Oxford Revise English Language AQA GCSE (supplement)
Rhetorical Language in Reading & Writing
Define these rhetorical techniques:
Repetition
Emotive Language
Rhetorical Questions
Tricolons (triples)
Direct Address
Hyperbole
Juxtaposition
Anecdotes
Label these examples with the correct technique:
Explain why they were used/what effect was created.
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” — Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities.
“I’ve told you a million times!” Or Jonathan Swift’s satirical exaggerations in A Modest Proposal.
“Do we really want to leave a planet uninhabitable for future generations?” — modern environmental context.
“My father was a foreign student, born and raised in a small village in Kenya…” — Barack Obama, 2004 DNC speech.
“The vibrant rainforest teems with life, its lush canopy and sparkling rivers inspiring awe and wonder in all who visit.
“Veni, vidi, vici” (“I came, I saw, I conquered”) — Julius Caesar. Another famous one: “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
“I have a dream…” — repeated multiple times in Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1963 speech.
“My fellow Americans…” — used by many U.S. presidents, especially John F. Kennedy.
Answers
Juxtaposition: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” — Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities.
Hyperbole: “I’ve told you a million times!” Or Jonathan Swift’s satirical exaggerations in A Modest Proposal.
Rhetorical Questions: “Do we really want to leave a planet uninhabitable for future generations?” — modern environmental context.
Anecdotes: “My father was a foreign student, born and raised in a small village in Kenya…” — Barack Obama, 2004 DNC speech.
Emotive Language: “The vibrant rainforest teems with life, its lush canopy and sparkling rivers inspiring awe and wonder in all who visit.
Tricolons (Triples): “Veni, vidi, vici” (“I came, I saw, I conquered”) — Julius Caesar. Another famous one: “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
Repetition: “I have a dream…” — repeated multiple times in Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1963 speech.
Direct Address: “My fellow Americans…” — used by many U.S. presidents, especially John F. Kennedy.
The Effects of Rhetorical Language
In extract 1 look for (and explain) examples of:
Juxtaposition
Direct Address
Hyperbole
Tricolon
Repetition
Extract 1 - President Obama’s Inaugural Address (calling for a new era of responsibility)
President Obama's Inaugural Address, calling for 'a new era of responsibility'
This extract is from President Obama's inauguration speech, the first speech he gave after becoming President.
Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebears, and true to our founding documents.
So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans. That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our healthcare is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.
In extract 2 look for (and explain) examples of:
Rhetorical question
Imagery
Direct address
Hyperbole
Emotive details
Extract 2 - ‘The Hunter Who Killed Cecil the Lion Doesn’t Deserve Our Empathy’ by Rose George, 2015.
This extract is from an article in the Guardian and shows the writer's view of a trophy hunter killing a famous lion in Zimbabwe.
Trophy hunters like Walter J. Palmer shouldn't receive death threats - but there is no excuse for their argument that hunting serves conservation. We love a good fight, don't we? Enter Walter J. Palmer, a tanned dentist from Minnesota, with a bow and arrow. Along comes Cecil the lion, the alpha male of his pride, minding his own business being the best-known and most beloved lion in Zimbabwe if not in Africa, as well as the subject of an Oxford University study. Then Cecil is shot with a bow and arrow, taking 40 hours to die, all because Palmer thought killing a magnificent animal was sporty.
I read the story of Cecil's killing and my education and intellect deserted me for a minute. I felt only disgust and rage, somewhat inarticulately. I feel no calmness about big-game hunters. I am not persuaded by their justifications, which can be easily punctured with buckshot. Trophy hunting contributes to conservation, they say: when the Dallas Safari Club auctioned the right to kill an endangered Namibian black rhino, it said the $350,000 winning bounty - they called it a "bid" - went towards conservation efforts in Namibia. Elephants, leopards, polar bears and giraffes are all hunted for "sport" too. Shooting an endangered species and calling it sustainable is like waving a fan and thinking you're helping to stop global warming.
Writing About Rhetorical Language
Sample Response to Extract 1
In this sample response, find and explain examples about:
Purpose
Audience
Connotations
Direct address
Inclusive language
Juxtaposition
Contrasts
Sample response to extract 1:
The purpose of this speech is to inspire and reassure the American people during a time of crisis. The audience is the citizens of the United States, addressed directly through phrases like 'We the People,' which also demonstrates inclusive language and encourages collective responsibility.
