Rhetorical Devices

Ap Language and Composition

Archaic Language

using language that is antiquated (old-fashion)

Archaic Language (ex)

ex. beliefs for which our forebears fought

Alliteration

use of words with same consonant sound close together; repetition of the same sound beginning several words or syllables in sequence

Colloquialism

using language that reflects the way people actually speak (slang)

Jargon

using language that is specific to a place, period, position, or occupation

Repetition

repeating words, phrases, causes in order to emphasize or reiterate

Cumulative Sentence

sentence where main clause is at the beginning and then more is added on

Cumulative Sentence (ex)

ex. But neither can two great and powerful groups of nations take comfort from our present course — both sides overburdened by the cost of modern weapons, both rightly alarmed by the steady spread of the deadly atom, yet both racing to alter that uncertain balance of terror that stays the hand of mankind’s final war

Hortative Sentence

sentence that exhorts, urges, entreats, implores, or calls to action

Hortative Sentence (ex)

ex. Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us

Imperative Sentence

sentence that commands or demands

Imperative Sentence (ex)

ex. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man

Periodic Sentence

sentence where main clause is withheld until the end

Periodic Sentence (ex)

ex. To that world assembly of sovereign states, the United Nations, our last best hope in a new age where the instruments of war have far outpaced the instruments of peace, we renew our pledge of support

Anaphora

repetition of words/phrases at beginning of successive phrases, clauses, lines

Anaphora (ex)

ex. not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need — not as a call to battle, though embattled we are

Antimetabole / Chiasmus

repetition of words in reverse order

Antimetabole / Chiasmus (ex)

ex. Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country

Antithesis

opposition or contrast of ideas/words in parallel construction

Antithesis (ex)

ex. We shall…support any friend, oppose any foe…

Asyndeton

omission of conjunctions between coordinate phrases, causes, words (speed up)

Asyndeton (ex)

ex. He eats, drinks, sleeps.

Juxtaposition

placements of two things closely together to emphasize differences

Juxtaposition (ex)

ex. We are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth…that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans—-born in this century…

Parallelism

similarity of structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases, clauses

Parallelism (ex)

ex. Let both sides explore…Let both sides, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals…let both sides seek to invoke…Let both sides unite to heed….

Rhetorical Situation

speaker, purpose, audience, context, exigence

Speaker

author of text, background, qualifications, persona, credibility

Purpose

reason for creating text, goals for the text (ex. to convince, to persuade, to demonstrate etc.)

Audience

intended listener, viewer, reader of text; group of people, what they care about (ex. letter vs. inauguration speech)

Context

time and place, relevant historical events, social circumstances, impact on author’s perspectives (ex. Civil War → Gettysburg Address)

Exigence

catalyst for a writer to write their text, trigger, “why now?”, “spark” (ex. 9/11 attacks → George Bush’s public address)

Concession

an acknowledgement that an opposing argument may be true or reasonable, usually accompanied by a refutation

Refutation

denial of the validity or an opposing argument in part or in whole, usually accompanied by a concession in order to sound more reasonable

Qualify (a claim)

To make a claim about qualities, or what something is, or is caused by, about what something affects, or about the nature of properties of a thing to gain an understanding of underlying reasons, opinions, and motivations. To make a “qualifying claim” is to provide insights into a problem or help to develop ideas or hypotheses

Quantify (a claim)

claims and information about quantities. generation numerical data or statistics. it is used to quantify attitudes, opinions, behaviors, and other defines variables, and is usually limited to “how much”, “how many”, “how often”, “how famous or popular”

use measurable data to back a claim

Aristotelian Triangle

a diagram that illustrates the relationships between speaker, subject, and audience in a rhetorical situation

Ethos

greek for “character,” established of speakers in what they say and who they are, appeals to audience’s trust in the character, authority, or expertise of speaker

Logos

greek for “embodied thought,” appeals to reason and logic by offering clear, rational ideas, and using specific details, examples, facts, statistics, or expert testimony as backing for claims; usually primary mode to elicit audience agreement

Pathos

greek for “suffering” or “experience”, appeals to specific emotions like fear, patriotism, prejudices, anger, or hope; usually primary mode to elicit audience action

Connotation

the implied or contextualized meaning that underlies the main meaning of a word

Denontation

the literal, dictionary definition of a word

Ellipsis

omitting some parts of a sentence to give the reader a chance to fill the gaps

Syndeton

addition of multiple conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses, words (slows down)

