Rhetorical Terms

Start Studying!

Literary Terminology and Terms

Terms

undefined, object

copy deck

imagery: The use of images in speech and writing
narrative: A form of fiction, nonfiction, or poetry that tells a story
bombast: (adj. bombastic) language that is overly rhetorical or pompous, especially when considered in context. (Ex: graduation speeches, political speeches, etc.)
oxymoron: A rhetorical figure in which an effect is created by the use of contradictory terms. Ex: jumbo shrimp, pretty ugly, or alone together.
appositive/apposition: A noun or noun phrase that renames another noun right beside it. The appositive can be a short or long combination of words.
fastidious: (adj.) Displaying careful, meticulous attention to detail; difficult to please; exacting.
doctrinaire: (adj.) Stubbornly insistent on theory without regard for practicality or suitability.
theme: The main idea or meaning of the piece
circumlocution: "Talking around the subject" or "talking around a word"
quixotic: (adj.) Caught up in the romance of noble deeds and the pursuit of unreachable goals; idealistic without regard to practicality.
mode: The general form, pattern, in manner of expression of a piece of literature (as in "rhetorical mode")
editorial: A statement or article by an organization that expresses an opinion rather than attempting to simply report news, often about current events or public controversies
logos: Writing which uses logic using appropriate details, facts, and proof
occasion: The time and place of the piece or the current situation surrounding it
comparison and contrast writing: Writing that considers the similarities and differences of things
equivocation: An assertion that falsely relies on the use of a term in two different senses
syntax: The way an author chooses to group words into phrases, clauses, sentences; similar to diction (individual word choices), syntax represents an author's manipulation of groups of words
description, descriptive detail: Graphic, exact, and accurate presentation of the characteristics of a person, place or thing
non sequitur: A statement which does not follow logically from what has just been said: a conclusion that cannot be drawn from the given premises
repetition: Reuses of the same words, phrases, or ideas for rhetorical effect, usually to emphasize a point
irony: A mode of expression in which the intended meaning is the opposite of what is stated, often implying ridicule or sarcasm
chauvinist: (adj.) One who believes in the superiority of one's gender, group, or kind.
deliberative speech: For use in a legislative body where the issue is what shall be done
paraphrase: A version of the text put into simpler, every day words
symbol/symbolism: Anything that represents, stands for, something else-usually something concrete (object, character, action, scene) that represents something more abstract
antecedent: Antecedent is the word which the pronoun stands for and/or refers back to; it refers to a person, place, thing, feeling, or quality, but does not refer to it by its name. Ex: Plato's Republic was written from a contemporary point of view. It was an in-depth analysis of Plato's opinions about possible governmental forms. "It" in sentence two refers back to Plato's Republic in sentence one. "It" is the pronoun and "Plato's Republic" is the antecedent.
understatement: Writing that underplays the subject, avoiding exaggeration or emphasis in order to create a particular effect
red herring: Dodging the real issue by drawing attention to an irrelevant issue
periodic sentence: Putting the main point at the end of a long sentence. Ex: Considering the trade offs of free health care, cheap tuition, low crime rates, and wonderful winters, Canadians are willing to pay slightly higher taxes.
sarcasm: A sharp, caustic attitude conveyed through words (more explicit than irony)
deductive reasoning: (Deduction) begins with the general and ends with the specific. Arguments based on laws, rules, or other widely accepted principles are best expressed deductively.
fallacy: Defective reasoning or premises
expository writing: Writing that explains, discusses or analyzes an idea
antithesis: A contrast of ideas by means of arrangement of words, clauses, or sentences Ex: "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."
fervent: (adj.) Showing great emotion, zeal or passion.
mood: The emotional tone or prevailing atmosphere in a work of literature
stylistic devices: A general term referring to diction, syntax, tone, figurative language, transitions, and all other elements that contribute to the style of a piece
heteroclite: (noun) Unusual or unusually varied wording; deviating from the common rule, or from common forms.
inference: Arriving at a conclusion by considering and interpreting facts, observations, or other data
alliteration: The repetition of one or more initial consonant sounds in a group of words or line of poetry
tone: The author's feeling or attitude toward his/her subject matter
process analysis writing: Writing that outlines HOW something happens by looking at its causes (whether obvious or underlying) and its effects (whether long or short term)
parody: An imitation of a work meant to ridicule its style and subject
warrant: The underlying assumption that connects the claim to the data; these derive from our personal assumptions or observations
tentative: (adj.) Not fully concluded or agreed upon; uncertain; hesitant.
deleterious: (adj.) Having a harmful effect; injurious.
