AP LANG: RHETORIC VOCAB

Pathos

Sparks a distinct emotional response from the audience.

Writers and Speakers convey pathos using:

• Sensory imagery

• figurative language

• Emotionally charged language

• repetition

• rhetorical questions

• hyperbole

• humor and sarcasm

• powerful description

Includes emotion like: Joy, pride, anger, disgust, nostalgia, and gratitude

Ethos

Language that affirms the speaker or writers credibility, values, and authority to speak about a particular topic

Writers and Speakers convey ethos using:

• Details about the writer’s background

• anecdotes and examples

• jargon or concepts

• references to reputation, legacy, and character

Logos

language that explains the reasoning behind an idea using steps of logic and concrete evidence

Writers and speakers convey logos by:

• Facts

• anecdotes

• inductive reasoning

• deductive reasoning

• statistics

• counterarguments

• comparisons

• analogies

Rhetorical question

The question a speaker asks without expecting an answer

Writers and speakers convey this by:

• sparking curiosity about a topic

• Make the audience consider a new perspective

• Create an emotional response

• allow the audience to follow steps of logic

• Encourage active participation or listening

• Make a point obvious or intuitive

Anaphora

Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of several consecutive clauses or sentences

Writers and speakers convey this by:

• by creating a strong emotional response

• issue a call to action

• Build up anticipation or excitement

• Reinforce a point to ensure the audience does not forget it

Antithesis

A sentence that contrasts two opposing concepts or images using a balanced structure

Writers and speakers convey this by:

• Highlight key distinctions between ideas

• sounds rhythmic or harmonious

• portray a topic as a moral issue

• describe a counterargument

• Simplify complex issues or controversy

• antithesis is a type of juxtapostion and uses two direct opposites, whereas juxtaposition uses any sort of difference and doesn’t have to be entirely opposites

Anecdotes

A short story that illustrates point the speaker is trying to make. Anecdotes can be real or fictional.

Writers and speakers convey this by:

• Paint a vivid picture in the audience’s mind

• Help the audience identify personal connections to the story

• Bolster the speaker’s credibility

• Create an emotional response

• Endear the speaker to the audience through humor

Analogy

Comparison of a concept to another idea, object, situation, or image meant to explain the concept in a simpler and more understandable way

Writers and speakers convey this by:

• Make an idea seem daunting

• Alter the mood through humorous or serious comparisons

• Create a striking image in the audience’s head

• Appeals to the audience’s sense of logic

• Dispel myth or misconception

Allusion

Reference to a text, person, place or any event or item the audience likely knows

Writers and speakers convey this by:

• Establishing a better understanding of idea/perspective

• Allow the audience to relate to the speaker due to shared background knowledge

• Spark a particular emotional response associated with the reference

• Allow the audience to understand the subtext of the speaker’s language

Imagery

Vivid description of an object, event, place, or idea that appeals to at least one of the five senses

Writers and speakers convey this by:

• transporting the audience to a particular place

• create a jarring or surprising picture

• evoke an emotion such as nostalgia and awe

• Spotlight a problem or issue

• remind the audience members of a memory

• turn an abstract idea into a tangible one

Paradox

A word or phrase that seems to contradict itself but actually reveals a truth

Can be conveyed by:

• Establishing humorous or amused tone

• uncover a hidden or surprising reality

• highlight someone’s hypocrisy

• Prompt the audience to think more creatively

Tone

Speaker’s attitude towards the subject of the text. Expressed as an emotion or characteristic.

can be conveyed by:

• Making an idea seem more powerful/urgent

• create a strong emotional response

• change the atmosphere of the room

• accuse, praise, denounce or inspire others

• persuade the audience to agree with the speaker’s perspective

diction

The speakers style of writing, conveyed through their intentional word choice

Parallelism

Repetition of a grammatical structure across several clauses or sentences

can be conveyed by:

• Creating a steady rhythm

• Emphasize a set of sequential ideas

• build anticipation or excitement

• issue a call to action

• leave the audience with a memorable takeaway

• describe the process step by step