EV 1-6

obsequious

obedient or attentive to an excessive, submissive, or servile degree.

sycophant

an obsequious self-seeking flatterer : one who praises those in power in order to gain their approval

prescience

the ability to see or anticipate what will or might happen in the future, not necessarily in a supernatural way

rhetoric

literally "the art of speaking/language"; non-literally, the skillful use of language to persuade.

audience

the individuals the speaker/writer intends to engage with the text.

speaker

the individual, group, or organization who authors a text.

text

any form of communication, primarily written or oral, that forms a coherent unit, often as an object of study.

context

other direct and indirect social, cultural, geographic, political, and institutional factors that likely influence the writer, text, and audience in a particular situation.

exigence

the perceived need for the text, an urgent imperfection a speaker identifies in the world and then responds to through writing, speaking, or creating.

subject / topic

the issue at hand—the major topics the writer and text discuss.

genre

the specialized type of text that the writer uses to communicate.

purpose

what the speaker is trying to achieve; what the writer is trying to get the audience to think, believe, feel, or do.

message

what the writer or speaker wants the reader or audience to understand, to think, or to know via the text.

Ethos

literally "character"; refers to the character of the writer or speaker, or more specifically, his credibility.

Pathos

literally "suffering"; refers to emotion, or more specifically, the writer's appeal to the audience's emotions.

Logos

literally "word"; refers to information, or more specifically, the writer's appeal to logic and reason.

Kairos

literally "supreme moment"; refers to appropriate timing, or the speaker "reading the room," understanding the rhetorical situation, and responding appropriately.

Tone

a speaker, writer, or author's attitude toward the subject they are discussing.

exigence

In argument, the issue and context that causes the argument to be made; the essential question being addressed

claim

The statement being argued; the thesis of an argument

counterclaim

An opposing conclusion or premise that presents an oppositional view to your own argument

rebuttal

A response to a counterclaim in which the arguer refutes the opposing premise with new evidence or reasoning

concession

An admission that one of an opponent’s premises is valid or well reasoned

qualifier

A word or phrase that limits the scope of a claim by setting conditions (such as "some" or "might")

contention

An assertion, claim, or conclusion forwarded in argument

assertion

A claim or conclusion stated confidently as part of an argument

fallacy

A failure in reasoning that results in an unsound or unreliable argument

straw man fallacy

A logical fallacy in which an arguer oversimplifies or distorts an opponent’s argument and attacks that version instead of the real argument

ad hominem fallacy

A logical fallacy that attacks the opponent’s character instead of addressing their argument

post hoc fallacy

A logical fallacy that assumes because one event happened before another, the first event caused the second

slippery slope fallacy

A fallacy claiming that one small action will inevitably lead to extreme consequences through a chain of events

hasty generalization fallacy

A fallacy in which a conclusion is drawn from insufficient or biased evidence

either/or fallacy

A fallacy that oversimplifies an issue by reducing it to only two choices

no true Scotsman fallacy

A fallacy in which someone dismisses criticism by claiming the critic is not a "true" member of a group

ephemeral

Lasting for a very short time; fleeting

voracious

Having a huge or insatiable appetite; ravenous

fidelity

Faithfulness or devotion to a standard, a person, an ideal, or a process; accuracy in details

adversity

A state or instance of serious or continued difficulty or misfortune

inquisitive

Inclined to ask questions or investigate further; curious or inquiring

levity

Maintaining a sense of humor or light-heartedness, especially the treatment of a serious matter

subject

In grammar, the person or thing acting or being something

predicate

In grammar, the state of being or the action that the subject is or is performing

premise

In argument or logic, an idea that precedes another; a notion that needs to be proved in order to draw a conclusion

conclusion

In argument, a reasoned judgment; the final decision after sufficient evidence, ideas, and reasons have been considered

awkward

In writing: hard to understand because of grammatical or punctuation mistakes or unnecessary complications; ungainly, lacking grace and ease

principle

A truth or idea that serves as the foundation for a system of belief, behavior, or chain of reasoning