chiasmus: A figure of speech in which the order of the terms in the first of two parallel clauses is reversed in the second. Ex: It's not the men in my life; it's the life in my men.
juxtaposition: An act or instance of placing two things close together or side by side, often done in order to compare/contrast the two, to show similarities or differences, etc.
allusion: A reference to a person, place, event in history, the Bible, art, literature, pop culture, etc. meant to create an effect or enhance the meaning of an idea
data/grounds: Evidence, facts, information that are reasons for the claim in the first place
polemic: (noun) A controversial argument, especially one refuting or attacking a specific opinion or doctrine.
qualifier: A statement about how strong the claim is; usually includes words such as "most," "usually," "always," "sometimes," "probably," "therefore," "may likely" in order to qualify the claim in particular instances or under constraints where the person or company making the claim cannot lie
mixed metaphor: Different metaphors occurring in the same text, especially the same sentence, that are used to express the same concept. Mixed metaphors often, but not always result in a conflict of concepts. Ex: "We may just guinea pig that on the other project." "Just to keep me on the even square level."
oversimplification: A statement or argument that leaves out relevant considerations about an issue
explicit warrant: An observation or assumption that is directly stated as a powerful part of the argument being made
parallelism, parallel structure: Giving two or more parts of a sentence a similar form so as to create a definite pattern overall
empathy: A feeling of association or identification with a person, situation, or object
aphorism: A short statement of truth or sentiment
malapropism: Using incorrect words that sound similar to the intended word; these end up being inappropriate and often sound absurd in context. Ex: The politician declared, "I will support my colleague to the best of my mobility."
subject: The general content or ideas contained within the text
prudent: (adj.) Wise in handling practical matters; exercising good judgment or common sense.
laudatory: (adj.) Expressing praise; worthy of praise.
personification: A figure of speech in which animals and objects are given human characteristics
relative clause: Also called an adjective or adjectival clause. It begins with a relative pronoun (who, whom, whose, that, or which) or a relative adverb (when, where, or why). It will function as an adjective.
conclusion: The claim being offered
hyperbole: Overstatement and exaggeration done for rhetorical effect
substantive warrant: Other substantial evidence that would lead someone to make a particular claim
doctrinaire: (noun) A stubborn person of arbitrary or arrogant opinions.
setting: The environment in a piece of writing (time, place, historical/social/political context)
wit: Quickness of intellect; the talent for saying brilliant things that surprise and delight by their unexpectedness
rhetorical devices/strategies: Techniques used by a writer to create his/her rhetoric, in terms of both meaning and style
rebuttal: An overturning of possible counter arguments to the claim being made
backing: Additional material that supports the warrant, such as further evidence, statistics, expert opinions, etc.
bandwagon: An argument saying, in effect, "Everyone's doing or saying or thinking this, so you should too."
loose sentence: Putting the main point at the beginning of a long sentence. Ex: Canadians are willing to pay slightly higher taxes, considering the trade offs: free health care, cheap tuition, low crime rates, and wonderful winters.
figure of speech, figurative language: Language that implies meaning (i.e. metaphors, similes, personification, etc.)
either/or fallacy: Stating that only two alternatives exist when, in fact, there are many more
discursive: (adj.) 1. Proceeding to a conclusion by reason or argument rather than intuition. 2. (of e.g. speech and writing) Tending to depart from the main point or cover a wide range of subjects; "a rambling discursive book."
straw man argument: When a person simply ignores a person's actual position and substitutes a distorted, exaggerated or misrepresented version of that position
rhetorical mode: A general term for types of writing grouped according to their chief purpose 1. exposition - writing that explains, analyzes, or discusses an idea 2. argumentation - writing that proves a point or persuades 3. description - writing that recreates or presents details to bring an idea, situation, character to life 4. narration - writing that tells a story
synecdoche: One type of metonymy where a part is used to signify the whole. Ex: All hands on deck! ("Hands" are a part of each sailor which represents them on the whole.)
vignettes: Short, impressionistic scenes that focus on one moment or give one impression about a character, an idea, or a setting; not strictly linked in with sequential plot development; establishes meaning through loose symbolic or linguistic connection to other vignettes or scenes. (Vignettes are the literary equivalent of a snapshot, often incomplete or fragmentary.)
paradox: A statement that seems self-contradictory but which is nevertheless true
annotation: A brief explanation, summary, or evaluation of a text or work of literature
hasty generalization: A generalization based on too little evidence or on exceptional or biased evidence
