Writing an article - rhetorical questions

Writing rhetorical questions is a device that can become predictable when overused, but a well-chosen question can help an exam article engage its reader. Articles are an option in Writing Part 2 of B1 Preliminary, B2 First and B2 First for Schools. A question in the introduction can draw the reader into your topic, provided the rest of the article gives them a reason to keep reading. So why are rhetorical questions a useful option for writing articles?

Writing rhetorical questions cambridge B1 Preliminary

Contents

What is a rhetorical question?

A rhetorical question is a question which is asked for effect and doesn’t need to be answered. Sometimes the answer to rhetorical questions is obvious or sometimes the asker will go on to answer it themselves.

As you can see by the way I used a rhetorical question in the introduction to this blog, they encourage a reader to keep reading. The psychological effect of rhetorical questions can be quite powerful because you can spark interest, intrigue and even controversy if used effectively.

When and how often should you be writing rhetorical questions?

Rhetorical questions can work well in articles and some reviews or letters when they suit the reader and purpose. For exam essays, reports and proposals, I generally recommend direct statements that make the argument or findings clear. Choose a question because it helps the text, rather than adding one to every piece of writing.

Use rhetorical questions sparingly. The best place for them is at the end of your 1st paragraph and in the final paragraph as a way to make the ending interesting. One or two questions throughout the text is more than enough.

The materials - rhetorical question cards

These rhetorical question cards have sentence stems on them so that you can practise writing questions for different topics that could come up in the exam. Brainstorm a series of topics and then try writing a question for each one.

writing an article cambridge — *Possible article topics for a B1 exam*

Possible procedure:

Cut up question cards and give one set to each pair
On the board, have a list of six possible article topics (like the example above)
One student rolls a dice which determines the topic everyone has to write about
Each pair turns over a question card and writes a rhetorical question related to the topic
Compare and contrast, correct errors and put the best on the board
Replace the used topic with a new one
Rinse and repeat

EXAM PART: Writing Part 2: Article, B1 Preliminary, B2 First and B2 First for Schools

EXAM SKILLS: Creating cohesion and maintaining reader’s interest

TIME: 20 minutes

PREPARATION: One set of question cards per pair of students, list of article topics appropriate for the level