APLAC Semester 1 Final (key terms)

speaker

person or group who creates a text

subject

the topic, not the purpose

audience

the listener, viewer, or reader of a text or performance

context

the circumstances, atmospheres, attitudes, and events surrounding a text

exigence

the time and place a speech is given

purpose

the goal the speaker wants to acheive

persona

the difference between who is in real life and the role the speaker plays while delivering the speech

logos

appeal to reason by offering clear, rational ideas

syllogism

logical reasoning from inarguable premises

premise

statements offered as reasons to support a conclusion

conclusion

the end result of the argument – the main point being made

enthymeme

a conclusion drawn that omits a major/minor premise

pathos

an appeal to emotions, values, desires, and hopes or fears and prejudices

ethos

speaker demonstrates he/she is trustworthy and credible

narration (anecdote & process)

telling the story of a specific event or experience

description

listing the concrete or abstract characteristics of something so that the reader can imagine it clearly

exemplification

listing various examples, iterations, appearances, or proofs of a point previously made

cause/effect

showing how one thing leads to another, or tracing the unseen root of something already observed

compare/contrast

lining up two subjects to show similarity/difference

classification/division

listing and distinguishing the various parts or categories that make up a whole; showing the structure of a complex system or group

definition

explaining a new or important idea so as to make its identity distinct from all other ideas

diction→ connotation

positive and negative

diction→ high

formal

diction→ low

not formal

diction→ abstract

not specific

diction→ concrete

specific

diction→ allusion

deliberate, unexplained echoes of other famous texts, events, or entities

diction→ simple

not complex

diction→ elaborate

complex

diction→ emphatic

forcefulness

diction→ weak

lack of forcefulness

syntax

the way an author chooses to join words into phrases, clauses, and sentences

periodic sentence

a sentence in which the important material is delayed until the end or near the end

tone

the means by which a writer conveys attitudes, more specifically what attitude the writer wants to convey to the reader

direct object

tells what or whom/completes the meaning of action verbs, follows a transitive verb

subject complement

a noun, pronoun, or adjective that appears with a linking verb and gives more information about the subject

participial phrase

always adjectival, \[verb\]ing, \[verb\]ed, \[verb\]en

gerund phrase

always nominal, \[verb\]ing

infinitive phrase

either adjectival, adverbial, or nominal, \[to\]\[verb\]

prepositional phrase

either adjectival, adverbial, or nominal, \[prep\]\[obj.\]

appositive phrase

noun phrase, further describes the subject, usually begins with articles or a noun

subordination

to background one idea/ to demote it to a mere phrase

semicolons

a punctuation mark that is used to link together two independent clauses within a single sentence

colons

used to give emphasis, present dialogue, introduce lists or text, and clarify composition titles

hyphen

used to make a compound word/expression (en-dash)

dash

used to show a sudden break or change in thought (em-dash)

parallelism (synchesis)

a rhetorical device that contains a repetition in the structure AB//AB, where the order of the elements in the first expression is maintained in the second expression

anaphora

a rhetorical device in which a word or phrase is repeated at the beginnings of successive phrases or sentences

asyndeton

a rhetorical device in which expected conjunctions are omitted

polysyndeton

a rhetorical device in which there are more conjunctions than is normal

antithesis

a rhetorical device which employs a balanced pair of opposites

epistrophe

a rhetorical device in which a word or words are repeated at the end of successive phrases or sentences

rhetorical climax

the order in which items are arranged in sequence according to their importance, with the most important one last

tricolon

a rhetorical device containing a succession of three coordinate items

tetracolon

a rhetorical device containing a succession of four coordinate items

cumulative sentence

begins with a main clause, then adds more info

brazen

flagrantly audacius

harbinger

a signal or indicator of what is to come

auspicious

accompanied by favorable circumstances

mirth

cheerfulness, especially when expressed by laughter

obsequious

exhibiting servile compliance or deference; fawning

circumscribe

to encircle, delimit, or define the bounds of something

enmity

deep-seated, often mutual hatred

clamor

a loud outcry; a hubbub

vouchsafe

to grant generously to someone beneath you

extant

still in existence; not lost or destroyed

fetters

chains or shackles

bulwark

a defense or safeguard

chide

to scold mildly

whet

to sharpen

ardor

intensity of feeling; fervency

abate

to lessen over time or as a result of changing conditions

germane

relevant to the subject at hand

dearth

shortage; lack; small supply

aloof

emotionally distant

felicity

happiness

upshot

final result or outcome; bottom line of a complex situation

entreaty

a serious request

credulity

the capacity for belief

incredulous

unable to believe something

caustic

harshly critical especially sarcastically/corrosive to human skin

infernal

relating to hell; very bad or unpleasant

procure

to obtain by action or effort

palpable

able to be touched or felt; easily perceptible

ominous

portending or suggesting evil in the future

facetious

joking or jesting un seriously or inappropriately

impropriety

state of being improper

conducive

making a certain situation/outcome likely or possible

jocund

marked by or suggestive of high spirits and gladness

capacious

able to hold or contain a lot

avarice

a strong desire to have or obtain money

execrable

detestable; deserving to be denounced

fraught

full of or accompanied by something specified

boisterous

very noisy and active in a lively way

opulence

luxury and finery indicative of wealth

confer

to give something to someone

officious

intrusively or annoyingly enthusiastic in offering help or advice

malady

an illness, disease, or disorder

livid

extremely angry

odious

causing or deserving of hatred