Rhetoric

Rhetoric is the art of PERSUASION.
“They tell us,
Sir, that we
are weak! But
when shall we
be stronger?!”
Rhetoric

Three techniques of rhetoric are:
1 - Logos
2 - Ethos
3 - Pathos
Rhetoric
Parallelism:
One of many powerful
rhetorical (rhetoric – al)
tools for the writer or
speaker
Rhetoric
The term comes from the Greek
“parallelos”, meaning “beside one
another.”
Parallelos = Beside One Another
Parallelos = Beside One Another
Parallelos = Beside One Another
Parallelos = Beside One Another
Parallelos = Beside One Another
Rhetoric
In art or math, you may come
across the idea of “parallels”.
Parallel Supermans!
Rhetoric
What does “parallelism” mean
in the world of language?

In writing or speaking, parallelism is a
balance of two or more similar words,
phrases, or clauses.
Rhetoric
Parallel words:
Liam likes hiking, swimming, and bicycling.
Not Parallel:
Liam likes hiking, swimming, and to ride
a bicycle.
Rhetoric
Not Parallel:
The production manager was asked to write
his report quickly, accurately, and in a
detailed manner.
Parallel:
The production manager was asked to write his
report quickly, accurately, and thoroughly.
Rhetoric
Parallel Clauses:
The coach told the players that they should
get a lot of sleep, that they should not eat
too much, and that they should do some
warm-up exercises before the game.
Rhetoric
Parallel Clauses:
The coach told the players
that they should get a lot of sleep,
that they should not eat too much, and
that they should do some warm-up exercises
before the game.
Rhetoric
If Benjamin Franklin had written, "Early
to bed, early to rise, makes a man
healthy, wealthy, and a leader," we
wouldn't be quoting him today.
Rhetoric
Instead, he began his list with two
adjectives, "healthy" and "wealthy."
He completed it not with a noun, “leader.,"
but with a third adjective, "wise," thereby
rendering his saying memorable.
What Franklin did was follow
parallel construction, giving his
sentence rhythm and cadence.
It sounds good, and it creates
emphasis!
"Early to bed, early to rise,
makes a man healthy,
wealthy, and wise."
Rhetoric
Charles Dickens used the parallel structure:
“It was the best of times,
it was the worst of times,
it was the age of wisdom,
it was the age of foolishness,”
from – “A Tale of Two Cities”
Rhetoric
Winston Churchill used the parallel structure:
We shall fight on the beaches;
we shall fight on the landing grounds;
we shall fight in the fields and in the streets;
we shall fight in the hills.
We shall never surrender.
Rhetoric
John F. Kennedy used the parallel structure:
"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or
ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden,
meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose
any foe to assure the survival and the success of
liberty."
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the
true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident:
that all mean are created equal."
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of
former slaves and sons of former slave owners will be able to sit
down together at a table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert
state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be
transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation
where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the
content of their character.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and
mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and
the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall
be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.
This is our hope.
This is the faith with which I return to the South.
With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a
stone of hope.
With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our
nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood.
With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to
struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together,
knowing that we be free one day.
Using ORGANIZATION, King’s parallelism created
RHYTHM and CADENCE:
1. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out . . .
1. I have a dream that one day . . .
1. I have a dream that one day. . .
1. I have a dream that . . .
1. I have a dream today.
1. I have a dream that one day. . .
2. This is our hope.
2. This is the faith with which I return to the South.
3.With this faith we will be able to . . .
3.With this faith we will be able to . . .
3 With this faith we will be able to . . .
Rhetoric
When talking about his cruel older brothers
scaring him, comedian Louie Anderson broke
the parallel structure to create humor:
“My big brothers always picked on me. I
didn’t know what to do . . .
Until I got a little older . . .
and a little wiser . . .
and a little brother . . .
Some well-known PARALLEL
statements:
“I came, I saw, I conquered.”
(Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar)
"But let judgment run down as waters, and
righteousness as a mighty stream." (Amos 5:24)
"Buy a bucket of chicken and
have a barrel of fun.“ (Kentucky Fried Chicken slogan)
“A kiss can be a comma, a question mark, or an
exclamation point. “ (Mistinguett)
In Review . . .
Rhetoric is the art of PERSUASION.
But not like this!
In Review . . .
Rhetoric is the art of PERSUASION.
Or not like this . . .
In Review . . .
Rhetoric is the art of PERSUASION.
And not like this . . .
In Review . . .

Rhetoric is the art of PERSUASION.
To convince another through the art of
language.
In Review . . .

Three techniques of rhetoric are:
1 - Logos
2 - Ethos
3 - Pathos
In Review . . .
Parallelism:
One of many powerful
rhetorical (rhetoric – al)
tools for the writer or
speaker
In Review . . .
 Parallelism
is a balance of
two or more similar words,
phrases, or clauses.
In Review . . .
Parallel construction gives a sentence
rhythm and cadence.
It sounds good, AND
it creates emphasis.
Any Questions?