APELC: Rhetorical Strategies & Situation

This flashcard set is about the essential terms about both rhetorical situation and strategies from the Ideas in Argument textbook.

Alliteration

• the repetition of the same sound

  or letter at the beginning of

  consecutive words or syllables

• to create a memorable phrase

Allusion

• an indirect reference, often to

  another text or an historic event

• to lend authority to an idea, to

  make an association with

  something the reader knows

Analogy

• an extended comparison

  between two seemingly

  dissimilar things

• to make a pointed comparison,

  often a very powerful

  comparison

Anaphora

• the repetition of words at the

  beginning of successive clauses

• to create a memorable, powerful

  effect, to reinforce an idea

Anecdote

• a short account of an interesting

  event

• to provide a concrete example or

  humanize an abstract concept

Appeals (pathos, logos, ethos)

• appeals to emotion (pathos),

  logic (logos) and character

  (ethos)

• to provoke the audience to

  respond in a particular way, to

  tap into a reader’s values

Humor

• discourse that amuses the

  reader or provokes laughter

• to disarm the audience, diffuse

  hostility, warm the reader to the

  writer’s ideas

Hyperbole

• exaggeration for the purpose of

  emphasis

• to provoke a response, to cast

  something in a strong light

Imagery

• vivid use of language that evokes

  a reader’s senses (sight, smell,

  taste, touch, hearing)

• to illustrate an idea, a feeling, or

  the particular qualities of

  something; to produce a feeling

Irony

• a contradiction between what is

  said and meant; incongruity

  between action and result

• to convey complexity

Juxtaposition

• placement of two things side by

  side for emphasis

• to call attention to extremes

Lists

• a series of related items in a

  meaningful grouping or

  sequence

• to create a sense of

  overwhelming force or

  magnitude

Loaded Language

• words with strong emotional

  overtones or connotations

• to influence the reader by

  appealing to emotion, to cast the

  subject in a particular light

Metaphor

• a figure of speech through which

  one thing is spoken of as though

  it were something else, thus

  making an implicit comparison

• to make a pointed comparison,

  often a very powerful

  comparison

Narrative Pace

• the relative speed or slowness

  with which a story is told or an

  idea is presented

• to convey energy or intense

  feelings (or lack thereof)

Paradox

• a statement that appears

  contradictory but is actually true

• to point out an apparent

  contradiction

Paralepsis

• a pretended or apparent

  omission

• to draw attention to something

  while pretending not to do so

Parallelism

• the repetition of similar

  grammatical or syntactical

  patterns

• to create a memorable, powerful

  effect, to reinforce an idea

Refrain

• a phrase or line repeated at

  intervals throughout a text

• to create a memorable phrase

Repetition

• repeating a word within a

  sentence or phrase

• to create a memorable, powerful

  effect, to reinforce an idea

Rhetorical Question

• a question asked more to

  produce an effect than to

  summon an answer

• to provoke the reader to

  respond or to think, or to lead

  them to the next idea

Sarcasm (verbal irony)

• a figure of speech in which what

  is said is the opposite of what is

  meant

• to ridicule or criticize

Satire

• an ironic, sarcastic, or witty

  composition that claims to argue

  for something, but actually

  argues against it

• to ridicule and inspire reform

Simile

• a figure of speech that uses

  “like” or “as” to compare two

  things

• to make a pointed comparison,

  often a very powerful

  comparison

Staccato Sentences

• short sentences

• to call attention to an idea

Tone

• the speaker’s attitude toward or

  audience

• to communicate an attitude

  toward the subject

Understatement

• lack of emphasis in a statement

  or point; restraint in language

  often used for ironic effect

• to spark the reader’s

  imagination, or make a pointed

  observation

Undertone

• an underlying or implied tone

• to communicate an attitude

  toward the subject that cuts

  beyond the attitude that appears

  on the surface

Allegory

• a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one

• express large, complex ideas in an approachable manner

Antithesis

• pairs exact opposite or contrasting ideas in a parallel grammatical structure

• highlights the stark difference between opposing ideas

Apposition

• noun or pronoun — often with modifiers — set beside another noun or pronoun to explain or identify it.

