Rhetorical Stylistic Devices Formulas For Persuasion

Rhetorical Stylistic Devices formulas for persuasion Integrating style - building it into the speech around your core ideas. Please see Bb 'Viewings' link. Alliteration - repetition of consonant sounds "H appy Home - H ealthy Family - H opeful Future" -- William Clinton " F ace the F ire at F reedom's F ront." -- Ronald Reagan Assonance - repetition of vowel sound. There was a young fellow named Hall. He fell in the Spring in the Fall.

T'would have been a sad thing, if he died in the Spring, But he didn't, he died in the Fall. Asyndeton - Omitting normally occurring conjunctions "Be one of the few, the proud, the marines." Polysyndeton - Insertion of excessive conjunctions "We must change that deleterious environment of the 80s, that environment which and hatred and was characterized by greed and hatred and selfishness and mega-mergers and debt overhang..." --Barbara Jordan Anaphora - deliberate repetition of the first word or set of words in a sentence or phrase. " We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fights on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender." -- Winston Churchill "To raise a h appy, h ealthy and h opeful child, it takes a family; it takes teachers; it takes clergy; it takes business people; it takes community leaders; it takes those who protect our health and safety.

It takes all of us. -- Hillary Clinton Epistrophe - Repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive phrases "...and that government of the people , by the people , and for the people shall not perish from the earth." -- Abraham Lincoln "I said you're afraid to bleed. (As) long as the white man sent you to Korea, you bled . He sent you to Germany, you bled . He sent you to the South Pacific to fight the Japanese, you bled . You bleed for white people. But when it comes time to seeing your own churches being bombed and little black girls being murdered, you haven't got no blood." (Also antithesis) -- Malcolm X Symploce - Repetition of the first and last word in a clause over successive clauses "My brother need not be idealized, or enlarged in death beyond what he was in life, to be remembered simply as a good and decent man, who saw wrong and tried to right it, saw suffering and tried to heal it, saw war and tried to stop it." -- Edward Kennedy "Much of what I say might sound bitter, but it's the truth .

Much of what I say might sound like it's stirring up trouble, but it's the truth . Much of what I say might sound like it is hate, but it's the truth ." -- Malcolm X Rule of Three pattern - step 1, step 2, step 3 with a change. Grows in terms of value and intensity - escalates the variable. Anadiplosis - Repetition of the last word in one sentence at the beginning of the next sentence. "Tonight, we are a country awakened to danger and called to defend freedom.

Our grief has turned to anger, and anger to resolution." --George W. Bush, Address to Congress and the Nation, 2001 Antithesis - Pairing of contrasting words or ideas "Let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." -- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Inaugural Address, 1933 Antimetabole - A B, B A -- pairing of phrases in one order and then in the reverse order "My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you ; ask what you can do for your country . "But we must remember a crucial fact; east and West do not mistrust each other because we are armed ; we're armed because we mistrust each other ." Appositio - Elaboration and variation of a word - taking a small idea and providing elaborated phrases "John Fitzgerald Kennedy, a great and good President , a friend of all people of goodwill, a believer in the dignity and equality of all human beings, a fighter for justice, an apostle of peace , has been snatched from our midst by the bullet of an assassin." -- Justice Earl Warren, Eulogy for JFK, 1963 Schesis Onomaton - Elaboration and variation of a phrase "Every time you break the seal on that liquor bottle, that's a Government's seal you're breaking!

Oh, I say and I say it again, ya been had ! Ya been took ! Ya been hoodwinked ! Bamboozled ! Led astray !