The speaker uses juxtaposition and contrasts to emphasize the challenges the nation faces, comparing 'rising tides of prosperity' and 'still waters of peace' with 'gathering clouds' and 'raging storms.' These images carry strong connotations, suggesting both stability and danger, and reinforce the idea that the nation has endured hardships before and can do so again. By combining direct address, inclusive language, and vivid contrasts, the speech unites the audience and motivates them to uphold national ideals and face crises together.
Sample Response to Extract 2:
Identify examples of:
Rhetorical techniques
Emotive language
Quotations
Most powerful point
Summarising individual effects
Summarising overall effects
Look for:
Sentence starts
Linking phrases
Sentence starts and linking phrases examples:
The writer engages…
The writer encourages readers…
…to make readers empathise…
In addition…
…is conveyed by…
The paragraph presents…
The overall effect…
sample response to extract 2:
The writer addresses readers directly with a rhetorical question using the inclusive pronoun 'we,' which immediately engages the audience and prompts them to reflect on their own attitudes toward hunting. She uses emotive language throughout to highlight the cruelty of Cecil's killing and to evoke empathy for the lion. Cecil is named, making the account personal, and he is described as a noble 'alpha male of his pride' and 'the best-known and most beloved lion,' reinforcing his importance and status.
The writer emphasises his innocence with the phrase 'minding his own business!' and the prolonged suffering with '40 hours to die,' creating a vivid sense of tragedy. By combining these techniques, including direct address, inclusive language, contrasts between human cruelty and animal nobility, and emotive imagery, the paragraph persuades readers that the killing was unnecessary, destructive, and deeply cruel.
Using Rhetorical Language in Your Own Writing
Emotive Language Task:
Match each emotion (A–F) to the most appropriate issue/idea (1–6).
Emotions
A. Sympathy / Compassion
B. Fear / Anxiety
C. Anger / Outrage
D. Happiness / Joy
E. Sadness / Sorrow
F. Surprise / Shock
Issues / Ideas
Reading about a natural disaster that destroys people’s homes
Hearing about unfair treatment of workers in a factory
Watching a charity deliver food to families in need
Discovering a surprising plot twist in a mystery story
Seeing a volunteer help an injured animal
Receiving a gift you’ve always wanted
Answers
Sadness / Sorrow (E) → Reading about a natural disaster that destroys people’s homes
Anger / Outrage (C) → Hearing about unfair treatment of workers in a factory
Happiness / Joy (D) → Watching a charity deliver food to families in need
Surprise / Shock (F) → Discovering a surprising plot twist in a mystery story
Sympathy / Compassion (A) → Seeing a volunteer help an injured animal
Happiness / Joy (D) → Receiving a gift you’ve always wanted
Rhetorical Question Task:
Write rhetorical questions about some of these subjects:
Social Issues
Inequality and fairness in society
Bullying, peer pressure, or social exclusion
Homelessness or poverty
Rights and responsibilities of citizens
Environment
Climate change and global warming
Pollution and littering
Conservation of wildlife and natural habitats
Renewable energy and sustainability
Education
The role of exams and grades
Access to education for everyone
Homework, school rules, and student life
Practical skills versus rote learning
Technology
Social media and online communication
Privacy and data protection
Artificial intelligence and automation
The impact of technology on society
Health & Lifestyle
Mental health awareness
Diet, exercise, and wellbeing
Access to healthcare
Addictions or unhealthy habits
Juxtaposition Tasks:
Part A: Spot the Juxtaposition
Read the sentences below and underline or highlight the contrasting ideas:
The room was filled with laughter, yet outside the streets were silent and empty.
She felt a surge of hope in a world full of despair.
The old man walked slowly, while the children ran and shouted around him.
Part B: Create Your Own Juxtaposition
Choose one topic from below and write two contrasting ideas in the same sentence or two sentences:
Happiness vs sadness
Wealth vs poverty
Calm vs chaos
Light vs darkness
Love vs hate
Direct Address & Anecdotes Tasks:
Part A: Spot the techniques
Read the paragraph below and underline examples of direct address and circle the anecdote:
"You might think eating healthily is boring, but let me tell you about the time I tried cooking a completely new meal. I was nervous at first, but by the end, I felt proud and excited to eat something I had made myself. You can feel the same sense of achievement if you give it a go!"
Direct address: __________________
Anecdote: __________________
Part B: Write your own paragraph
Choose one of the topics below and write a short paragraph (3–5 sentences) that:
Uses direct address to speak to the reader.
