Rhetorical Choices

Thesis

The central claim and overall purpose of a work

3 multiple choice options

Call to Action

Writing that urges readers to action or promote a change.

3 multiple choice options

Refutation

When a writer delivers relevant opposing arguments.

3 multiple choice options

Claim of Value

Claims involving opinions, attitudes, and subjective evaluation

3 multiple choice options

Claim of Policy

claims advocating courses of action that should or should not be undertaken

3 multiple choice options

Claim of Definition

claims exploring what something means or what something is made up of

3 multiple choice options

Grounds

the evidence offered in support of a claim

3 multiple choice options

Warrant

the assumption the speaker makes about the audience

3 multiple choice options

Qualifier

a statement that indicates the force of the argument

3 multiple choice options

Deductive Reasoning

Method of reasoning that moves from a general premise to a specific conclusion.

1 multiple choice option

Inductive Reasoning

Method of reasoning that moves from specific evidence to a general conclusion based on this evidence.

1 multiple choice option

Syntax

how a sentence is constructed

2 multiple choice options

Parallelism

when the arrangement of parts of a sentence is similarly phrased or constructed

2 multiple choice options

Chiasmus

second half of an expression is balanced against the first, but with the parts reversed

(example: "ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country")

3 multiple choice options

Antithesis

A contrast in language to bring out a contrast in ideas.

3 multiple choice options

Paradox

a phrase or statement that while seeming contradictory or absurd may actually be well

founded or true. Used to attract attention or to secure emphasis

2 multiple choice options

Rhetorical Question

A question asked solely to produce an effect and not to elicit a reply

2 multiple choice options

Exemplification

Writing that provides a series of facts, specific cases, or instances that relate to a general idea.

2 multiple choice options

Abstract Language

Language describing ideas and qualities

1 multiple choice option

Concrete Language

Language describing observable, specific things.

1 multiple choice option

Denotation

specific, exact meaning of a word as defined

1 multiple choice option

Connotation

The emotional implications that a word may carry

1 multiple choice option

Ad Hominem

attacking a person's motives or character instead of his argument or claims (this is a fallacy -- don't do this!)

3 multiple choice options

False analogy

When 2 cases are not sufficiently parallel (this is a fallacy -- don't do this!)

3 multiple choice options

Non Sequitur

introducing irrelevant evidence to support a claim (this is a fallacy -- don't do this!)

3 multiple choice options

Red Herring

something used to distract the audience's attention from the real issue or argument (this is a fallacy -- don't do this!)

3 multiple choice options

Slippery Slope

failure to provide evidence showing that one event will lead to a chain of events (this is a fallacy -- don't do this!)

3 multiple choice options

Straw Man

misrepresenting opponent's position to make it easier to attack (taking things out of

context) (this is a fallacy -- don't do this!)

3 multiple choice options

Analogy

A comparison to a directly parallel case; the process of drawing a comparison between two

things based on a partial similarity of like features.

Tone

the voice and attitude the writer has chosen to project.

Mood

The overall atmosphere of a work and the mood is how that atmosphere makes a reader feel.

Allusion

a brief reference to a person, event, or place - real or fictitious - or to a work of art. This is not only about literary allusion! Speakers can allude to historical or current events, real people, and other real things.

Juxtaposition

Placing two-often contrasting- ideas side by side or close together.

Euphemism

Substitutions of an inoffensive, indirect, or agreeable expression for a word or phrase

perceived as socially unacceptable or harsh. (i.e., "passed away" instead of "died")

Irony

The discrepancy between appearance and reality: verbal, situational, dramatic.

Oxymoron

a self contradictory combination of words. (i.e., "jumbo shrimp")

Aphorism

A concise or tersely phrased statement in principle, truth, or opinion. Often found in fields like

law, politics, and art (i.e., "A penny saved is a penny earned.")

Metonymy

The substitution of a term naming an object closely associated with the word in mind for the

word itself (i.e., "The White House" to mean the Presidential Administration)

Diction

choice of words in a work and an important element of style.

Colloquialism

words characteristic to familiar conversation (i.e., "Hey, folks..."

Synecdoche

part is used for a whole or the whole for a part (i.e., "I need to get some new wheels" instead of "I need to get a new car.")

Satire

genre of writing used to critique or ridicule through humor or sarcasm (i.e., The Daily Show with Jon Stewart)

Parody

exaggerated imitation of a serious work or subject (i.e., the movie Airplane)

Anecdote

A short account of an interesting or humorous incident, intended to illustrate or support a

point.

Generalization

When a writer bases a claim upon an isolated example or asserts that a claim is certain

rather than probable. (Try not to do this!)

Motif

recurrent images, words, objects, phrases, or actions that tend to unify the work (i.e., "The Imperial March" every time we see Darth Vader)

Allegory

A narrative in which character, action, and setting represent abstract concepts apart from the

literal meaning of a story. The underlying meaning usually has a moral, social, religious, or political

significance (not to be confused with anecdote -- allegories are more like stories meant to represent a larger truth, i.e., "Plato's Allegory of the Cave.")

Cliché

A timeworn expression that through overuse has lost its power to evoke concrete images. (i.e., "Fast as lightning")

Repetition

recurring words, phrases, or even sentences

Anaphora

the same expression is repeated at the beginning of 2 or more consecutive lines

Apostrophe

Directly addressing someone who is not present, someone who is dead, or an inanimate object (i.e., "Dear Basketball")

Personification

giving human attributes to an animal, inanimate object, or idea