Rhetorical devices
How to use persuasive language techniques effectively
Persuasive language is used for many reasons, for example, to help to sell products or services, or to convince people to accept a view or idea. Politicians often use rhetorical deviceA rhetorical device is a technique that a writer uses to convey to the reader a meaning, with the goal of persuading them towards considering a topic from a different perspective. in their speeches. These techniques can be powerful tools for getting what you want.
Here are some types of rhetorical techniques and examples of how they can be used:
| Technique | Examples |
| Flattery - complimenting your audience. | A person of your intelligence deserves much better than this. |
| Hyperbole - a use of obvious exaggeration for rhetorical effect. | The sun scorched through the day. |
| Personal pronouns - 鈥業鈥, 鈥榶ou鈥 and 鈥榳e鈥. | You are the key to this entire idea succeeding - we will be with you all the way. I can鈥檛 thank you enough! |
| Imperatives - instructional language. | Get on board and join us! |
| Triples - grouping language in threes. | Safer streets means comfort, reassurance and peace of mind for you, your family and your friends. |
| Emotive language - language that appeals to the emotions. | There are thousands of animals at the mercy of our selfishness. |
| Statistics and figures - factual data used in a persuasive way. | 80% of people agreed that this would change their community for the better. |
| Rhetorical question - a question which implies its own answer. | Who doesn鈥檛 want success? |
| Technique | Flattery - complimenting your audience. |
|---|---|
| Examples | A person of your intelligence deserves much better than this. |
| Technique | Hyperbole - a use of obvious exaggeration for rhetorical effect. |
|---|---|
| Examples | The sun scorched through the day. |
| Technique | Personal pronouns - 鈥業鈥, 鈥榶ou鈥 and 鈥榳e鈥. |
|---|---|
| Examples | You are the key to this entire idea succeeding - we will be with you all the way. I can鈥檛 thank you enough! |
| Technique | Imperatives - instructional language. |
|---|---|
| Examples | Get on board and join us! |
| Technique | Triples - grouping language in threes. |
|---|---|
| Examples | Safer streets means comfort, reassurance and peace of mind for you, your family and your friends. |
| Technique | Emotive language - language that appeals to the emotions. |
|---|---|
| Examples | There are thousands of animals at the mercy of our selfishness. |
| Technique | Statistics and figures - factual data used in a persuasive way. |
|---|---|
| Examples | 80% of people agreed that this would change their community for the better. |
| Technique | Rhetorical question - a question which implies its own answer. |
|---|---|
| Examples | Who doesn鈥檛 want success? |
Example
William Wallace led the Scottish rebellion against Edward I in the fourteenth century. His exploits were made into the film Braveheart. In this extract from his speech for freedom, notice the techniques he uses to convince his audience.
I am William Wallace. And I see a whole army of my countrymen, here in defiance of tyranny! You have come to fight as free men. And free men you are! What will you do without freedom? Will you fight? Yes! Fight and you may die. Run and you will live at least awhile. And dying in your bed many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance, to come back here as young men and tell our enemies that they may take our lives but they will never take our freedom!
William Wallace speech from Braveheart (1995)
Analysis
Wallace uses personal pronouns (鈥業', 'you', 'our鈥) to make the audience feel as though he is speaking to them on an individual level. The repeated use of 鈥榝ree鈥 emphasises the main theme of his speech. He also uses rhetorical questionA question asked just for effect with no answer expected., one after the other to impact the audience - they feel that they must fight to protect their freedom. The closing sentence is highly emotiveLanguage that makes the reader experience a certain emotional response to the writing. and asks his listeners to imagine a future version of themselves. He ends his speech with the key word 鈥榝reedom鈥 making his point once again.