AP LANG Rhetorical Terms

logos

logos

logical

pathos

values/trust and authority

ethos

feelings

fallacies

ad hominem

attacking a person, instead of the ideals they represent

hasty generalization

when a claim is made based off of insufficient information

begging the question

asking a question in which the truth is already known/apparent

naturalistic

if something is percieved as natural, it is therefore good and correct

appeal to tradition

a topic is deemed with one solution because there has only ever been one solution in the past

ad baculum

persuasion relies on threats or coersion rather than evidence or reason

ad misericordiam

where persuation relies on evoking pity, instead of presenting valid evidence

post hoc fallacy

when correlation is mistaken as causation

false syllogism

false conclusion based on false logic

argumentum ad verecundiam (false authority)

an argument that uses someone who is not an authortative figure AS an authoritive figure

ad populum (majority rules)

argument that uses popularity as means of justifying weather its true, good, or right

tu quoque

an argument whereby someone refuses to take critisism or blame because the person accusing them has done the same thing

straw man argument

when an argument reduces the complexity of a subect to something simple ad unseeming so that it can be easily rejected or knocked down

etc

used to indcicate further examples without being listed

ie

“that is” used to restate something said previously

eg

used in place of “for example” before an item , or list of items

paradox

a self contradictory statement

oxymoron

placing two opposite words together

circumlocution

the use of unnecessarily large word/words to describe something usually simple

syllogism

a type of reasoing where the conclusion is percieved from two linked premeses

tautology

an unreasonable use a word or phrase with the same meaning in the same sentence

antithesis

pairs of opposites

literal meaning

words that arent meant to be taken figuratively

metonymy

a metaphorical part-to-whole comparison (nice ride meaning nice car )

synechdoche

a literal part-to-whole comparison (nice wheels, meaning nice car)

metaphor

a comparison that implies likeness

similie

comparison that uses like or as (attempts to define something otherwise hard to describe)

personification

a comparison (metaphor or simile) that gives human qualities to something inhuman

conceit

an extended metaphor

analogy

a comparison of any sort used to more learly deifre something that is otherwise hard to define

idioms

a phrase that has a non-literal meaning describing someone or something (its raining cats and dogs)

litotes

an ironic understatement (terrible day- that day was good!)

double-entendre

a phrase/sentence that has two meanings behind it (you look really hot (temperature or phyiscal appearence?))

epithet

a descriptive word or phrase adding to the name of someone or something

hyperbole

exaggerated statements, not meant to be taken literally, overblown

irony

the use of language that normally means the opposite, can be humorous

pun

a joke that revolves around two meanings of the same word or words that sound alike

equivocation

a word is used which can mean two different things in different circumstances (rotating the meaning of a term to abuse it a little bit)

absoloute statement

there is no room for nuance or ambiguidty, big claims (i could never eat burger king)

allusion

language that (in)directly references different things

ambiguity

the quality of being open to more than one interpretation, like inexactness.

aphorism

a short statement that expresses an important truth about life

connotation

an idea or feeling that a word evokes in addition to its literal meaning

euphemism

making something sound better than it is, finding less harsh words phrases to make an unpleasent feeling more pleasent

cliche

a phrase or opinion that is overused

colloquial

informal or ordinary language, Slang

invective

really harsh criticism (on the verge of abusive)

vernacular

regional language, or language spoken by people of a specific country or region “yall in the south”

didactic

lecturing, or teacing by using story or language

condescinding

speaking down on someone as if you are better than them (you think youre better than others, and speak to someone in a demeaning, or belittling manner)

erudite

being smart or knowledgeable in a “showy” way

sophomoric

acting juvinille(poop and pee jokes at a wedding?) , pretending to know something but being completely wrong when describing it.

alarmist

creating unneccesary amounts of panic or concern (the end is now, duck and cover immediately when there is no concern)

sarcastic

to be mocking, or poking fun at indirectly, or oppositely

sardonic

mocking and hurmorous with the intent to hurt feelings, or rubbing salt in wounds.

obsequious

insincere flattery to win favor (being a suck up, teachers pet, etc.) almost always a critisism

satirize

to express and criticize by way of satire

lament

express a strong expression of greif or sorrow

lambaste

condemn harshing, really really criticizing

commemerate

to remember or show respect for someone or something

speculate

forecasting the future (true or otherwise)

romanticize or glorify

idealize something (make it seem better than it is/was)

sanctify

to make/declare holy

evoke

to bring to mind/recall