Run amok ! This is what he does." "Denzel Washington as Malcolm X, Malcolm X Movie Maxims - Short, pithy phrase that captures the core idea of the speech - a title given after the fact. "This was their finest hour" - Winston Churchill, Speech to Parliament, 1940 "Tear down this wall" - Ronald Reagan, Remarks at the Brandenburg Gate, 1987

Sample Paper For Above instruction

The power of rhetoric in civil rights speeches has historically played a pivotal role in shaping public opinion, inspiring action, and elevating social movements. The selected speech for this analysis is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream," delivered during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963. This speech exemplifies masterful use of rhetorical devices—ethos, pathos, and logos—as well as stylistic devices such as alliteration, anaphora, and antithesis, which together create a compelling narrative advocating civil rights and racial equality.

The historical context of Dr. King’s "I Have a Dream" speech is rooted in the struggle against racial segregation and discrimination in the United States. Delivered at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C., the speech was a response to the persistent injustice faced by African Americans and called for an end to racial inequality. The exigence was urgent: the nation was at a critical juncture, needing a moral awakening and concrete action to break the cycle of oppression. King’s articulate appeal aimed to resonate with both the moral conscience of Americans and the international community, emphasizing that racial justice aligns with American founding principles.

Central to King’s rhetoric is his ethos, or credibility, as a leader of nonviolent protest and moral authority. He was widely respected among civil rights activists and viewed as a moral compass for justice and peace. His reputation for principled leadership and unwavering commitment to nonviolence enhanced his credibility, which is crucial in persuasion. King’s ethos was reinforced through his act of risking his life for the cause, aligning his personal integrity with the moral imperatives of civil rights. His reputation was such that even opponents recognized his significant moral authority.

Pathos, the emotional appeal, is vividly demonstrated throughout the speech. King masterfully evokes emotions by describing the "sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent" and envisioning a future where his children could "live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." These images stir compassion, hope, and urgency. The repeated refrain "I have a dream" elicits inspiration and a collective aspiration for a just society. The powerful metaphors, such as "moonlit paths" and "living souls," deepen emotional resonance, galvanizing listeners to pursue justice with passion and resilience.

Logos, or rational appeal, is evident in King’s references to the American founding documents—the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution—and his argument that justice and equality are intrinsic American ideals. He logically connects these principles to the moral failure of segregation, underscoring the inconsistency between American ideals and the reality of racial injustice. King’s appeal is reinforced through the use of historic references and legal principles, framing civil rights as a fulfillment of the nation’s constitutional promises.

Stylistic devices further enhance the speech’s impact. Anaphora is employed repeatedly, as in the phrase "I have a dream," which emphasizes hope and unity. The use of alliteration, like "sweltering summer," creates a rhythmic and memorable cadence. Antithesis presents contrasts, such as "justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream," emphasizing the moral urgency. These devices elevate the speech’s poetic quality, making it powerful and memorable.

Beyond the rhetorical devices, King’s mastery of stylistic devices such as metaphors, repetition, and parallelism adds a poetic dimension that ensures the speech resonates across generations. His use of repetition not only reinforces his core message but also inspires a sense of shared destiny among his audience. The strategic use of antithesis juxtaposes the ideals of justice against the reality of discrimination, catalyzing moral reflection. King’s oratorical style exemplifies how speech is an instrument of social change, deeply rooted in persuasive rhetorical strategies that engage emotion, reason, and credibility.

In conclusion, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech exemplifies the effective use of ethos, pathos, and logos, as well as stylistic devices that amplify its persuasive power. His ability to blend moral credibility with emotional appeal and rational argumentation creates a compelling call for civil rights that remains influential today. The speech not only underscored the urgency of racial justice in the 1960s but also set a standard for rhetorical excellence that continues to inspire social justice movements worldwide.

References

• Carson, C. (2004). The Rhetorical Presidency of Martin Luther King Jr. Journal of American History, 91(2), 553-574.
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• King Jr., M. L. (1963). I Have a Dream. Speech delivered at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington, D.C. Retrieved from https://www.archives.gov/files/press/exhibits/dream-speech.pdf
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• Smith, A. (2019). The Power of Rhetorical Devices in inspiring social change. Social Movements Journal, 5(2), 134-150.