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argument
The combination of reasons,evidence, etc that an author uses to convince an audience of their position.
Aristotelian appeals
Three different methods of appealing to an audience to convince them—ethos, logos, and pathos.
attitude
The writer's personal views or feelings about the subject at hand.
audience
Who the author is directing his or her message towards
compare and contrast
Discussing the similarities and differences between two things to some persuasive or illustrative purpose
connotation
The implied meaning of a word; words can broadly have positive, negative, or neutral connotations.
context
The extra-textual environment in which the text is being delivered.
Counterargument
the argument(s) against the author's position
Denotation
the literal, dictionary definition of a word
Diction
The style of language used; generally tailored to be appropriate to the audience and situation.
ethos
Setting up a source as credible and trustworthy.
evidence
The information presented meant to persuade the audience of the author's position.
figurative language
The use of language in a non-literal way; i.e. metaphor, simile, etc.
genre
The specific type of work being presented.
Imagery
Any descriptive language used to evoke a vivid sense or image of something; includes figurative language.
irony
At the most basic sense, saying the opposite of what you mean; also used to describe situations in which the results of an action are dramatically different than intended.
Juxtaposition
Placing two very different things together for effect.
logos
appealing to someone's sense of concrete facts and logic
occasion
The reason or moment for writing or speaking.
organization
How the different parts of an argument are arranged in a piece of writing or speech.
Pathos
An Aristotelian appeal. Involves appealing to someone's emotions
purpose
The author's persuasive intention.
Repetition
Re-using a word or phrase repeatedly for effect or emphasis.
Rhetoric
The use of spoken or written word (or a visual medium) to convey your ideas and convince an audience.
rhetorical triangle
The relationship between the author, the audience, the text/message, and the context.
Speaker
The persona adopted by the author to deliver his or her message; may or may not actually be the same person as the author.
Style
The author's own personal approach to rhetoric in the piece; similar to voice.
Symbolism
Using a symbol to refer to an idea or concept.
Syntax
The way sentences are grammatically constructed.
Themes
Overarching ideas or driving premises of a work.
Tone
The use of stylistic devices to reveal an author's attitude toward a subject.
voice
An author's unique sound. Similar to style.
Allusion
making a brief reference to the cultural canon
anecdote
Offering a brief narrative episode. This device can serve many functions in a text—for example, introducing an issue, serving as evidence, to illustrate a point, and so on.
concession
Agreeing with the opposing viewpoint on a certain smaller point (but not in the larger argument).
didactic
A text with an instructive purpose, often moral.
Exigence
an issue, problem, or situation that causes or prompts someone to write or speak
