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106 Unit 2 ■ Appealing to an Audience

SYNTACTICAL EFFECT
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Syntactical Choice Example Possible Effect Questions to Ask
Repetition “What lies behind us Emphasizes or Why does the writer
Repeating or and what lies before reinforces an idea or repeat this particular
recurrence of a word, us are tiny compared concept often related word, phrase, or
phrase, sentence, or to what lies within us.” to the writer’s purpose sentence?
other element — Ralph Waldo Emerson Why does it occur
where it does?
Juxtaposition “I have a dream that my Sets up a contrast How did the writer
Contrasting ideas, four little children will one or comparison of create the juxtaposition
scenes, settings, day live in a nation where concepts (e.g., use of transitions,
images, or other they will not be judged coordination)?
elements by the color of their skin Why does the writer
but by the content of juxtapose these
their character.” — Martin particular ideas?
Luther King Jr.
Parallel Structure “That government of the Creates a sense of Why does the writer
Repeating words or people, by the people, balance by placing want the reader
phrases in the same and for the people . . .” emphasis on the to notice these
grammatical structure — Abraham Lincoln grammatical element grammatical elements
that is parallel in particular?
Rhetorical Question “But what is government Asks the reader to What effect does
Posing a question itself but the greatest of reflect, contemplate, the placement of the
that is expected to be all reflections on human or consider a concept rhetorical question
considered but not nature?” — James or idea have on the message?
answered literally Madison
Antithesis “Ask not what your Provides emphasis on What ideas are being
Expressing contrasting country can do for you, one idea by contrasting contrasted?
ideas in parallel but what you can do for it with another What effect do these
grammatical structure your country.” — John F. contrasting ideas have
Kennedy on the audience?
Fragment “Silence. The cold rain Emphasizes an idea by Why did the writer use
A broken thought or falling. And the smell of focusing on a particular only part of a sentence,
only part of a sentence blue electricity blowing phrase or part of a such as only giving the
under the locked sentence subject or only giving
door.” — Ray Bradbury an exclamation?
Simple Sentence “Love was on the move. Placing a simple Where are the short,
A complete thought “Mercy was on the sentence by itself, simple sentences? Why
consisting of a subject move. especially among other are they placed in that
and verb “God was on the move.” longer or complex location?
sentences, often What idea is being
— Bono emphasizes the idea emphasized?
in that sentence

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