Scribd
Upload
108 views25 pages

Local Media1884609359

Rhetorical questions are used in speeches and writing to emphasize a point or idea without expecting an actual answer in response. They can be used to engage an audience, persuade listeners, evoke emotions, and emphasize key statements. When crafting rhetorical questions, speakers should consider how to personalize questions to individual audience members, predict questions the audience may have, and show both conflicting and supporting viewpoints on a topic. Using a variety of rhetorical question types can make a presentation more impactful.

Uploaded by

Ryzza Mae Bautista
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
108 views25 pages

Local Media1884609359

Rhetorical questions are used in speeches and writing to emphasize a point or idea without expecting an actual answer in response. They can be used to engage an audience, persuade listeners, evoke emotions, and emphasize key statements. When crafting rhetorical questions, speakers should consider how to personalize questions to individual audience members, predict questions the audience may have, and show both conflicting and supporting viewpoints on a topic. Using a variety of rhetorical question types can make a presentation more impactful.

Uploaded by

Ryzza Mae Bautista
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 25

ENGLISH

QUARTER 2
MODULE 6

Rhetorical
Questions
What Is a Rhetorical Question?

• Rhetorical questions
• Can be sarcastic, humorous, or reflective. They aren’t used to elicit an
actual
• answer, but rather to create a dramatic effect or to emphasize a point.
• Take, for example, the rhetorical question “It’s awfully cold today, isn’t
it?”
• This question (also known as a tag question) puts emphasis on the fact
that it’s very
• cold; in most cases, it’s not intended to draw a thoughtful response.
What Is a Rhetorical Question?

Here are several


- Who cares?
examples of
- How should I know?
common rhetorical
questions that - Who’s counting?
you’ve probably 5 CO_Q2_English 10_ Module 6
used or at least - How many times do I have to tell you…
recognize: ?
- Can’t you do anything right?
- What could be better?
Rhetorical questions

• - are basically a requirement for any effective


speech, which is why you’ll often find them
sprinkled throughout political addresses. They help
to make the speaker’s point more clear, and they
often resonate with the audience, prompting them to
reflect further on an idea.
Rhetorical questions

• Take this example, delivered by President Barack Obama


in 2014:
"Are we a nation that tolerates the hypocrisy of a system
where workers who pick our fruit and make our beds never
have a chance to get right with the law? Are we a nation that
accepts the cruelty of ripping children from their parents'
arms? Or are we a nation that values families, and works to
keep them together?"
Rhetorical questions

• By juxtaposing two very different scenarios through


striking imagery, the president was trying to remind the
American people of their values and the policies he wanted
(and didn’t want) them to support.
Rhetorical Questions in Literature

The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare


• "If you prick us, do we not bleed?
• If you tickle us, do we not laugh?
• If you poison us, do we not die?
• And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?"
Rhetorical Questions in Literature

These questions, posed by the character of Shylock


in The Merchant of
Venice, don’t really need answers; the point is that
the answer to each question
above should be obvious.
Rhetorical Questions in Literature

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare


"What’s in a name? That which we call a rose

By any other name would smell as sweet.”


Juliet’s question of “what’s in a name?” is intended to make
a point about
how little significance a name should hold.
Rhetorical Questions in Literature

Harlem by Langston Hughes


"What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar overlike a syrupy sweet?"
Learn to Use Rhetorical Questions

If overused, too many rhetorical questions might make you


come off as too sarcastic or even arrogant.
But when used skillfully and in combination with other
rhetorical devices, such as ethos, pathos, and logos,
rhetorical questions can enhance your speech and writing by
emphasizing key points.
Benefits of
Rhetorical Questions

Rhetorical questions are not a necessity but they can be


valuable. They can be used in many different ways to:
● Engage the audience
● Increase the variety of your presentation
● Influence and persuade the audience
● Subtly draw attention and emphasize specific points
● Introduce topics/ideas
● Make the listeners think about certain topics
How to Use Rhetorical Questions in a
Speech
Engage the Audience

Ask a rhetorical question to engage the audience and pause to allow them to think of
an answer. This gets the audience to actively participate rather than passively listen
as they create hypotheses or resolutions.

