rhetorical vocab #3

aesthetic reading

Reading to experience the world of the text.

complex sentence

A sentence with one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.

compound-complex sentence

A sentence with two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.

compound sentence

A sentence with two or more independent clauses.

compound subject

The construction in which two or more nouns, noun phrases, or noun clauses constitute the grammatical subject of a clause.

conflict

The struggle of characters with themselves, with others, or with the world around them.

connotation

The implied meaning of a word, in contrast to its directly expressed
"dictionary meaning."

context

The convergence of time, place, audience, and motivating factors in which a piece of writing or a speech is situated.

contradiction

One of the types of rhetorical invention included under the common topic of relationships. Contradiction urges the speaker or writer to invent an example or a proof that is counter to the main idea or argument.

data (as evidence)

Facts, statistics, and examples that a speaker or writer offers in support of a claim, generalization, or conclusion.

deductive reasoning

Reasoning that begins with a general principle and concludes with a specific instance that demonstrates the general principle.

delivery

The presentation and format of a composition.

denotation

The "dictionary definition" of a word, in contrast to its implied meaning

diction

Word choice, which is viewed on scales of formality/ informality, concreteness/ abstraction, derivation, and denotative/connotative value.

double entendre

The double (or multiple) meanings of a group of words that the speaker or writer has purposely left ambiguous.

effect

The emotional or psychological impact a text has on a reader or listener.

efferent reading

Reading to garner information from a text. Reading to "take away" particular bits of information. Here, the reader is not interested in the rhythms of the language or the prose style but is focused on obtaining a piece of information.