The phrase “tool used by a writer to achieve a specific effect” refers to which concept?

• A. Rhetorical device
• B. Plot
• C. Genre
• D. Diction

Answer: (A)

Rhetorical devices are techniques writers use to create a specific effect in their writing. They strategically shape meaning, tone, and emotion—persuading, stressing, or emphasizing ideas through mechanisms like metaphor, repetition, or parallelism. Plot and genre describe what happens in the story and the category it fits into, not the tools used to craft effect. Diction refers to word choice, which does influence tone, but the phrase in question points to the broader set of techniques writers employ to achieve a desired impact, which is captured by rhetorical devices.