Rhetorical Writing

5 Terms You Should Know

Propaganda

Qualified Argument

Refutation

Rhetorical Question

Chiasmus

Propaganda

n: ideas or statements that are often false or exaggerated and that are spread in order to help a cause, a political leader, a government, etc.

Propaganda

Ways to Use Propaganda

-Pictures/PostersWriting-Can be used in order to exaggerate a point you are trying to make in order to make it seem more important then it may be

Examples of Propaganda

EffectiveCan be used to bend the reader’s thoughts

into a way that makes the author’s supports seem much more interesting

Example: There is only one way to solve the economic problem: shut down major corporations and allow citizens to equally distribute their wealth.

Propaganda as such must be followed by some sort of reasoning or support. Otherwise a reader will not be convinced or interested by your argument.

IneffectiveIf propaganda is used in the wrong sense, it could make the author seem unintelligent or extremely biased towards his/her particular argument

It can lose the attention of the reader if used out of context

It can seem out of place in the essay if not followed by some sort of reasoning

Qualified Argument

n: A proven or well supported argument that is supported with valid and relevant supports

Examples

Effective Ineffective

In having a valid argument, your reader can relate to your topic and more fully indulge themselves into your piece.

Example: World War II was the world’s most devastating war because the COW count was over 6 million.

Ineffective arguments show a reader that you have no idea what you are actually talking about

Example:

Refutation

v: the speech act of answering an attack on your assertions

Examples

Effective Ineffective

Refutation can be used in order to answer reader’s questions or resolvea doubt that the reader may haveregarding your topic

Example: Some say that the congress is a useless asset, but I believe it is notbecause we need congress for the development of laws

If an author uses refutation incorrectly, they will seem biased and arrogant

Example: People say that congress is a useless asset, but I believe it is not because congress is good.

WHY!?

Rhetorical Question

n: a statement that is formulated as a question but that is not supposed to be answered

Examples

Effective IneffectiveCan be used in order to make the reader think about your topic at hand

Example: Why do we as humans do…

This term can also be used to make your reader more interested or attentive to the topic at hand

Must be used in moderation otherwise an author maybe seem confused by their topic

Example:

Chiasmus

n:a rhetorical or literary figure in which words, grammatical constructions, or concepts are repeated in reverse order, in the same or a modified form

Examples

Effective Ineffective

Can be used to emphasis the importance of a particular point you are trying to make

Example: Those with the most mind are those who mind the most

Chiasmus is also effective for creating a statement for presenting your argument

If chiasmus is used to many times, it makes the author seem as if they are babbling or are trying to be poetic in a sense that the piece becomes boring

Example: Those with the most mind are those who mind most. This goes to show those who are best are the best at show….