Rhetorical Terms cumulative test

abstract

(n) an abbreviated synopsis of a longer work of scholarship and research (adj) dealing with or tending to deal with a subject apart from a particular or specific instance

ad hominem

literally "against the man". an argument directed against a person rather than the position he is maintaining

allegory

a story in which a second meaning is to be read beneath the surface of the literal story

alliteration

repetition of one or more initial consonant sounds in a group of words or lines in a poem

Allusion

a reference to a person, place, or event meant to create an effect or enhance the meaning of an idea

anachronism

a person, scene, event, or other element that fails to correspond with the appropriate time or era

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 metaphor

anaphora

a repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses

anecdote

a brief explanation, summary, or evaluation of a text or work of literature

annotation

a brief explanation, summary, or evaluation of a text or work of literature

antecedent

a word to which a pronoun refers

antithesis

a rhetorical opposition or contrast of ideas by means of a grammatical arrangement of words, clauses, or sentences

aphorism

a short pithy statement of a generally-accepted truth or sentiment

apostrophe

a locution that addresses a person not present or a personifed thing

archetype

an abstract or ideal conception of a type; a perfectly typical example; an original model or form

asyneton

the omission of the conjunctions that ordinarily join coordinate words or clauses

bombast

inflated, pretentious language,

clause

a structural element of a sentence, consisting of a grammatical subject and a predicate
independent clauses: main clauses, may stand on their own as complete sentences
dependent clauses: nouns as modifies, incomplete sentences and may not stand alone grammatically. also called subordinate clauses, function as adj, noun, and adv

comparison and contrast

a mode of discourse in which two or more things are compared and contrasted. comparisons often refers to similarities, contrast to differences

concrete detail

a highly specific, particular, often real, actual, or tangible detail; opposite of abstract

connotation

the suggested or implied meaning of a word or definition. contrast with denotation

cynic

one who expects and observes nothing but the worst of human conduct

deductive reasoning

a method of reasoning by which specific definitions, conclusions, and theorems are drawn from general principles

diction

the use of words in oral and written discourse

denotation

the dictional definition of a word. contrast with connotation

didactic

having an instructive purpose; intending to convey information or teach a lesson, sometimes in a dry, pompous manner

digression

that portion of discourse that wanders, or departs from the main subject or topiic

dramatic irony

a circumstance in which the audience or reader knows more about a situation than a character

ellipsis

three periods indicating the omission of words in a thought or quotation

euphony

pleasing, harmonious sounds

epistrophe

a stylistic device, repetition of words or phrases at the ends of clauses or sentences

euphemism

a mild or less negative usage for a harsh or blunt term

exegesis

a detailed analysis or interpretation or prose or poetry

expose

a piece of writing that reveals weaknesses, faults, frailties, or other shortcomings

fallacy, fallacious reasoning

an incorrect belief or supposition based on faulty data, defective evidence, or false information

figure of speech/ figurative language

in contrast in literal language, figurative language implies meanings. figures of speech include metaphors, similes, and personification

genre

a term used to describe literary forms, such as novel, play, and essay

harangue

a forceful sermon, lecture, or tirade

hyperbole

overstatement; gross exaggeration for rhetorical effect

inductive reasoning

a method of reasoning in which a number of specific facts or examples are used to make a generalization. its opposite is deductive reasoning

inference

a conclusion or proposition arrived at by considering facts, observation, or some other specific data

irony

a mode of expression in which the intended meaning is the opposite of what is stated, often implying ridicule or light sarcasm; a state of affairs or events that is the reverse of what might have been expected

juxtaposition

a stylistic choice whereby a writer places two ideas/images close together or side by side, especially for comparison or contrast

loose sentence

a sentence that follows the customary word order of English sentences (subject-verb-object). The main idea of the sentence is presented first and is then followed by one or more subordinate clauses

metaphor

a figure of speech that compares unlike objects. when several characteristics of the same object are compared, the device is called an extended metaphor. A metaphor is referring to a particular person, place, or thing is called a metaphorical allusion

mode

the general form, pattern and manner of expression of a piece of discourse

motif

a phrase, idea, or event that through repetition serves to unify or convey a theme in an essay or other discourse

non sequitur

a statement or idea that fails to follow logically from the one above

paradox

a statement that seems self-contradictory but is nevertheless true

parallel structure

the structure required for expressing two or more grammatical elements of equal rank. coordinate ideas, compared and contrasted ideas, and correlative constructions call for parallel structure

pathos

element in literature that simulates pity or sorrow

periodic sentence

a sentence that departs from the usual order of english sentences by expressing its main thought only at the end. In other words, the particulars in the sentence are presented before the ideas they support

personification

a figure of speech in which objects and animals are given human characteristics

polysyndeton

the repetition of conjunctions in close succession

predicate

the part of the sentence that is not the grammatical subject. it often says something about the subject.
A noun that provides another name for the subject is called a predicate nominative.
an adjective that describes the subject is called a predicate adjective

prose

any discourse that is not poetry. a prose poem is a selection of prose that, because of its language or content, is poetic in nature

rebuttal/refutation

the part of discourse wherein opposing arguments are anticipated and answered

repetition

the reuse of the same words, phrases, or ideas for rhetorical effect, usually to emphasize a point

rhetorical mode

a general term that identifies discourse according to its chief purpose. Modes include exposition, argumentation, description, and narration

satire

a literary style used to poke fun at, attack, or ridicule an idea, vice, or foible, often for the purpose of inducing change

sentence structure

the arrangement of the parts of a sentence. a sentence may be simple, compound, or complex. Sentences may also contain any of these structures in combination with each other. Each variation leaves a different impression on the reader, and along with other rhetorical devices, may create a countless array of effects

simile

a figurative comparison using the words like, as or than

stylistic devices

a general term referring to diction, syntax, tone, figurative language, and all the other elements that contribute to the "style" or manner of a given piece of discourse

syllogism

a form of deductive reasoning in which given certain ideas or facts, other ideas or facts must follow

syntax

the organization of language into meaningful structure; every sentence has a particular syntax or pattern of words

thesis/claim

the main idea of a piece of discourse; the statement of proposition that a speaker or writer wishes to advance, illustrate, prove, or defend

tone

the author's attitude towards the subject being written about. the tone is the characteristic emotion that pervades a work or part of a work-- the spirit of quality of that is the work's emotional essence

transition

a stylistic device used to create a link between ideas. transitions often endow discourse with continuity and coherence

understatement

a restrained statement that departs from what could be said; a studied avoidance of emphasis or exaggeration, often to create a particular effect

verbal irony

a discrepancy between the true meaning of a situation and the literal meaning of the written or spoken words