Rhetorical Devices and Story Elements
The Art of Using Language Effectively
ELF 40S
Rhetorical Devices:
How many do you know?
• Do your best to write the name of the
rhetorical device that matches each
description. Use a pencil.
Not quite sure?
How about a word bank?
Word Bank
*Dialogue *Slang
*Alliteration *Symbol
*Spaces/Breaks
*Description
*Allusion *Short Sentence *Simile
*Intentional Sentence Fragment *Pun
*Hyperbole
*Tautology
*Example
*Paradox *Quotes
*Repetition
*Rhetorical Question *Title *Non-standard
Punctuation *Sub-title *Graph/Table/Map
*Foreign Language Phrase
*Jargon
*Illustration
*Juxtaposition *Metaphor
*Irony
*Italics
*Anecdote *Ellipses *Capitalization
*Compare/Contrast
*Satire
*Onomatopoeia *Personification
• Now, let’s correct. How did you do?
30 or more correct? 20-30 correct? Less
than 20 correct?
Next, read ‘Gall in the Family’
to find examples of Rhetorical Devices
• Do Rhetorical Devices Assignment 1
Story Elements
Story Elements
Plot: The sequence of events of a story. A
plot is always based on conflict, which in
turn creates suspense, which builds to a
climactic event.
Plot always contains the following:
1. EXPOSITION: the background details we
need to understand the story, introduces
character, conflict, setting.
2. RISING ACTION: ‘the plot thickens’
Complications bring the plot towards the
climactic moment
3. CLIMAX: the turning point of the story, where
the conflict is at the highest point.
4. DENOUEMENT: ‘Falling action’ where loose
ends are tied up
5. RESOLUTION: conclusion
Plot Diagram
• Label the parts.
Types of Conflict
– Internal – takes place in a character’s own
mind
• Man vs. Him(Her)self
– External – a character struggles against an
outside force
• Man vs. Man
• Man vs. Nature
• Man vs. Society
Theme
• A comment on human nature that can be
taken from the story
• Usually a general statement about life and
not specific to the details or characters of
the story
Point of View
• Vantage point from which the writer tells
the story.
– First person- One of the characters is actually
telling the story using the pronoun “I”
– Third person- Centers on one character’s
thoughts and actions and simply observes
others. (he/she)
– Omniscient- All knowing narrator like God.
Can center on the thoughts any actions of any
and all characters.
Setting
• The time and place of the story’s action.
Setting includes ideas, customs, values,
and beliefs.
Characters
• Character – a person in a story, poem or
play.
• Types of Characters:
– Round- fully developed, has many different
character traits
– Flat- stereotyped, one-dimensional, few traits
– Static – Does not change
– Dynamic – Changes as a result of the story's
events
Foreshadowing
• Clues the writer puts in the story to give
the reader a hint of what is to come.
Next, read ‘Guests of the Nation’
• Do ‘Story Elements Assignment’
AND… yes, I know this seems long and hateful…
• Do ‘Rhetorical Devices Assignment 2’
Now, do the Rhetorical Devices
group assignment to review for
your test.
What, a test? Yes, a test.
Your test will be on Story Elements
and Rhetorical Devices