rhetorical devices

anaphora

repetition of a word or expression at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, sentences, or verses especially for rhetorical or poetic effect

epistrophe

repetition of a word or expression at the end of successive phrases, clauses, sentences, or verses especially for rhetorical or poetic effect

antithesis

the use of two opposing ideas presented in parallel structure in the same sentence

chiasmus

a figure of speech in which the grammar of one phrase is inverted in the following phrase, such that two key concepts from the original phrase reappear in the second phrase in inverted order. the words don't have to be the same, but the ideas must the the same.

antimetabole

a type of chiasmus in which the exact same (or similar, accounting for grammar rules) words are repeated in reverse order

amplification

arranging words or clauses in a sequence of increasing force

analogy

when two unrelated things are compared for their similar qualities

occupatio (paralipsis)

when a speaker emphasizes a topic by claiming to ignore it

prolepsis

anticipating potential objections to your argument and refuting them in advance

hyperbole

exaggeration for emphasis or for rhetorical effect

litotes

a form of understatement, emphasizing something by negating its opposite

dramatic irony

when the audience knows something that a character doesn't know

verbal irony

when what is said is the opposite of what is meant

situational irony

when the outcome of a situation is the opposite of what was expected

juxtaposition

placement of two contrasting things close together to emphasize the difference

hypophora

when the speaker or writer raises a question and then answers it themself

high invective

a formal/complex/creative insult

low invective

common offensive language, a simple insult

zeugma

the use of one word to modify two other words

syllepsis

a type of zeugma when one word is used to modify two other words in two different ways (usually one figurative and one literal)

anecdote

a short story that illustrates an example to make a point

satire

the use of humor, exaggeration, irony, or ridicule to criticize something

lampoon

harsh, intense satire written with the intention of attacking someone or something

parody

work that imitates the style of another work, genre, or artist

metonymy

a figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something CLOSELY ASSOCIATED with it

synechoche

a figure of speech in which a PART of something is used to represent the whole

inductive reasoning

a type of logic, making a generalized conclusion based on specific evidence

deductive reasoning

a type of logic, a specific conclusion follows a general theory

syllogism

a type of deductive reasoning, a conclusion is drawn from a major premise and a minor premise

enthymeme

a syllogism where one premise is left out, assuming the audience will infer it

reductio ad absurdum

disproving something by showing that it falls apart when taken to an extreme

catalogue

a deliberately arranged list of things

cumulative/loose sentence

main clause is at the start of the sentence

periodic setence

main clause is at the end of the sentence

polysyndeton

when many conjunctions are used in a sentence

asyndeton

when no conjunctions are used in a sentence

parallelism

the use of the same grammatical structure in a series of related words, phrases, or clauses, for clarity

inversion

reversing the normal word order of a structure, for emphasis

hypothesis contrary to the fact

when someone makes an unsupported claim about an imaginary future or past event and treats it as fact

begging the question

when an argument assumes the truth of its conclusion in one of its premises

non sequitur

a conclusion that does not follow from the premises

red herring

changing the subject, introducing something irrelevant to draw attention away from the main issue

equivocation

the use of ambiguous terms that shift in meaning throughout the argument

false analogy

the assumption that, just because two things have one similarity, they must have multiple more

faulty dilemma

when an arguer presents a situation as if there are only two mutually exclusive options, to force the audience into the desired choice

dicto simpliciter

the incorrect application of a general rule to a specific case, ignoring the possibility of exceptions

hasty generalization

when a faulty conclusion is drawn from insufficient evidence

post hoc ergo propter hoc

the faulty assumption that just because event A happened before event B, event A CAUSED event B

slippery slope

the argument that one action will inevitably cause a chain of events leading to a negative outcome, without enough evidence to prove it

strawman

misrepresenting, distorting, or exaggerating an argument to make it easier to attack

poisoning the well

presenting negative information about a person before they begin their argument, to make the audience disagree with them or to make them seem less credible; preemptive ad hominem

ad hominem

attacking the person rather than their argument

appeal to pity (ad misericordiam)

evoking sympathy, pity, or guilt (in place of actual reasoning) to support a point

appeal to authority

the claim that something is true just because an authority figure/expert says so

appeal to fear

when someone scares and/or threatens an audience into agreeing with them; making the audience fear the opposing side or the consequences of not agreeing with a point

snob appeal

convincing a customer to buy a product by making them believe possessing the product will make them become/seem like part of an elite upper class

tu quoqe

refuting an argument by pointing out that the arguer is a hypocrite who participates in the exact activity they are criticizing