Rhetorical questions can be used as an effective communication tool during a speech. These questions provide you with a way of controlling the speech and thoughts of the audience. Show They are especially useful in engaging the audience and persuading them to agree with you. In this article we discuss how to use rhetorical questions in a speech or presentation. What is a rhetorical question?
A rhetorical question is a question that's asked for effect with no answer expected. The answer may be immediately provided by the questioner or obvious.
Examples of rhetorical questionsGeneral examplesRhetorical questions with obvious answers are asked about well-known facts, or the answer is suggested based on the question's context. They are used to emphasises an idea or point:
Rhetorical questions which have no answers:
Examples from Obama and ShakespearePresident Obama's immigration address Ever since the 5th century BC, orators have put their points across by asking rhetorical questions whose implied answers clearly support their point. This rhetorical passage comes from Obama’s immigration speech:
William Shakespeare
Benefits of rhetorical questionsRhetorical questions are not a necessity but they can be valuable. They can be used in many different ways to:
Fast-track your career with award-winning courses and practice. Explore CoursesHow to use rhetorical questions in a speech1. Engage the audienceAsk a rhetorical question to engage the audience and pause to allow them to think of an answer. This gets the audience to actively participate rather than passively listen as they create hypotheses or resolutions. For example: asking "Why is practicing mindfulness beneficial for reducing anxiety?" would be more effective than saying "Practicing mindfulness exercises can reduce anxiety levels because..." Speakers may start presentations with rhetorical questions to increase the likelihood of the audience staying engaged. 2. Personalise your questionsMake the audience feel as though you are speaking to each member individually by using "you" and "your." For example: asking "Do you want to lose weight without feeling hungry?" would be more effective than asking "Does anyone here want to lost weight without feeling hungry?" 3. Persuade the audienceTo get your audience to agree with you, ask a rhetorical question where the answer is clearly a "yes". Once the audience begins agreeing with you they are more likely to continue agreeing. You will be familiar with this type of persuasion in casual conversation, for example, "Nice weather today, isn't it?" Another way to get the audience to agree with you is to show them that you're similar. Show your listeners that you have shared experiences and that you understand their problems. For example, "We've all experienced being so stressed at work that we come home and don't feel like doing anything, haven't we?" 4. Evoke emotionsMake the audience feel the same way you do about something by asking questions that trigger emotional reactions. For example, rather than saying "X has never helped our community" ask "What has X ever done for our community?" This will trigger a strong emotional response because the audience will come to that conclusion that "X haven't done anything." 5. Emphasise a statementAfter a statement has been made use a rhetorical question to get the audience to think about that statement. For example, "The amount of plastic in the ocean is rising at a considerable rate. How much damage will it take for you to help reduce this?" 6. Predict the audiences questionsThink about your topic and audience when planning your speech. Try to predict what the audience may want to ask. In your speech use the predictions as rhetorical questions and answer them. For example, "As a dog owner you may think 'What should I be focusing on to keep my dog healthy?' The answer is providing your dog with the correct nutrition and therefore food." You could also introduce one or more rhetorical questions at the start of your speech and explain that you will answer them during your speech. For example: "In the next 20 minutes let's explore the answers to these questions." Asking these difficult questions and promising you will provide the answers will increase interest and attention. 7. Answer questions with questionsAnswer a question, either an audience member's or your own, using another rhetorical question. Generally both the questions have the same answer. For example: "Have we met the targets again this year? Is the Pope Catholic?" Try to make the second question unique and relatable to the audience because common examples can sound cheesy. 8. Consecutive rhetorical questions- Increase the impact of your argument Ask multiple rhetorical questions consecutively - each one more specific or more powerful than the previous. This way your content will have a greater impact on the listeners. For example: "Isn't their skin lovely? Don't you think it looks really clear? Can you see any blemishes? Wouldn't you like to have skin like that?" - Show conflicting opinions Use rhetorical questions consecutively to highlight the complexity of a topic by asking questions in which the answers provide conflicting viewpoints. For example: "How can we reduce the crime rate in the UK? Should we rehabilitate offenders? Should criminals be punished with longer sentences? Should we create initiatives targeting at-risk children?" etc If you start your speech with this technique, you can structure your speech or presentation around it, with each section addressing a different viewpoint. - Show supporting opinions You can also consecutively ask questions in which the answers provide similar viewpoints. This is similar to repetition which is used to continually highlight an important point. For example: "Which company achieves over 90% in customer satisfaction? Which company provides one of the best employee benefits programs in the country? Which company scores highest in employee happiness and fulfilment? Of course, our company does!" Rhetorical questions are an effective way to gain the support of the audience but ensure that you do your research beforehand. This means finding out who your audience are, such as, their general views, attitudes, age etc. With this information you can plan rhetorical questions that will be appropriate and tailored to your listeners.
In order to continue enjoying our site, we ask that you confirm your identity as a human. Thank you very much for your cooperation. A rhetorical question is a question asked to make a point, rather than get an answer. If you have ever been late, someone might say: 'What time do you call this?' This person doesn't want an answer to the question. They are making the point that you have arrived at an unacceptable time. Writing to persuadeRhetorical questions are a useful technique in persuasive writing. As there is nobody to answer the question, a rhetorical question is usually designed to speak directly to the reader. It allows the reader a moment to pause and think about the question. For that reason, they are effective in hooking a reader’s interest and making them think about their own response to the question in hand.
ShakespeareRomeo and JulietIn Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet, a young couple fall in love but are forced apart by their rival families: the Montagues and the Capulets. Juliet makes a point that a person's name should not define them: 'What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.' When Juliet asks the question ('What's in a name?') she does not expect an answer. This emphasises her point that names are meaningless. A rose being called a rose does not define how good it smells in the same way that people are not defined by their names or their family. The Merchant of VeniceShakespeare's play The Merchant of Venice looks at the divide between the Jewish and Christian faiths. In the following quote, rhetorical questions are used to highlight that all humans are the same regardless of their religion: 'If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh?' The answers to these questions are obvious: everyone bleeds if they are cut and most people laugh if they are tickled. The rhetorical questions are not designed to be answered instead they emphasise the idea that all humans are created equal. |