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Me Talk Pretty One Day Rhetorical Devices

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David Sedaris employs several rhetorical devices throughout the passage "Me talk Pretty One Day" to create humor, establish credibility, and appeal to the reader's emotions. One of the most notable instances he uses is humor. David Sedaris' writing style is witty and satirical, and he often uses irony and sarcasm to make fun of himself and others. For example, describing his first class, he writes, "When my first student walked in, I was so relieved that I said hello to her twice." This is a perfect example of self-deprecating humor. He uses it to poke fun at himself while also highlighting the nervousness he felt during his first day.
Another rhetorical device that Sedaris employs is his use of pathos. He appeals off motions by sharing his personal experiences and …show more content…

He shares his background as a speech therapist and his experience working in the state-funded program. This information makes him an authority on the subject and gives the reader confidence in his opinions and arguments.
David Sedaris also makes use of several rhetorical strategies to convey his message more clearly. One such strategy is repetition. He repeats certain phrases and words to emphasize their importance. For example, when describing the students' homework, he writes, "Then they had to stand up and read their papers aloud, which didn't seem fair. They'd already written the thing; why make them read it out loud?" Here, he repeats the phrase "read it out loud" to highlight the absurdity of the homework assignment.
Another rhetorical strategy Sedaris employs is hyperbole. He exaggerates certain aspects of his story to make them more entertaining and engaging. For example, he writes about a student who was "so fat he could barely fit in the chair," and another student who "had buck teeth big enough to hold a canoe." These exaggerated descriptions create a humorous image in the reader's mind and help to lighten the mood of the

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