AP Language and Composition -- Rhetorical Terms 5

Satire

A work that targets human vices and follies or social institutions and conventions for reform or ridicule. Regardless of whether or not the work aims to reform human behavior, ___ is best seen as a style of writing rather than a purpose for writing.

Semantics

The branch of linguistics that studies the meaning of words, their historical and psychological development, their connotations, and their relation to one another.

Style

The consideration of __ has two purposes: (1) An evaluation of the sum of the choices an author makes in blending diction, syntax, figurative language, and other Can be called flowery, explicit, succinct, rambling, bombastic, commonplace, incisive, laconic, etc. (2) Classification of authors to a group and comparison of an author to similar authors. By means of such classification and comparison, we can see how an author's style reflects and helps to define a historical period, such as the Renaissance or the Victorian period, or a literary movement, such as the romantic, transcendental, or realist movement.

Subject Complement

The word (with any accompanying phrases) or clauses that follow a linking verb and complements, or completes, the subject of the sentence by either (1) renaming it or (2) describing it.

Subordinate cluase

Like all clauses, this word group contains both a subject and a verb (plus any accompanying phrases or modifiers) but cannot stand alone; it does not express a complete thought.

Syllogism

From the Greek for "reckoning together," a is a deductive system of formal logic that presents two premises, major and minor, that inevitably lead to a sound conclusion.

Syllogism Example

Major premise: All men are mortal
Minor premise: Socrates is a man
Conclusion: Therefore, Socrates is mortal.

Symbol/Symbolism

Generally, anything that represents itself and stands for something else. Usually is something concrete -- such as object, action, character, or scene -- that represents something more abstract. Can be more complex and divided into 3 categories

Natural Symbols

Objects and occurrences from nature that represent ideas commonly associated with them.

Natural Symbols Example

Dawn = New beginning/hope
Rose = Love
Tree = Knowledge

Conventional Symbols

Icons that have been invested with meaning by a group

Conventional Symbols Example

Star of David
Cross
Flag/eagle
Skull and crossbones
Scales of justices

Literary Symbols

Found in a variety of works and are generally recognized.

Literary Symbols Example

Whale from Moby Dick
Jungle from Heart of Darkness

Synecdoche

is a type of metaphor in which the part stands for the whole, the whole for a part, the genus for the species, the species for the genus, the material for the thing made, or in short, any portion , section, or main quality for the whole or the thing itself (or vice versa).

Synecdoche Example

Farmer Joes has two hundred head of cattle [whole cattle], and three hired hands [whole people].
If we had some wheels [whole vehicle], I'd put on my best threads [clothes] and ask for Janes hand [hopefully her whole person] in marriage.

Syntax

The way an author chooses to join words into phrases, clauses, and sentences. Similar to diction, but you can differentiate them by thinking of __ as the group of words, while diction refers to the individual words.

Theme

The central idea or message of a work, the insight it offers into life

Thesis

In expository writing, the _ statement is the sentence or a group of sentences that directly expresses the author's opinion, purpose, meaning, or position.

Tone

Similar to mood, describes the author's attitude toward his material, the audience, or both. __ is easier to determine in spoken language than in written one.

Transition

A word or phrase that links different ideas.

Tones Example

Playful, serious, businesslike, sarcastic, humorous, formal, ornate, sardonic, and somer.

Transitions example

Furthermore, consequently, nevertheless, for example, in addition, likewise, similarly, and on the contrary.

Understatement

The ironic minimalizing of fact, __ presents something as less significant than it is. The effect can frequently be humorous and emphatic. Is the opposite of hyperbole.

Understatement Example

The 1906 San Francisco earthquake interrupted business somewhat in the downtown area.
Last week I saw a woman flayed, and you will hardly believe how much it altered her person for the worse. -- Jonathan Swift

Undertone

An attitude that may lie under the ostensible tone of the piece.

Undertone Example

William Blake's "The Chimney Sweeper" from the Songs of Innocence has a grim one

Wit

In modern usage, intellectually amazing language that surprises and delights. Normally referred to quick perception including creative fancy and a quick tongue to articulate an answer that demanded the same quick perception. Historically, it originally meant basic understanding.