SAT Reading & Writing: Identifying Rhetorical Devices
24+ practice questions in Praczo
The concept, explained
- 1
Rhetorical devices are techniques authors use to make arguments more persuasive or effective.
- 2
Common devices tested on the SAT: analogy (comparing two unlike things to explain one), anecdote (brief personal story as evidence), appeal to authority (citing an expert), juxtaposition (placing contrasting ideas side by side).
- 3
When asked about a device, first identify what the sentence does structurally, then match it to the term.
- 4
Questions often ask why the author uses a device — the answer should connect the device's effect to the author's overall purpose.
- 5
Do not confuse examples with analogies. An example illustrates; an analogy draws a comparison to a different domain to explain.
- ✗ Identifying what the sentence says (content) rather than what it does (rhetorical function).
- ✗ Choosing 'analogy' when the text gives a direct example in the same domain — analogies compare across different domains.
SAT-style practice
An author writes: "Expecting the economy to fix itself without intervention is like expecting a broken engine to repair itself while the car is still moving." This device is best described as:
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