diction: The choice of words in oral or written discourse
analogy: A comparison that points out similarities between two dissimilar things; a passage that points out several similarities between two unlike things is called an extended analogy
caricature: An exaggerated likeness of persons or things (done in words or images)
persona: The role or facade that a character or speaker assumes in order to create a "face" to put on for the audience Ex: Jonathan Swift's "humble servant" persona in "A Modest Proposal" when he was actually acting as a harsh social critic
point of view: The relation of the narrator/speaker and the subject matter (1st person, 3rd person omniscient, 3rd person limited)
trope: (noun) An object, image, symbol, metaphor or simile that represents an established pattern of writing
thesis: The statement or claim made by the writer/speaker in order to prove, defend, illustrate his/her point of view
verbal irony: A discrepancy between literally what is said and what meaning is intended/implied
premise: A statement offered to support the claim being made
style: The manner in which an author uses and arranges words, shapes ideas, forms sentences, and creates structure to convey ideas
ethos: Writing that highlights the writer's ethics and good moral character and draws on reader's own ethics/morals
false analogy: The assumption that because two things are alike in some way, they must be alike in other ways
speaker: The voice that tells the story (always assess its age, sex, gender, class, emotional state, education)
rhetoric: The art of persuasion through language; a persuasive way of relating a theme or idea to convince or sway an audience
rhetorical question: A question that is posed to the audience for effect; no answer is expected or the audience already knows the answer
pathos: Writing which produces an emotional response; draws on readers' sorrow, pity, empathy, sympathy, religion, faith, or family
simile: A comparison of two things using "like" or "as"
syllogism: A line of reasoning in which several premises lead to a conclusion
satire: A literary style that pokes fun at or ridicules an idea, person, or issue in order to highlight its flaws and inspire change
comparison/contrast: A mode of discourse in which two or more things are compared (in similarity) or contrasted (in differences)
forensic speech: For use at trial where the issue is innocence or guilt
connotation: A suggested or implied meaning of a word or phrase (in contrast to denotation: the dictionary definition of a word)
purpose: The reason for the composition or the reason behind the text
implicit warrant: An assumption that is unstated; taken for granted that everyone thinks or knows it already
begging the question: An assertion that restates the point just made. Such an assertion is curcular; it uses a point stated in the premise as a conclusion
transition: A stylistic device used to create a link between ideas, lending continuity and coherence
audience: The group of readers to whom the piece is directed
euphemism: A word or words used to avoid an unpleasant or offensive term.
trope: (verb) To twist the meaning, form, or use of a classic writing style, object, image, symbol, metaphor, simile, etc.
ceremonial speech: For use on a celebratory or commemorative occasion where the issue is how the audience should think and behave (inaugurations, deaths, memorials, addresses to the troops)
inductive reasoning: (Induction) usually described as moving from the specific to the general. Arguments based on experience or observations are best expressed inductively.
chimera: (noun) A fanciful mental illusion or fabrication.
authoritative warrant: An assumption based on expert evidence or testimony
genre: Literary forms (i.e. novels, plays, short stories, narratives, memoirs, essays, opinion-editorials)
metonymy: One term is substituted for another with which it is closely related. Ex: The sailors drank a glass of hearty red. ("Red is a color; sailors cannot drink it. However, metonymically, the color represents wine)
motivational warrant: An assumption that plays on the audience's convictions, virtues, values
prose: Any writing that is not poetry
slippery slope: The assumption that if one thing is allowed it will only be the first step in a downward spiral
digression: Wandering or departing from the main subject or topic
emphatic: (adj.) Expressed or performed with emphasis; forceful and definite in expression or action.
image: A word or phrase representing that which can be seen, touched, tasted, smelled, or felt
rhetorical stance: Language which conveys the speaker's attitude or opinion on the issue or subject
false cause: The assumption that because one event follows another, the first is the cause of the second
ad hominem: Attacking the person who represents an issue rather than dealing logically with the issue itself
narrative devices: Storytelling techniques used by narratives, including things such as skipping back and forth in time, ordering events chronologically, stacking events to lead up to a suspenseful climax
claim: The position or the issue or the purpose for making the argument
voice: The real or assumed persona of a writer
metaphor: A figure of speech that compares unlike objects
division and classification writing: Writing that breaks a subject down into its various categories/groups (division) and then further analyzes their distinguishing traits and characteristics (classification)

Start Studying!

Deck Info

Number of cards 134