Includes a personal anecdote to illustrate your point.
Topics:
The importance of teamwork
Trying something new
Overcoming a challenge
The value of reading
Example:
"Have you ever felt nervous about joining a new club? Last year, I joined the drama society even though I was terrified. On my first day, I froze on stage, but by the end of the rehearsal, I was laughing and having fun. You too can discover new strengths if you take the first step."
Review
Make sure you can define/give examples for these rhetorical techniques:
Rhetorical technique
Anecdote
Direct address
Emotive language
Exaggeration
Juxtaposition
Repetition
Rhetorical language
Tricolons
Questions
What is emotive language?
Choose from:
• Language describing movement.
• Language aiming for an emotional response.
• Language with a purpose.Which of these is a rhetorical question, and what is its effect?
• What is the capital of Wales?
• Have you bought the train tickets?
• Do you think I was born yesterday?What technique is used here, and what is the effect?
We're tired, we're hungry, and we want to go home.What technique is used here, and what is the effect?
We all want to do well in our exams.What is juxtaposition and what is its effect?
Rhetorical language is only found in speeches. True or false?
Rhetorical language can influence the way people think and what they do. True or false?
You should aim to include as many rhetorical features in your writing as possible. True or false?
Answers
Language aiming for an emotional response.
Do you think I was born yesterday?
The speaker means he or she is not easily fooled, like a newborn baby.Tricolon (triple). Having three items makes the list more powerfully persuasive. Here, the final item is the most important.
Use of the first person plural pronoun (we) and determiner (our) makes readers feel included in the statement.
It is placing two ideas or images near each other to create a sense of balance or contrast.
False.
True.
False.
Previous Topics - Questions
Questions
What two words are typically used in similes?
How is a metaphor different from a simile?
Answers
Like, as.
Speaks of a thing as if it is something else, without using 'like' or 'as'.
Writing Task: Using Rhetorical Techniques
Instructions:
Choose a topic and write a short paragraph (5–8 sentences) using at least three rhetorical techniques from the list:
Topics:
Protecting the environment
The importance of kindness
The impact of social media
Studying and exams
Staying healthy
Techniques to include:
Repetition
Emotive language
Rhetorical questions
Tricolons (triples)
Direct address
Hyperbole
Juxtaposition
Anecdotes
Step 1: Plan your paragraph:
What is your purpose? (persuade, motivate, inform)
Who is your audience? (classmates, general public, younger students)
Step 2: Write your paragraph. Make sure to:
Include at least three rhetorical techniques
Use clear, persuasive language
Make the paragraph engaging and memorable
Step 3 – Self-Check:
Have I used at least three rhetorical techniques?
Does my paragraph capture the reader’s attention?
Are my ideas clear and convincing?
Reading Task: Using Rhetorical Techniques
Find and explain rhetorical language in this text or another text of your choice.
https://scrapsfromtheloft.com/comedy/brian-regan-nunchucks-flamethrowers-transcript/
BRIAN REGAN: NUNCHUCKS AND FLAMETHROWERS (2017) – Full Transcript
January 28, 2018
Well, it was my New Year’s resolution to lose 15 pounds this year. I’ve only got 25 pounds to go. [audience laughing] Little by little. [audience laughing] I gained ten pounds just for that joke. That’s how dedicated I am. I learned there are milestones in putting on a few pounds. Little moments where you go, “Hey, that was new.” It used to be I’d put on my underwear, and that was it. I’d just get on with my day. You put on a few pounds, put on your underwear, you bend over, and your waistband flips down. [audience laughing] You stand back up, and it flaps back into place… with an awkward little snap: [mimics snapping sound] Whoa. That hurt and felt nice. [audience laughing] Then you put on a few more pounds, you bend over, your waistband flips down. And when you stand back up, it doesn’t flap back into place. [audience laughing] Hey, where was the awkward little snap?
Answers:
Hyperbole / Exaggeration – “I gained ten pounds just for that joke.”
Repetition – “Little by little.”; “you bend over, your waistband flips down… you stand back up…”
Anecdote / Personal Story – Describing his experience putting on weight and underwear.
Imagery / Visual Description – Detailed description of waistband flipping and snapping.
Timing / Pause for Effect – Audience laughter cues and pacing of story.
Juxtaposition / Contrast – Comparing how the waistband snaps when lighter vs. heavier.
Self-deprecation – Making fun of his own weight gain and behaviour.