fluid

Of writing or another act, smoothly or elegantly graceful; characterized by or employing a smooth, easy style

cohesion

In writing: the action or fact of forming a united whole; when the big ideas are laced throughout the entire composition

clarity

The quality of being clear and easily understood by others

concise

Giving a lot of information clearly and in a few words; brief but comprehensive

ambiguity

The quality of being open to more than one interpretation and therefore complex or difficult to understand

essential

Absolutely necessary; extremely important

articulate

To express an idea or feeling fluently and coherently

nuance

A subtle difference or complexity in or shade of meaning, expression, or sound

cataract

a medical condition in which the lens of the eye becomes progressively opaque, resulting in blurred vision.

ethics

principles of conduct governing an individual or a group; a guiding philosophy; the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation

speculative

engaged in, expressing, or based on conjecture rather than knowledge.

hearth

the floor in front of a fireplace; used as a symbol of one's home

salamander

a lizard-like amphibian once believed to be able to withstand fire

mausoleum

an above-ground tomb, especially a large and dignified one

stolid

(of a person) calm, dependable, and showing little emotion or liveliness.

singed

slightly burned; scorched

tallow

the white, solid, rendered fat of cattle and sheep used chiefly in soap and candles; In the novel: (adj.) - very white

accumulated

gathered together or acquired in increasing number or quantity

stratum

a layer or a series of layers of rock in the ground.

melancholy

a feeling of pensive sadness, typically with no obvious cause.

peculiar

strange or odd; unusual.

subconscious

of or concerning the part of the mind of which one is not fully aware but which influences one's actions and feelings.

conjure

call upon (a spirit or ghost) to appear, by means of a magic ritual.

inclined

leaning toward something, having a tendency

illuminated

lit with bright lights; or intellectually or spiritually enlightened

cog

a wheel or bar with a series of projections on its edge, which transfers motion by engaging with projections on another wheel or bar; a part of a machine

murmur

a soft, indistinct sound made by a person or group of people speaking quietly or at a distance.

conscience

the sense or consciousness of the moral goodness of one's own conduct, intentions, or character paired with a feeling of responsibility to "do right" or "be good"

wonder

a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable.

hysterical

feeling or showing extreme and unrestrained emotion

heresy

an opinion, belief, practice (especially a religious or non-religious one) profoundly at odds with what is generally accepted

cacophony

a mixture of loud, discordant, unpleasant sounds

peer

to look intently or curiously (at something)

subside

to become less intense, violent, or severe; to reduce in intensity

teem

to become full of (something) or swarming (even to the point of overflowing) with (something)

sieve

a utensil with a wire or plastic mesh held in a frame, used for straining one substance from another (solids from liquids, finer from coarser particles, etc.)

dentifrice

a substance used to clean one's teeth

cadence

the rhythm or flow created by language, music, or sound

digest

a short summation or condensation of another, longer text

insidious

harmful and/or destructive, often in a hidden or subtle way

discourse

a verbal exchange of ideas and information, often done in a formal, orderly fashion

perfunctorily

carried out with minimal effort, thought, and care

paltry

very small and of little to no value; insignificant

diction

the choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing; careful use of diction can affect the mood/tone of a text or evoke (or provoke) particular associations or reactions from the reader

denotation

the literal or primary meaning of a word as defined in a dictionary (as opposed to to the feelings or ideas that the word suggests)

connotation

the ideas or feelings that a word evokes (as opposed to its literal or primary meaning)

bewildered

perplexed and puzzled; completely confused

immense

literally "without measure"; extremely large or great, especially in scale or degree; huge

mobilized

(of a country or its government) prepare and organize (troops) for active service

gleam

to shine brightly, especially with reflected light and especially momentarily

blanch

to make white or pale by extracting color; or (of a person) to flinch or grow pale from shock, fear, or a similar emotion

enameled

coated with a cosmetic layer intended to give a smooth or glossy appearance; to beautify with a colorful surface; covered in enamel

tranquil

quiet and peaceful; calm; serene

strand

(in British/Scottish English) a sea, stream, or body of water