism create the
money.

Updated: 11 Sept 2017

Imagery A speakers use of words or figures of speech to In the two years I have stopped smoking, Ive ballooned to 70kg.
create a vivid mental picture or physical sensation.
Pun A play on words. Racism is not a black or white matter.
Testimonials Using expert opinion / expert testimony to support According to the Dr Jayakumar from the Malaysian Medical
the argument and influence the audience Council, organ transplant can treat many life-threatening diseases
such as heart, liver, lungs and kidney failures
Research and Using research and statistics to support the According to the New England Journal of Medicine 2014, 43% of
statistics argument and lend credibility to the speaker operations conducted annually in the United States are coronary
bypass operations
Repetition The repetition of words, phrases and ideas used to It has been well established here and overseas that if teenagers think
reinforce an argument. they can see a doctor in confidence, they are more likely to do so,
more likely to go back for repeat visits, and more likely to disclose
sensitive information.
Rhetorical A question where the answer is obvious and can It has been well established here and overseas that if teenagers think
question lead readers to a particular conclusion they can see a doctor in confidence, they are more likely to do so,
more likely to go back for repeat visits, and more likely to disclose
sensitive information. And isnt this the outcome we want?

Updated: 11 Sept 2017