Year 10 - English
Using rhetorical devices effectively
Spoken language: the language of change
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils look at powerful speeches and emulate them by writing their own speeches. They first read, analyse and compare powerful speeches. They then hone their craft by understanding the features that contribute towards creating a powerful speech. They finally plan and write a speech.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to create and use effective rhetorical devices.
Key Notes
- Rhetorical questions and statistics are the most used persuasive devices, they need to be crafted carefully.
- Statistics and facts need to be realistic and probable in order to add credibility to your writing.
- Rhetorical questions should be used sparingly and not in succession.
- Rhetorical questions should avoid overusing the pronoun "you".
- A realistic fact or statistic can be combined with a rhetorical question to make it even more impactful.
Vocabulary To Learn
- realistic: accurate and truthful
- authoritative: having reliable knowledge or expertise which makes you appear trustworthy and believable
- probable: something that is likely or true, based on available evidence
- plausible: something that seems reasonable or believable
- credibility: to be believable, trustworthy and reliable
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Placing ambiguous, short questions with direct address at the end of sentences is an effective rhetorical question. For example: Do you?/Don't you agree?
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
Rhetorical questions and statistics are the most used persuasive devices, they need to be crafted carefully. Statistics and facts need to be realistic and probable in order to add credibility to your writing.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'realistic'
accurate and truthful.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Placing ambiguous, short questions with direct address at the end of sentences is an effective rhetorical question. For example: Do you?/Don't you agree? Correction: Think about the purpose of a rhetorical question and why we use them. Is this the best way to challenge and provoke thought or get a reaction from your audience?
More Lessons In This Unit
- Analysing a persuasive speech Study Guide
- Comparing non-fiction texts Study Guide
- Comparing tone and methods in non-fiction texts Study Guide
- Engaging your audience: creating effective opening and closing paragraphs Study Guide
- Evaluating and improving model responses on non-fiction texts Study Guide
- Having productive discussions in response to a non-fiction text Study Guide
- Planning and writing a persuasive speech Study Guide
- Preparing to deliver a powerful speech Study Guide
- Proofreading and redrafting a speech Study Guide
- Spoken language: choosing a topic and developing ideas for a speech Study Guide
- Understanding and summarising perspectives Study Guide
- Understanding what makes a powerful speech Study Guide
- Using non-verbal features to present a speech effectively Study Guide
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