• clarifies or provides further information about a noun within a sentence

Enthymeme

• a kind of syllogism, or logical deduction, in which one of the premises is unstated

• draw a conclusion from what is agreed

Euphemism

• a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for generally unpleasant words or concepts

• make the idea more palatable or less offensive to the listener

Fallacy

• a mistaken belief or argument that is logically unsound

• a mistaken belief or argument that is logically unsound

Metonymy

• a figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it

• creates concrete and vivid images in place of generalities

Persona

• the fictional mask or narrator that tells a story

• allowing the author to convey a specific attitude, perspective, or credibility, often distinct from their own personal viewpoint, thus adding depth and complexity to the argument or narrative

Syllogism

• a formula for presenting an argument logically

• to endorse more believable conclusions than unbelievable ones

Perspective

• a person's outlook/view/understanding on a subject, such as a situation, event, or person

Position

• author’s stance/opinion on a subject or issue

Rhetorical Triangle

• writer, audience and context

Context

• the background knowledge needed to understand the rhetorical situation

• time, place, occasion

Exigence

• motivation that compels a writer to write

Rhetoric

• a message created to appeal

Ambiguity

• language or writing that is imprecise or vague, either intentionally or unintentionally

Appeal

• a rhetorical strategy used to influence an audience

Argument

• a claim justified through a unified line of reasoning that is supported with evidence

Bias

• the assumptions, values, attitudes, and other (often unexamined) factors that shape a person’s viewpoints.

Deductive Reasoning

• An organizational strategy that begins with a broad generalization and moves to specific observations

Detail

• A specific piece of information about a subject that can function as evidence

Diction

• The specific word choices writers make to convey their ideas

Evidence

• Information, details, and/or data used to support a reason within an argument

Idea

• An abstract concept that presents a writer’s unique stance and serves to unify an argument

Inductive Reasoning

• An organizational strategy that moves from specific observations to broad generalizations

Line of Reasoning

• The sequence of reasons that work together to support the unifying idea and perspective of a writer’s argument

Message

• The writer’s claim (idea and perspective) that is developed with reasoning and evidence

Reason

• A sub-claim that justifies and validates an argument’s claim

Speaker

• The writer or creator of a text

Sufficient Evidence

• The inclusion of enough relevant information and data to support a line of reasoning

Thesis Statement

• The formal expression of a writer’s claim (idea and perspective) about a subject

Tone

• A writer’s attitude toward the subject expressed through diction, syntax, and other elements

Unifying Idea

• A single abstract concept that controls a line of reasoning

Accurate Evidence

• Verifiable information or data that can be confirmed by other credible sources

Evidence

• Information, details, and/or data used to support a reason within an argument.

Relevant Evidence

• Information that directly supports the reasons and claims of an argument

Typical Evidence

• Evidence that is representative of a population or issue.

Validity

• The outcome that results when all of the reasons justify a claim within an argument

Credibility

• The audience’s trust in the writer’s authority, honesty, and perspective

Synthesis

• An argument that integrates multiple sources to support a claim

Sources

• A person or organization from which information is taken and used to support or refute reasons in an argument

Coherence

• A writer’s strategy to illustrate the relationship between sentences, paragraphs, information and ideas within a text

Arrangement

• The ordering of reasons and evidence within an argument

Epiphany

• A moment of sudden revelation, insight, or awareness

Figurative Language

• Comparisons (rhetorical strategies) that draw upon concrete objects to represent abstract ideas

Persuasion

• A rhetorical purpose that asks the audience to think or act in a specific way

Process Analysis

• A method of development that explains how something works, how to do something, or how something is/was done

Definition

• A method of development that explains a word, subject, or concept

Negation

• A strategy for definition that uses contrast to explain what something is not

Causal Arguments

• A method of development that explains how a result or effect came about, or that explains the short or long-term effects that result from causes

Classification

• A method of development that places objects or concepts into categories

Denotations

• Neutral dictionary definition of a word

Connotations

• The sensory, emotional, or cultural associations of a word

Syntax

• The specific selection and arrangement of sentences within a text

Transitions

• Words, phrases, clauses, sentences, or paragraphs that illustrate relationships among ideas and contribute to coherence

Antecedent

• The original noun that is replaced by a pronoun

Modifier

• Word, phrase, clause that qualifies/clarifies/specifies another word, phrase, or clause

Coordination

• A grammatical and rhetorical structure within a sentence that indicates equality or balance between ideas and elements

Subordination

• A grammatical and rhetorical structure that indicates the inequality or imbalance of ideas and elements