Rhetorical Devices and Figurative Language

Active learning works because rhetorical devices and figurative language rely on sound and imagery, which students must hear and see to grasp their persuasive force. When learners manipulate these tools in real time, they move beyond passive recognition to active analysis, which strengthens both comprehension and retention.

• Year 13
• English
• 4 activities
• 25 min–50 min

Learning Objectives

1. Analyze the function of specific rhetorical devices, such as anaphora and antithesis, in shaping audience perception within historical speeches.
2. Evaluate the effectiveness of metaphors and similes in translating abstract political or social concepts into relatable terms for a general audience.
3. Compare and contrast the persuasive strategies employed in two different speeches, identifying how variations in rhetorical device usage impact their overall success.
4. Create a short persuasive text incorporating at least three distinct rhetorical devices and explain the intended effect of each choice.
5. Critique the application of rhetorical devices in contemporary political commentary, assessing their contribution to clarity or obfuscation.

Chalk Talk

⏱ 35 min·Pairs

Pair Dissection: Speech Annotations

Pairs annotate excerpts from persuasive speeches, labeling devices like anaphora or antithesis and noting their effects. They then swap annotations for peer review and discuss persuasive strengths. Compile class insights on a shared digital board.

Prepare & details

Explain how specific rhetorical devices enhance the persuasive impact of a speech.

Facilitation Tip: During Pair Dissection, circulate with the audio clips ready to play so students can hear the rhythm of anaphora and antithesis immediately after reading.

Setup: Large papers on tables or walls, space to circulate

Materials: Large paper with central prompt, Markers (one per student), Quiet music (optional)

• Understand
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Self-Awareness
• Self-Management

Chalk Talk

⏱ 50 min·Small Groups

Small Group Craft: Device-Driven Persuasion

Groups select a modern issue and compose a 200-word persuasive pitch using three assigned devices. They rehearse delivery, focusing on rhythm and imagery. Present to class for vote on most convincing.

Prepare & details

Analyze the function of metaphor and simile in making abstract ideas more concrete.

Facilitation Tip: For Small Group Craft, provide a bank of opposing ideas so groups can focus on structuring antithesis rather than searching for topics.

Setup: Large papers on tables or walls, space to circulate

Materials: Large paper with central prompt, Markers (one per student), Quiet music (optional)

• Understand
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Self-Awareness
• Self-Management

Chalk Talk

⏱ 45 min·Whole Class

Whole Class Carousel: Strategy Swap

Post excerpts around the room; students rotate, adding analysis of figurative language to each. Return to starting station to synthesize group findings. Conclude with plenary on cross-text patterns.

Prepare & details

Differentiate between various rhetorical strategies and their intended effects on an audience.

Facilitation Tip: In the Whole Class Carousel, assign each station a different device so students build expertise as they rotate, making annotations more targeted.

Setup: Large papers on tables or walls, space to circulate

Materials: Large paper with central prompt, Markers (one per student), Quiet music (optional)

• Understand
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Self-Awareness
• Self-Management

Chalk Talk

⏱ 25 min·Individual

Individual Remix: Metaphor Makeover

Students rewrite a prosaic paragraph from a speech using similes and metaphors. Self-assess impact on persuasiveness via a rubric. Share one example in a class gallery walk.

Prepare & details

Explain how specific rhetorical devices enhance the persuasive impact of a speech.

Facilitation Tip: During Individual Remix, ask students to draft their metaphor makeover in pencil first so they can revise after peer feedback on audience impact.

Setup: Large papers on tables or walls, space to circulate

Materials: Large paper with central prompt, Markers (one per student), Quiet music (optional)

• Understand
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Self-Awareness
• Self-Management

Teaching This Topic

Teachers should model annotation with think-alouds, showing how to mark sound devices with slashes and figurative language with brackets. Avoid overloading students with terminology; instead, emphasize purpose and effect. Research suggests that students learn rhetorical devices best when they connect them to persuasion in speeches, not isolated examples, so anchor every lesson in real-world texts.

What to Expect

Successful learning looks like students confidently labeling devices in unfamiliar texts, explaining their effects with precise language, and adapting them effectively in their own writing. By the end of these activities, students should be able to connect rhetorical choices to audience, purpose, and tone with clarity.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During Pair Dissection, watch for students who treat anaphora as accidental repetition rather than deliberate patterning.

What to Teach Instead

Prompt pairs to mark the repeated phrase and then read the section aloud twice, once normally and once with exaggerated pauses at each repetition, to highlight the rhythmic buildup.

Common Misconception

During Small Group Craft, watch for students who conflate metaphors and similes as interchangeable tools.

What to Teach Instead

Ask groups to rewrite their metaphor sentences by replacing the 'is' with 'like' or 'as,' then vote on which version sharpens their abstract idea more effectively for their intended audience.

Common Misconception

During Whole Class Carousel, watch for students who assume antithesis always creates balanced arguments.

What to Teach Instead

Have students underline the opposing ideas in each speech excerpt and then circle any words that reveal the speaker's intent, such as 'must,' 'should,' or 'cannot,' to expose persuasive rather than neutral tensions.

Assessment Ideas

Exit Ticket

After Pair Dissection, distribute a short excerpt and ask students to identify one example of anaphora or antithesis and explain in one sentence how it contributes to the speech's persuasive power.

Quick Check

During Small Group Craft, display a series of sentences and ask students to label each as either figurative or literal and briefly explain their reasoning for two examples.

Peer Assessment

After Individual Remix, students exchange paragraphs with a partner, identifying at least one rhetorical device used by their peer and commenting on its effectiveness in one sentence.

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge: Ask students to find a modern speech that remixes an older one, e.g., Obama borrowing from Churchill, and annotate the intertextual references.
• Scaffolding: Provide sentence stems for antithesis, such as "Where there is ___, there must also be ___," to help students structure contrasts.
• Deeper exploration: Invite students to research how rhetorical devices vary across cultures or historical periods, comparing persuasive techniques in speeches from different eras.

Key Vocabulary

Anaphora	The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences, used for emphasis and rhythm.
Antithesis	The juxtaposition of contrasting ideas, often in parallel structure, to highlight differences and create impact.
Metaphor	A figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as', suggesting a resemblance.
Simile	A figure of speech comparing two unlike things using 'like' or 'as', used to make descriptions more vivid or understandable.
Rhetorical Question	A question asked for effect or to make a point, rather than to elicit an actual answer.