Why would we continue investing in a strategy that clearly isn’t working?

Notice

  • Why would we continue investing in a strategy that clearly isn’t working?
  • Is it really acceptable that so many people still lack access to clean water?
  • This is not merely a setback — it is a wake-up call.
  • The evidence is not just strong; it is overwhelming.

Rule

Rhetorical questions engage the reader/listener and imply an obvious answer, adding persuasive force without stating a claim directly. Emphasis techniques (not merely…but, not just…but, this is not X, it is Y) heighten the stakes of a claim. Used sparingly, these make persuasive writing more compelling; overused, they can feel manipulative — balance matters.

Practice

  1. Turn this claim into a rhetorical question: “We should act on climate change now.”
    Answer: Can we really afford to wait any longer to act on climate change?
  2. Add emphasis using ‘not merely…but’: ‘This is a problem.’
    Answer: This is not merely a problem; it is a crisis.
  3. Why use a rhetorical question instead of a direct statement?
    Answer: It draws the reader into agreeing with an implied answer, making the argument feel more persuasive and participatory.
  4. What is the risk of overusing rhetorical questions in an essay?
    Answer: It can feel manipulative or theatrical rather than genuinely persuasive.

Connect

Practise building rhetorical questions and emphatic structures.

Try Sentence Builder →

CEFR: Spoken Production — present clear, detailed, persuasive arguments with rhetorical skill.

Azizul Hakim
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