Rhetorical Choices: Terms and Definitions

AD HOMINEM ARGUMENT

From the Latin meaning “to or against the man” this is an argument that appeals to emotion rather than reason, to feeling rather than intellect.

ALLITERATION

Repeating the first letter sounds in a sentence.

ALLUSIONS

Reference to a person or story that others would know.

ANALOGY

A comparison of two different things that are similar in some way.

ANAPHORA

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

ANADIPLOSIS

Repetition of the last word of one clause at the beginning of the following clause.

ANASTROPHE

A literary technique where the normal order of words is reversed to achieve emphasis or meter.

ANECDOTE

A short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person; a short story used to humanize a person

APHORISM

A short abrupt statement of known authorship expressing a general truth or moral principle.

APOSTROPHE

A figure of speech that directly addresses someone or something that cannot answer.

CALL TO ACTION

Writing that urges people to action or promotes change.

CHARACTERIZATION

The process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character.

CHARGED DICTION

Language containing implications beyond the meanings of words, often used to persuade.

CHIASMUS

A sentence that uses inverted parallelism.

COLLOQUIAL LANGUAGE

Slang or common language that is informal.

COMPLETE SENTENCE

A sentence that has a subject and a predicate.

CONNOTATION

The non-literal, associative meaning of a word.

CONFLICT

A struggle between opposing forces.

DECLARATIVE SENTENCE

A sentence that makes a statement.

DENOTATION

The dictionary definition of a word.

DICTION

Word choice.

DIDACTIC

Intended to teach, usually with moral instruction as an ulterior motive.

ELEVATED LANGUAGE

A dignified way of writing that is free of slang and idioms.

HISTORICAL EXAMPLES

Events in the past with testimonies from many people.

HYPERBOLE

Exaggeration of the truth for humor or emphasis.

IMAGERY

Language that appeals to the senses.

IRONY

A contrast between expectation and reality.

JOKES

Humorous incidents that ridicule people.

JUXTAPOSITION

Placement of two things closely together to emphasize comparisons or contrasts.

KAIROS

The right time to deliver a message to persuade an audience.

METAPHOR

A comparison without using like or as.

LOOSE SENTENCE

A sentence in which the independent clause comes first, followed by dependent units.

PARALLELISM

Parallel structure where words, verbs, and/or phrases match.

PARAGRAPHS WITH ONE IDEA

Writers create paragraphs that prove one idea.

PERIODIC SENTENCE

A sentence where the dependent clause is first and the independent clause comes last.

PERSONIFICATION

Giving human qualities to an animal, object, or idea.

REFERENCING THE PAST

Referring to something that occurred before to evoke emotion or demonstrate a connection.

RHETORICAL APPEALS

Ethos, Pathos, and Logos.

RHETORICAL QUESTION

A question that makes a point and does not expect an answer.

SIMILE

A comparison using 'like' or 'as'.

SYLLOGISM

A formal argument consisting of a major premise, minor premise, and a conclusion.

SYMBOLISM

An object that represents an idea or concept.

SUSPENSE

A feeling of uncertainty and curiosity that keeps readers interested in a plot.

TONE

A writer's attitude toward the subject matter revealed through various literary techniques.

UNDERSTATEMENT

Language that presents facts in a way that makes them appear less significant.

USING FEAR

A fallacy that attempts to create support by increasing fear toward an alternative.