Rhetorical Choices and Rhetorical Triangle Flashcards

Practice flashcards covering definitions, examples, and analysis guidelines for rhetorical choices, devices, and the Rhetorical Triangle.

What is the definition of a rhetorical choice?

Anything the author DOES or USES to move the audience to the purpose.

What is an allegory, and what example is provided in the cheat sheet?

An allegory is a story where the characters or setting(s) represent abstract concepts to convey political or moral commentary. For example, in Lord of the Flies, Jack represents bloodlust and Ralph represents democracy.

How are allusions and references defined in the notes?

Indirect or direct references to something or someone well known.

How is intentional ambiguity defined as a rhetorical choice?

Intentional lack of clarity.

What is an analogy?

A comparison of two things where the elements of one directly parallel the elements of the other.

What is anaphora, and what broader category does it belong to?

Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses used for emphasis. It is a type of parallelism.

What are anecdotes?

Short stories told to emphasize a certain point.

What is a call to action?

Intentionally directing the audience to do something (such as vote or boycott).

What are colloquialisms?

Words or phrases common to certain areas or subsets of culture.

What is the distinction between denotation and connotation?

Denotation is the dictionary definition of a word, whereas connotation refers to the feelings or implications associated with a word.

What is a euphemism, and what example is given in the cheat sheet?

A substitute for a harsh phrase, such as using "He passed away" instead of "he died."

How is an idiom defined in the notes?

A popular/cultural expression that means more than what it says.

How is irony defined in the cheat sheet?

When the opposite of what you expect or intend to happen happens.

What is juxtaposition?

Putting things side by side for contrast or effect.

What constitutes a motif in a text?

Anything that repeats, including symbols, images, colors, ideas, or phrases.

What is an oxymoron, and what examples are listed in the cheat sheet?

A figure of speech featuring contradictory terms; examples given are "jumbo shrimp", "Biggie Smalls", and "cold heat".

How is a paradox defined in the cheat sheet?

Contrasting imagery, ideas, or use of contradictory language.

What is parallelism or parallel structure?

Similarity or repetition of grammatical structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases, or clauses.

What special requirement is noted for analyzing powerful diction and powerful imagery?

Both always need an adjective (e.g., diction that sets a mood or reveals a tone, or imagery using sensory details).

What example of a pun or word play is given in the cheat sheet?

"Am I surrounded by horses, because all I hear are neighsayers!"

What is a rhetorical question?

A question asked for effect and not meant to be answered.

How is sarcasm defined in the cheat sheet?

Verbal irony—when you say one thing but mean something different.

What is satire?

Humor used to criticize someone or something, typically the dominant culture or power.

How should rhetorical choices usually be phrased in an analysis essay?

Most of the time, a rhetorical choice should sound like a description of what the author is doing (e.g., "Criticizes world leaders for being willfully blind" or "Accuses audience of betrayal and moral failure") rather than just naming a device.

What diagram overview of the three rhetorical appeals is shown here?

The Rhetorical Triangle, which outlines Ethos (Speaker/credibility), Pathos (Audience/emotion), and Logos (Message/logic).

According to the Rhetorical Triangle, what is Ethos and how is it established?

Ethos is the Greek term for "ethics," representing the credibility of the person making a communication (the "speaker"). It is established through factors like status, awareness, professionalism, celebrity endorsement, and research to make the audience trust what is being said.

According to the Rhetorical Triangle, what is Pathos and how does it persuade?

Pathos is the Greek term for "emotion," representing how an audience feels or experiences a message. It makes a person feel excited, sad, angry, motivated, jealous, or other emotions to persuade them to act based on what is said.

According to the Rhetorical Triangle, what is Logos and how is it used?

Logos is the Greek term for "logic," representing facts, research, and other message elements that provide proof or evidence to a claim. It is used to convince the audience that what they are hearing or seeing is well researched, well built, or worth their time.