vocab list 5

Allusion

a reference to a well

Understatement

the opposite of exaggeration. It is a technique for developing irony and/or humor where one writes or says less than intended.

Paradox

an apparently contradictory statement that actually contains some truth.

Oxymoron

conjoining contradictory terms (as in 'deafening silence')

Hyperbole

a figure of speech that exaggerates the truth.

Irony

a contrast between what is expected and what actually exists or happens

Sarcasm

from the Greek meaning "to tear flesh," involves bitter, caustic language that is meant to hurt or ridicule someone or something. It may use irony as a device.

Alliteration

repetition of initial consonant sounds

Symbol

something that stands for something else

Narration

retelling an event or series of events

Description

the picturing in words of something or someone through detailed observation of color, motion, sound, taste, smell, and touch.

Exposition

writing or speech that explains a process or presents information

Definition

A method of informing that explains something by identifying its meaning

Compare/contrast

A text structure that tells how two or more things, people, places, or ideas are alike and different.

Persuasion

a form of argumentation that uses language to convince through appeals to reason or emotion.

Claim

an assertion that something is true or factual

Refutation

The part of an argument wherein a speaker or writer anticipates and counters opposing points of view.

Concession

a reluctant acknowledgment or yielding

Denotation – The strict, literal, dictionary definition of a word, devoid of any emotion, attitude, or color.

Connotation

The nonliteral, associative meaning of a word; the implied, suggested meaning. Connotations may involve ideas, emotions, or attitudes.