Starter quiz
- What is being described here: 'a question that is asked for effect rather than an answer.'?
- 'rhetorical question' ✓
- What type of pronoun is the word 'you'?
- first person
- second person ✓
- third person
-
- What method is being used in this example: 'You should go and enjoy the great outdoors!'?
- direct address ✓
- simile
- oxymoron
-
- What is the purpose of opinion writing?
- to educate others on your topic
- to prove your opinion is correct
- to persuade others to agree with you ✓
-
- What does the word 'subtle' mean?
- indicating that a person has done something wrong
- to encourage and support a person’s ability to do something
- not too obvious or noticeable ✓
-
- What might the word 'empower' mean?
- to encourage and support a person’s ability to do something ✓
- indicating that a person has done something wrong
- designed to meet individual or specific requirements
-
Exit quiz
- What is not a purpose of a rhetorical question?
- answer the question directly ✓
- speak directly to the reader
- get the reader to consider something
-
- What makes a successful rhetorical question?
- specific ✓
- targeted ✓
- repeated
-
- When something is ______ it is designed to meet individual or specific requirements.
- 'personalised' ✓
- When using direct address, you want to motivate, inspire and ______ your reader.
- 'empower' ✓
- What might be the effect of using 'you' many times in an opinion article?
- you create a link with your reader
- your reader might feel accused of something ✓
- your reader will be left with a lot to think about
-
- How can you be more subtle when using direct address in your writing?
- speak to an imagined reader e.g 'parents and carers' ✓
- address readers collectively using 'we' or 'us' ✓
- address readers collectively using 'I or 'me'
-
Worksheet
Loading worksheet ...
Presentation
Loading presentation ...
Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Rhetorical questions need to be ‘targeted’ - personalised to the situation or moment, and used with an aim in mind.
- Using emotive language in rhetorical questions can be a very effective way of making them more targeted and purposeful.
- Direct address can be used to motivate and empower the reader to make changes or speak up.
- Repeating ‘you’ too many times can be quite accusatory, which can actually make your reader resistant to your message.
- Try being more subtle with direct address- speak to an imagined reader by name or address readers collectively.
Common misconception
Students think that using lots of the pronoun 'you' is an effective use of direct address. They tend to do this a lot in rhetorical questions.
Using 'you' too many times can create an accusatory tone that can actually make the reader defensive. Sometimes, it can be better to approach direct address more subtly, by speaking to an imagined reader or addressing the readers collectively.
Keywords
Subtle - not too obvious or noticeable.
Accusatory - indicating that a person has done something wrong.
Personalised - designed to meet individual or specific requirements.
Empower - to encourage and support a person’s ability to do something.
+