★ Must-know
Further detail
📌 The passive voice should not be used when the speaker is the culprit, because an audience that sees through the disguise may interpret it as evasion.
Removing the actor calms emotion and can conceal responsibility.
1. Which rhetorical tool best calms an individual by deliberately exaggerating the speaker’s own guilt?
2. In which situation is a backfire especially useful for calming emotion?
3. What does the passive voice do to the person responsible for an action?
What does the passive voice present in a sentence?
An action happening on its own without showing the actor.
How does the passive voice affect the speaker's presence?
It disembodies the speaker by removing the actors.
What effect does the passive voice have on events?
It makes events appear impersonal or accidental.
How does “The account got fouled up” differ from “Marcia fouled up the account”?
It describes wrongdoing without naming the coworker responsible.
Why should the passive voice not be used when the speaker is the culprit?
Because audiences may see it as evasion if they detect the disguise.
What is a backfire in rhetoric?
A rhetorical routine exaggerating audience anger to inspire sympathy.
It covers the core concepts of Rhetorical Tools for Calming Emotions, organized by topic with the key definitions, explanations and takeaways, so it's easier to learn and remember.
Read the full study guide →The practice quiz has 15 multiple-choice questions, each with an explanation. Use it to check what you know and find your gaps.
Take the quiz (15 questions) →There are 37 flashcards on Rhetorical Tools for Calming Emotions, with a question on the front and the answer on the back. Try to recall each answer before you flip, and let spaced repetition bring back the ones you miss.
See all 37 flashcards →Upload a PDF or paste your notes. Revizly writes a study guide, a practice quiz and flashcards in about a minute.