Rhetorical Control
C2 speakers and writers can shape meaning through how language sounds and feels: emphasis, rhythm, parallel structure, and strategic repetition. This unit turns “good ideas” into language that is memorable, persuasive, and precise.
SWBAT (Objectives)
- Create emphasis through sentence position, inversion, and focus structures.
- Adjust rhythm through chunking, cadence, and sentence-length variation.
- Use parallelism to increase clarity and persuasive force.
- Use strategic repetition without sounding repetitive or informal.
- Edit a paragraph or short speech to improve rhetorical impact while keeping meaning accurate.
Rhetorical Tools (C2 Level)
fronting · cleft sentences · contrastive stress · “what matters is…”
cadence · variation · punctuation control · spoken chunking
balanced structures · triads · matching grammar patterns
anaphora · refrains · key-term recurrence · controlled echoing
Emphasis (Make the Key Point Unmissable)
Cleft: “It is clarity that builds trust.”
What-clause: “What matters most is consistency.”
Fronting: “In the long term, this policy saves money.”
“This is not about speed; it’s about accuracy.”
“We can choose convenience—or we can choose quality.”
Rhythm (Cadence for Speaking + Writing)
Mix short sentences (impact) with longer ones (detail). Avoid a “flat” pattern.
Use pauses and punctuation to group meaning: idea → support → implication.
Read aloud. Mark pauses. Cut unnecessary words. Re-read until it flows naturally.
Parallelism (Balance for Power + Clarity)
Verb pattern: “We reduce waste, improve quality, and build trust.”
Noun pattern: “Clarity, consistency, and credibility.”
Clause pattern: “If we delay, costs rise; if we act, confidence grows.”
❌ “We need to improve quality, reducing costs, and trust.”
✅ “We need to improve quality, to reduce costs, and to build trust.”
Strategic Repetition (Repeat with Purpose)
We need clarity in measurement.
We need clarity in communication.”
Repeat a core term to build a through-line—then vary the surrounding structure.
Repetition should feel intentional. If it sounds accidental, revise with synonyms or re-structure.
Practice (Speaking + Writing)
Improve emphasis and rhythm in a dull paragraph. Keep facts unchanged.
Fix non-parallel lists, headings, and argument points.
Deliver a short persuasive statement using one triad + one strategic repetition pattern.
Final Task: “Impact Pair” (Write + Deliver)
- Write a 180–240 word persuasive piece (topic provided by teacher).
- Use: 2 emphasis structures + 2 parallel structures.
- Use: 1 intentional repetition pattern (anaphora or refrain).
- Show rhythm control (varied sentence lengths).
- Deliver a 75–90 second talk based on your writing.
- Mark pauses and stress to highlight key points.
- Maintain professional tone and clear articulation.
- Audience can identify the “main line” easily
- Language is memorable but not melodramatic
- Parallel structures are consistent
- Repetition feels purposeful
- Delivery matches the writing (pauses, emphasis)
Materials & Downloads
- Unit 2 Slides — PPTX
- Rhetorical Tools Guide — PDF · Examples Pack — PDF
- Emphasis Handout — PDF
- Rhythm Drills — PDF
- Parallelism Workshop — PDF
- Repetition Techniques — PDF
- Practice Worksheet — PDF · Speaking Drills — PDF
- Performance Task Sheet — PDF · Rubric — PDF
Swap placeholders with real file paths. Keep links consistent:
/levels/c2/assets/.