Sample rhetorical patterns

Passage 1

Rhetorical pattern: comparison and contrast

Passage 2
Dogs are domesticated animals that have been living with humans for generations.
Dogs can be classified in a number of different ways. For example, they can be
classified by breed. Examples of different breeds include beagles, basset hounds,
poodles and countless others as defined by the American Kennel Club (AKC). They can
also be classified by their role in the lives of their masters and the work they do. For
example, a dog might be a family pet, a working dog, a show dog, or a hunting dog. In
many cases, dogs are defined both by their breed and their role. For example, a dog
could be a beagle that is a family pet.

Rhetorical pattern: classification

Passage 3
Since my daughter has been in daycare, she has become better at a few different things. To
start off, her vocabulary is much larger and more developed. Before she started daycare, my
daughter had a few select words that she would say like; momma, dada, Cocoa (one of the
puppies), and some other simple words. Now she tries to repeat everything that is said.
Another result of her being in daycare is that she has the ability to interact with other children
better. In the past, she was only around one child. Now she is around about six to eight kids,
and she has learned to share her toys and to play in a group with the other children. Her
learning to share has carried over at home when she tells her daddy or me that it’s his turn or
mommy’s turn when putting her socks on. A third outcome of her being in daycare is the fact
that she is becoming more self-reliant. Before daycare, she wouldn’t try very hard to help me
with getting dressed, but now she wants to try to do it all on her own. She puts her pull ups on
and tries to pull on her shirts and pants herself. Socks still go on upside down, but at least her
shoes go on the correct feet. I am really glad that I decided to put her in a daycare, for the
benefits have been great.

Rhetorical pattern: effects

Passage 4
Breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend can be easier said than done, but here are five
steps that may help the breaking up process. First try to distance yourself by suddenly
becoming busier than usual. The next step is to calmly tell the other person that how
you are feeling. Then gently let him or her know that you do not want to be together
anymore. Then make sure to be sensitive of his or her feelings and answer any questions
that he or she may have. For example, if the person starts to cry, use kind words to help
comfort him or her. After everything is said and done, take some alone time for yourself
because everyone has feelings to sort out after a break up. Finally, go out with friends
and meet new people. With these five steps it will make the breaking up process smooth
for both parties.
Rhetorical pattern: process analysis

Passage 5
The word "literature" evokes the image of a book-lined shelf, or an evening spent in a chair
with a novel.  While written literature has been around since the advent of print, it has
always taken on different forms. At its most basic, literature simply means written work,
although some would argue that the term refers specifically to published works, or even to
works that have garnered some critical acclaim. High literature connotes literature that has
been accepted as academically beneficial. "Low" literature, like some young adult fiction,
doesn't always have the intellectual value of high literature, but there is some crossover- the
novels of Stevenson and Twain were originally written to a young adult audience but are
considered classics today.

Rhetorical pattern: definition