Some Examples…
1. Rhetorical Question
Are they expecting us to take this lying down?
2. Emotive Language
Heather’s rants wrecking case!
3. Parallel Structures
To show kindness is praiseworthy; to show hatred is evil.
4. Alliteration
As busy as a bee
As dead as a doornail
As good as gold,
As right as rain
5. Contrast
Sometimes we have to be cruel to be kind.
(Note that this includes alliteration too)
6. Description and Imagery (using metaphor, simile, personification)
While we wait and do nothing, we must not forget that the fuse is already burning.
7. The ‘Rule of Three’
Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears
Signed, sealed, delivered
Beg, steal or borrow
8. Repetition
Evil minds will use evil means.
9. Hyperbole (using exaggeration for effect)
I have told you a million times.
10. Litotes (using understatement for effect)
Hitler killed a few people in his time.
11. Humour
In the immortal words of President Kennedy…
‘I am a doughnut!’
12. Puns (playing on words)
He was almost persuaded to invest in a poultry farm, but chickened out at the last minute.
13. Citing Experts (to add weight to your words)
As Churchill once said…
Medical officers in this field agree with me when I say…
14. Statistics (to persuade people with figures)
Eight out of ten cats prefer to eat fish.
90% of...
