Rhetorical strategies are persuasive tactics used by writers and speakers to persuade audiences and readers A rhetorical strategy employs certain persuasive techniques to evoke an emotional response from the audience, while seeking to prove an argument. Rhetorical strategies have been used since the time of Ancient Greece, when philosophers and rhetoricians wrote and spoke in public to persuade audiences.
The five best examples of rhetorical strategies are ethos, pathos, logos, anaphora, and kairos.
Ethos is persuading an audience through the credibility and character of the speaker or writer. The credibility of the speaker or writer can be based on their authority, knowledge, past experiences, or even their perception by the audience. For example, in a debate, a speaker’s credibility can be established by giving examples of their past successes or achievements in the same field.
Pathos is the use of emotional language, stories, and imagery to tap into the emotions of the audience. Examples of pathos include using vivid language and descriptions, making emotional appeals, and even building contrast between positive and negative examples. For example, a speaker may use a personal story to illustrate their point and evoke an emotional response from the audience.
Logos is a rhetorical device used to convince an audience by appealing to their logic. This is done through the use of facts and evidence, logical arguments, and reasoning. For example, a speaker may use logical arguments to prove their point and provide evidence to back it up.
Anaphora is a rhetorical device used to emphasize a point by repeating a word or phrase at the beginning of successive phrases or clauses. Examples of anaphora are commonly seen in literature, such as in the opening of Charles Dickens’s A Tale of Two Cities with the repetition of “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…”
Kairos is a rhetorical device used to create a sense of urgency or relevance in writing or speech. This is accomplished by making an argument at the right time, or in the right place, in order to tap into the emotions of the audience. For example, a speaker may use kairos when delivering an impassioned speech about an issue that is especially pertinent to the current moment.
In conclusion, rhetorical strategies are powerful tools used by writers and speakers to persuasively convey their arguments and opinions. These strategies seek to evoke an emotional response from the audience by utilizing persuasive tools, such as ethos, pathos, logos, anaphora, and kairos. By using these rhetorical strategies, speakers and writers can create compelling arguments that will not only persuade the audience, but also encourage them to take action.