Rhetorical Terms

for lang

Adage

A traditional saying that expresses a common observation or experience, often conveying a moral lesson or piece of wisdom. Ex) A penny saved is a penny earned.

Alliteration

Closely positioned words starting with the same constant sound. Ex) Busy bee, she sells seashells by the seashore.

Allusion

A brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing, or idea of historical, cultural, literary, or political significance. Ex) His work ethic was as legendary as Hercules.

Ambiguity

The presence of two or more possible meanings within a word, phrase, or sentence, often leading to confusion or uncertainty. Ex) The word "bat" can refer to a flying mammal or a piece of sports equipment.

Anecdote

A short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person, often used to illustrate a point.

Analogy

Comparing two unrelated things to highlight a shared connection in a relationship. Ex) The immune system is like a heavily fortified city.

Anaphora

A word or phrase being used repeatedly at the beginning of a sentence. Ex) MLK’s “I have a dream” speech.

Antithesis

Contrast between two opposing ideas within a parallel structure to create emphasis. Ex) “Ask not what your country can do for you–ask what can you do for your country.” -JFK

Apophasis

Speaker bringing up a subject by pretending not to mention it. Ex) I won’t even mention that my opponent failed to balance the budget.”

Apostrophe

A speaker abruptly interrupting their main audience to directly address an absent person, deceased individual, and inanimate object, or an abstract idea. Ex) Come on computer, load already.

Aphorism

A concise, memorable statement that expresses a general truth. Ex) “all that glisters is not gold” -Shakespeare

Argument

Reasoned course of action intended to persuade an audience to take a specific point of view.

Aristotelian appeals

foundational mode of persuasion: ethos (credibility), pathos (emotion), logos (reasoning)

Asyndeton

Coordinating conjunctions are intentionally omitted from a series of words, phrases, or clauses. Ex) “I came, I saw, I conquered”

Audience

Specific group of people capable of being persuaded or taking action to resolve an issue. Ex) A town council listening to their citizens’ opinions

Clause (two types)

Building blocks of syntax used to create specific pacing, emphasize ideas and control the flow

Independent: the team won the championship

Dependent: because they practiced everyday.

Colloquialism

Informal word, phrase, or slang used to build intimacy with an audience. Ex) Obama saying “politically woke” in one of his speeches to connect with a younger crowd.

Compare and contrast

Comparison: focuses on identifying meaningful similarities

Contrast: Highlighting differences

Concession

Strategic move where a writer acknowledges the opponent’s point. Ex) Concede and refute strategy

Connotation

Emotional or cultural meaning attached to a word beyond the dictionary definition.

Ex) Saying I was attacked vs I was struck.

Context

Specific circumstances, environment, and cultural backdrop.

Ex) MLK’s speech was during the 1960s civil rights movement

Counterargument

Acknowledges the opposing side’s viewpoint in persuasive writing or speech

Denotation

Literal definition of a word.

Ex) House: a place

Home: can be a place but carries connotation

Diction

Intentional choice of words and phrasing a speaker or writer uses in order to convey a message.

Ex) Writing formal in an email compared to how you would text someone.

Didactic

A style of speaking or writing designed to teach, instruct, or impart a moral, religious, or ethical lesson.

Ex) fables: Tortoise and the hare teach that slow and steady win the race

Epistrophe

The repetition of a word or phrase at the end of phrase, clauses, or sentences.

Ex) In the Gettysburg Address: “Government of the people, by the people, for the people…”

Epithet

An adjective or descriptive phrase that highlights a key quality of a person, place, or thing.

Ex) Alexander the Great

Ethos

Credibility, establishing the speaker’s credibility

Euphemism

A polite, mild, or indirect word or phrase used to replace a harsh, blunt, or offensive term

Ex) Passed away vs saying died

Evidence

Any information, data, facts, or testimony used to support a claim and persuade an audience

Exemplification

Using specific instances, facts, or details to explain, support, or prove a broad general statement

Exigence

Why the writer or speaker delivered the message

Ex) Racial segregation and social injustice motivated MLK’s I have a dream speech

Figurative language

Rhetorical device that uses words outside their literal meaning, primarily consisting of tropes and schemes

Hyperbole

Intentional extreme exaggeration for emphasis

Ex) its a million degrees outside

Hypophora

A rhetorical device where a speaker or writer poses a question and immediately answers

