Rhetorical devices – definitions and activities

Help KS3-4 students enhance their understanding of rhetorical devices and how to use these effectively in their spoken and written work. 

What's included

Get everything you need to help students deepen their understanding of rhetorical devices. 

• Free printable PDF worksheet for students to explore rhetorical device definitions and create their own examples. 
• For subscribers only, an adaptable and customisable worksheet and accompanying PowerPoint.

Rhetorical devices - definitions and activities resource

Ideal for students at KS3 or KS4, this resource helps students get to grips with clear definitions of 6 major rhetorical devices using relevant and effective examples. Students are asked to add their own example for each rhetorical device, further consolidating their technique knowledge.

Students can then apply this knowledge with a labelling activity and a spoken conversational task to build confidence and familiarity. 

Key features of this resource

This rhetorical device worksheet has three main sections:

1. A clear definition with accompanying examples for each of the 6 rhetorical devices included on the worksheet. Students add in their own creative examples. 

2. A rhetorical device labelling activity to deepen knowledge around the technique and increase students ability to recognise rhetorical devices in text. 

3. A spoken activity that can be used with pairs or groups. This has a competitive edge as the first student to include all 6 rhetorical devices in their dialogue wins!

The PowerPoint (subscribers only) provides everything you need for each activity. Use it with the worksheet or on its own for a print-free option.

How to use this rhetorical devices resource

This resource is perfect for:

• Building understanding of definitions and examples of rhetorical devices.
• Increasing student confidence to use rhetorical devices in their own work.
• Revision sessions and exam or assessment preparation.
• Introducing rhetorical devices in KS3 or reinforcing understanding in KS4

Additional rhetorical device resources

• Persuasive writing skills
• Writing to argue and persuade: techniques
• Impressive imagery
• Language techniques and effects: how to analyse
• Develop descriptive writing skills - student guide

Browse more resources in our arguments and persuasive texts section.

Rhetorical devices: definitions and examples

1. Rhetorical questions

Ask a question where an answer is not expected.

• How can we encourage more people to recycle? Well, one way would be to…
• How much impact does one person really have on the environment? Surprisingly, …

2. Personification

Giving human actions or emotions to non-living/inanimate things.

• The soft bed welcomed me with open arms.
• The fear of failure chased him wherever he went.

3. Hyperbole

Using exaggeration to draw attention to the severity of the matter or to make a strong point.

• I will literally die if they ask me to give a speech to the class.
• I'm so hungry I could eat a horse.

4. Litotes

The use of a negative statement to express the opposite meaning, such as ‘not too bad’ to mean something is quite good.

• He’s not unlike his dad.
• Let’s just say she doesn’t have the best attendance record.

5. Anadiplosis

Repetition of the last word in a phrase at the beginning of the next phrase or sentence. An example would be: “Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate and hate leads to suffering.” (Yoda, Star Wars)

• We ordered a pizza. A pizza that changed our lives.
• She opened a shop, a shop that would ruin her financially.

6. Simile

A simile is a comparison where one thing is compared to something else using the words ‘like’ or ‘as’.

• It was as hot as a desert this morning.
• His heart was beating like a broken clock.