• A direct address is used when a writer relays a message directly toward an individual or a group of people. The second person pronoun "you" is often used to directly address the reader.

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Smokey the Bear: Only You Can Prevent Wildfires

Direct addresses can help make an argument more persuasive because they connect the reader directly to the topic being discussed. In the example above, readers are made to feel that they have a direct impact on wildfires.

• A rhetorical question is asked to make a point or for dramatic effect rather than to find an answer. In fact, no answer is expected or needed.

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Can anyone see the aftermath of a natural disaster and not feel empathy for the survivors? Natural disasters are terrible occurrences outside of people's controls, and they often cause the most damage and devastation. The damage to property is only the tip of the iceberg. People in hurricanes, tornadoes, and other disasters often lose much more than material goods.

The first line in the example is a rhetorical question. The writer uses it to emphasize the terrible effects of natural disasters and make readers think about how they would feel if they were in a similar situation.