Syndeton (ex)

ex. He eats and drinks and sleeps

Alliteration (ex)

ex. Let us go forth to lead the land we love

Allusion

reference to another source (ex. bible, mythology, poem, work of art)

Allusion (ex)

ex. Let both sides unite to heed in all corners of the earth the command of Isaiah

Anecdote

a usually short narrative of an interesting, amusing, or biographical incident used to explain, illustrate, or persuade

Antecdent

a thing or event that existed before or logically precedes another; what pronouns refer t

Assonance

repeating vowel sounds

Consonance

repetition of identical or similar consonants in neighboring words

Euphemism

the substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive expression for one that may offend

Extended Metaphor

a comparison between two unlike things that continues throughout a series of sentences

Hyperbole

deliberate exaggeration

Imagery

descriptive language appealing to all five senses (words used to paint a picture)

Maxim

a short, pithy statement expressive a general truth or rule of conduct

Maxim (ex)

ex. If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all

Metaphor

comparison that replaces one object for another (stronger than simile)

Metaphor (ex)

ex. And if a beachhead of cooperation may push back the jungle of suspicion

Metonymy

the substitution of the name of an attribute of the thing meant

Metonymy (ex)

ex. “suit” for “business executive”

“the track” for “horse racing”

Motif

repeating symbol throughout a text

Oxymoron

using two contradictory words enxt to each other

Oxymoron (ex)

ex. Peaceful revolution

Paradox

a statement that seems contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true

Personification

describing an inanimate object as if it were a person

Personification (ex)

ex.With history the final judge of our deeds

Rhetorical Question

posing a question for effect rather than to get an answer

Rhetorical Question (ex)

ex. Will you join in that historic effort?

Simile

comparison that uses “like” or “as'"

Symbol

object used to represent an idea/theme

Synecdoche

using one part to represent a whole

Synecdoche (ex)

ex. Nice wheels! (wheels = car)

Boston sweeps the series against the Yankees! (Boston = the baseball team)

Tone

author’s attitude toward a subject and/or character

Zeugma

using two different meanings of the same word within a sentence/line

Zeugma (ex)

ex. When we bear arms, we bear a burden of responsibility (bear used literally and figuratively)

Claims of Fact

asserts that something is true or not; is arguable on basis of fact

Claims of Fact (ex)

ex. The number of suicides and homicides committed by teenagers, most often younger men, has exploded in the last three decades -Anna Quindlen

Claims of Value

asserts something is good or bad, right or wrong, or is a cause of effect; draws conclusions from claims of facts

Claims of Value (ex)

ex. There’s a plague on all our houses, and since it doesn’t announce itself with lumps or spots or protest marches, it has gone unmarked in the quiet suburbs and busy cities where it has been laying waste -Anna Quindlen

Claims of Policy

suggests a course of action as a result of the claims of fact and value

Claims of Policy

Yet one solution continues to elude us, and that is ending the ignorance about mental health, and moving it from the margins of care and into the mainstream where it belongs -Anna Quindlen

First-hand Evidence

based on something the writer knows from personal experience, observations, or general knowledge of events

Second-hand Evidence

accessed through research, reading, investigation, interviews, polls; includes factual and historical information, expert opinion, and quantitative data

Open Thesis

does not list all the points the writer intends to include, is usually inductive in its claim, and suggests a more abstract or universal claim of value

Closed Thesis

Makes a more specific, limited claim of value, includes a list of the main points to follow

Counter-argument

usually starts with summary of primary counterargument, is preceded by “but” or “although” and is usually followed by the writer’s primary claim

Fallacies of Relevance

using evidence that is actually irrelevant to the claim

Ad Hominem

(“against the man”) attacking character of speaker instead of addressing topic

Ad Hominem (ex)

ex. A park in the community should not be renovated because the person supporting it was arrested during a domestic dispute

Appeal to False Authority

using someone as “expert” who is not actually an expert

Appeal to False Authority

Ron Burgundy, a fictional character from the movie Anchorman, advertises for Dodge Durango

False Analogy

drawing a comparison between two things that is logically irrelevant

False Analogy (ex)

ex. Since we put animals who are in irreversible pain out of their misery, we should do the same for people

Red Herrings

introducing new and unrelated topic before addressing argument topic

Fallacies of Accuracy

using evidence that is intentionally or unintentionally inaccurate

Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc (faulty causality)

"(“after this, therefore because of this”) assuming that because one event or action following another, the first causes the second

Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc (faulty causality) (ex)

ex. We elected Johnson as president and look where it got us: hurricanes, floods, stock market crashes

Slippery Slope

scare tactic that claims one action will lead to another, more extreme action