Rhetorical Question

How can a speaker help their audience to see what is obvious? By asking a rhetorical question.

Introduction

A rhetorical question is a question with an apparently easy answer.

By answering this question, listeners feel as though they themselves have reached a specific conclusion. Thus, they are more likely to accept and embrace this conclusion.

However, a speaker must carefully set up and deliver a rhetorical question to ensure that listeners reach the desired conclusion.

Understanding Rhetorical Questions

Sometimes, a question can make a point more effectively than a statement.

Hmmm.

Is this not counterintuitive? Surely a statement is a more efficient way to communicate an idea than a question.

Possibly, but doesn't a question encourage listeners to actively consider an idea, rather than just passively absorb it?

In addition, isn't a listener more likely to be convinced of something if they believe they have reached this conclusion by themselves?

By asking a rhetorical question, a speaker can guide their listeners towards a seemingly obvious answer. However, in order to make sure their listeners come to the desired answer, a speaker must lay careful groundwork before asking their question.

Ronald Reagan

Let's consider an example of an effective rhetorical question.

In 1980, US actor-turned-politician Ronald Reagan accepted the presidential nomination for the Republican party.

In his speech at the Republican National Convention, Reagan had the following to say about the current Democratic president Jimmy Carter and his government:

For Reagan, the answer to this question is obviously no. And, because he has seemingly established the poor state of the current administration, Reagan is encouraging his listeners to come to the same obvious conclusion.

However, it is technically still up to each listener to answer this question by themselves. By doing so, they align themselves with Reagan's views and are thus persuaded by his argument.

Using Rhetorical Questions

Remember, a rhetorical question is a question with a seemingly obvious answer.

However, if we want our listeners to answer this question in the desired way we need to help them reach this conclusion. We can do this by providing all the necessary information to help them see a situation from a desired point of view.

If we do this, the answer to our question should be obvious, shouldn't it?

NEXT:
Anecdote