For example: asking "Why is practicing mindfulness beneficial for reducing


anxiety?" would be more effective than saying "Practicing mindfulness exercises can
reduce anxiety levels because...“

Speakers may start presentations with rhetorical questions to increase the likelihood
of the audience staying engaged.
How to Use Rhetorical Questions in a
Speech
Personalise Your Questions

Make the audience feel as though you are speaking to each


member individually by using "you" and "your.“

For example: asking "Do you want to lose weight without


feeling hungry?“ would be more effective than asking "Does
anyone here want to lost weight without feeling hungry?"
How to Use Rhetorical Questions in a
Speech
Persuade The Audience

To get your audience to agree with you, ask a rhetorical question where the
answer is clearly a "yes". Once the audience begins agreeing with you they are more
likely to continue agreeing. You will be familiar with this type of persuasion in casual
conversation, for example, "Nice weather today, isn't it?“

Another way to get the audience to agree with you is to show them that you're similar.
Show your listeners that you have shared experiences and that you understand their
problems.

For example, "We've all experienced being so stressed at work that we come
home and don't feel like doing anything, haven't we?"
How to Use Rhetorical Questions in a
Speech
Evoke Emotions

Make the audience feel the same way you do about something
by asking questions that trigger emotional reactions.

For example, rather than saying "X has never helped our
community" ask "What has X ever done for our community?"
This will trigger a strong emotional response because the
audience will come to the conclusion that "X haven't done
anything."
How to Use Rhetorical Questions in a
Speech
Emphasize a Statement

After a statement has been made use a rhetorical


question to get the audience to think about that
statement.

For example, "The amount of plastic in the ocean is


rising at a considerable rate. How much damage will it
take for you to help reduce this?"
How to Use Rhetorical Questions in a
Speech
Predict the audience questions

Think about your topic and audience when planning your


speech. Try to predict what the audience may want to ask. In
your speech use the predictions as rhetorical questions and
answer them.
For example, "As a dog owner you may think 'What should I be
focusing on to keep my dog healthy?' The answer is providing
your dog with the correct
nutrition and therefore food."
How to Use Rhetorical Questions in a
Speech
Predict the audience questions

You could also introduce one or more rhetorical


questions at the start of your speech and explain that
you will answer them during your speech. For
example: "In the next 20 minutes let's explore the
answers to these questions."
Asking these difficult questions and promising you will
provide the answers will
increase interest and attention.
How to Use Rhetorical Questions in a
Speech
Answer Questions with Questions

Answer a question, either an audience member's or your own,


using another rhetorical question. Generally, both the questions
have the same answer.
For example: "Have we met the targets again this year? Is the
Pope Catholic?"
Try to make the second question unique and relatable to the
audience because common examples can sound cheesy.
How to Use Rhetorical Questions in a
Speech
Consecutive Rhetorical Questions
● Increase the impact of your argument Ask multiple rhetorical
questions consecutively
- each one more specific or more powerful than the previous.
This way your content will have a greater impact on the
listeners.
For example:
"Isn't their skin lovely? Don't you think it looks really
clear?
Can you see any blemishes? Wouldn't you like to have skin
like that?"
How to Use Rhetorical Questions in a
Speech
Show conflicting opinions

Use rhetorical questions consecutively to highlight the


complexity of a topic by asking questions in which the answers
provide conflicting viewpoints.
For example:
"How can we reduce the crime rate in the UK? Should we
rehabilitate offenders? Should criminals be punished with
longer sentences?
Should we create initiatives targeting at-risk children?"
How to Use Rhetorical Questions in a
Speech
Show conflicting opinions

If you start your speech with this technique, you can structure
your speech or presentation around it, with each section
addressing a different viewpoint.
How to Use Rhetorical Questions in a
Speech
Show supporting opinions

You can also consecutively ask questions in which the answers provide
similar viewpoints. This is similar to repetition which is used to
continually
highlight an important point.
For example:
"Which company achieves over 90% in customer satisfaction?
Which company provides one of the best employee benefits programs
in the 10 CO_Q2_English 10_ Module 6 country?
Which company scores highest in employee happiness and fulfilment?
Of course, our company does!"
How to Use Rhetorical Questions in a
Speech
Show supporting opinions

Rhetorical questions are an effective way to gain the support of the


audience
but ensure that you do your research beforehand. This means finding out
who your
audience are, such as, their general views, attitudes, age etc. With this
information
you can plan rhetorical questions that will be appropriate and tailored to
your
listeners.

You might also like