Ex) Why is this plan important? Because it saves us time and money

Idiom

An expression or stylistic turn pf phrase used in rhetoric to persuade, create emotional impact, rather than conveying a literal meaning

Ex) “Break a leg” meaning good luck

Imagery

rhetorical and literary device that uses vivid, descriptive language to appeal to human senses

Implication

A suggested meaning, hidden message that the speaker or writer hints at without saying it

Ex) “Its quite cold in here”—> implying someone should close a window

Irony

Saying the exact opposite of what you mean

Ex) Wow it’s so nice out! During a thunderstorm

Juxtaposition

Two or more ideas placed together to reveal unexpected similarities

Ex) “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”

Litotes

Using an understatement by denying the contrary to express a positive statement

Ex) saying “not bad” when something is good

Logos

An appeal to logic, reason, and rationality

Ex) if-then statements, data, hard facts, and research

Meiosis

Figure of speech that intentionally underestimates something

Ex) referring to an ocean as a pond

Metonymy

A thing/concept is called not by its own name, but by the name of something closely linked to it

Ex) Wall Street, meaning finance industry

Mood

The emotional feeling or atmosphere that a text creates for the reader

Occasion

Time, place, and specific setting or event that prompts a person to write or speak

Onomatopoeia

Figure of speech and sound device where a word mimics a sound associated with something or action it describes

Oxymoron

A figure of speech that puts two opposite or disagreeing words next to each other

Ex) jumbo shrimp, original copy

Paradox

Figure of speech containing a statement that seems to contradict itself but reveals a deeper meaning

Ex) 1984: War is peace

Parody

A style of imitation that mocks, critiques or transforms an original work, author, or genre by exaggerating its distinctive features for comic or persuasive effect

Parallelism

Using matching grammatical structures, words, or phrases in neighboring lines, sentences or paragraphs

Parenthetical phrase

An explanatory qualifying, or side remark inserted into a complete sentence

Ex) He told the truth–or so he claimed–to the judge".”

Pathos

Appealing to the audiences emotions

Personification

A figure of speech where non human things are given human traits, emotions, or actions

Polysyndeton

Rhetorical device that uses multiple coordinating conjunctions—> “and” “or” “but” in close succession where they aren’t necessary

Ex) Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers

Purpose

to use language and communication effectively to inform, persuade, or motivate an audience

Ex) What the speaker wants the audience to think, feel, or do

Repetition

Intentional reuse of sounds, words, phrases, or ideas in a speech or text to create emphasis, rhythm, and emotional impact

Rhetoric

The art of using language effectively and persuasively to inform, influence, or motivate an audience. Relies heavily on ethos, pathos, and logos

Rhetorical question

A question asked to make a point or create a strong effect

Ex) is the Pope catholic?

Rhetorical triangle

Model for persuasive communication based on Greek philosopher, Aristotle

Ethos, pathos, logos

Sarcasm

A sharp form of verbal irony where the speaker says the opposite of what they mean to mock, insult, or show bitter contempt

Ex) Oh, fantastic! (When something breaks)

Satire

A powerful communication technique that uses humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize human stupidity

Ex) George Orwell’s Animal Farm uses a farm animal table to satirize totalitarianism

Speaker

The voice that talks to the reader; not always the author

Style

The specific way a writer or speaker uses words, structure, and tone to persuade, inform, or move an audience

Ex) the difference between a good speech and a great speech is the same as difference between a spark and lightning strike

Syllogism

A three-part deductive argument used to persuade an audience by connecting a broad general statement and fact to a logical conclusion

Symbolism

Practice of using an object, person, situation, or action to stand for a deeper meaning beyond its literal sense

Ex) The green light in Gatsby represented unreachable longing

Syntax

Strategic arrangement of words, phrases, and clauses to form sentences

Synecdoche

Rhetorical figure of speech where a part of something stands in for the whole, or the whole stands in for a part

Ex) Part to whole: wheels referring to a car

Whole to part: saying “the police” when one officer showed up

Synesthesia

A figure of speech where one sensory modality is described or characterized using terms from another

Ex) Yellow cocktail music from the Great Gatsby

Synthesis

The act of combining separate ideas, sources, or data points to form a single, coherent whole or a new perspective

Thesis

The main claim or controlling idea of a text, speech, or argument. Usually 1-2 sentences at the end of an essay’s first paragraph stating your claim.

Tone

Speaker/writer’s attitude toward the subject, audience, or self.