Worksheet on Rhetorical Questions - Purpose
English
Year 9
8 questions
~16 mins
1 views0 downloads
About This Worksheet
An analysis and annotation worksheet focusing on the purpose of rhetorical questions in texts, aimed at Year 9 students studying language techniques.
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Worksheet on Rhetorical Questions - Purpose
Subject: EnglishGrade: Year 9
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Untitled Worksheet
Grade Year 9
A
Understanding the Purpose of Rhetorical Questions
In his famous speech, Martin Luther King Jr. asks, 'When will we be able to sit at the table of brotherhood? When will justice roll down like waters? When will we be free at last?' These questions are not meant to be answered directly but are posed to emphasise the urgency of civil rights and to inspire action. They serve to make the audience reflect on the current injustices and motivate them towards change.
1.
Identify and explain the primary purpose of Martin Luther King Jr.'s rhetorical questions in the passage.
[2 marks]2.
Annotate the passage to show where the rhetorical questions occur and suggest how they contribute to the overall message.
[4 marks]3.
What effect do rhetorical questions generally have on the audience or reader? Choose the best option:
a) They provide factual information.
b) They make the audience think and feel motivated.
c) They entertain with humorous questions.
d) They clarify complex ideas.
[1 mark]Aa) They provide factual information.
Bb) They make the audience think and feel motivated.
Cc) They entertain with humorous questions.
Dd) They clarify complex ideas.
4.
Analyse how the rhetorical questions in the passage help to build emotion and persuade the audience. Provide specific examples from the text.
[4 marks]5.
Create your own short speech using at least two rhetorical questions to persuade your audience about an important issue.
[4 marks]6.
Identify the literary device used in the phrase: 'justice roll down like waters.'
[1 mark]7.
Explain how the repetition of 'When will...' in the questions affects the tone and message of the speech.
[2 marks]8.
In your opinion, what is the most effective aspect of using rhetorical questions in speeches? Justify your answer with a brief explanation.
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Details
- Created
- 12/31/2025
- Updated
- 12/31/2025
- Type
- worksheet