This Thanksgiving, I hope you’ll spend some time hunting for more than just turkey and dressing. As we continue our journey to give voice to the techniques writers use to “play” with language, we’re starting to appreciate how challenging acquiring a rhetorical vocabulary can be. It can seem a bit daunting–especially when multiple terms exist for one device. Don’t lose hope. Though hundreds of terms exist, we need only learn a few of the most common. About.com has a wonderful list: Top 20 Figures of Speech. Though these aren’t the only devices we must know for the AP exam, they are a wonderful start.

Your task in this assignment is to undertake a rhetorical treasure hunt. For what are you looking? Examples of writers “playing” with language. Where might you look? Everywhere. Start with your CD (or digital downloads) collection–in the song lyrics, notice advertising slogans, check out the newspaper, look in your textbooks, search in the classic you’re currently reading.

Share your results in a blog post:

I’m spraying purple any Internet lists of examples of rhetorical devices–such lists are off limits. The idea is for you to find your own original examples, not copy and paste someone else’s list. Include at least five (5) examples in your post.

For inspiration, check out Richard Norquist’s post: Trampling Through the Garden of Eloquence. Note how his post includes a witty introduction and conclusion and how, within the body, he includes a list of rhetorical devices. In short, his post exemplifies good writing as should your post.

Start hunting! Season ends Monday morning after Thanksgiving; that is, you must have published your post before coming to class Monday, November 26.