Rhetorical Analysis Vocab Week 1-3

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connotation

the secondary, implied, or suggested meaning of a word. The word "weasel" suggests negativity—a tendency to lie or cheat or steal.

denotation

the actual, literal meaning of the word. Weasel simply means a slender, carnivorous mammal.

diction

(word choice) a writer or speaker's choice of words. Synonymous with style. Choosing the words "lied about" rather than "mistakenly stated" is a choice in _______.

syntax

The grammatical order in which words are placed. It might be broken for effect.

tone

The attitude the writer takes towards her subject, or in her writing. When describing ___, we use adjectives: angry, sarcastic, solemn, playful, timid, etc.

explicit

Directly stated. Leaving no question about the meaning.

implicit

implied, but not directly stated. Hinted at.

infer

To deduce or conclude information based on facts or evidence—rather than being explicitly told.

parallelism

similarity of structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases or clauses. "Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more."

periodic sentence or structure

One in which the writer builds suspense by beginning with subordinate elements and postponing the main clause. "His composure shaken, his confidence broken, his limbs twitching, his walrus angry, he wondered if he would ever ask out another girl."

cumulative sentence or structure

one in which the subordinate elements come at the end to call attention to them. "He learned to fix cars from Alice McMahon, an elderly spinster who used to party with Volvo mechanics."

balanced sentence

one in which two parallel elements are set off against each other like equal weights on a scale. Both parts of the sentence have the same form. "If a liberated society will not help the weak, a liberated society cannot save the strong."

antithesis

Opposition or contrast of words or ideas within a balanced sentence. "Many are called, but few are chosen." These words must be truly opposites: night/day, hot/cold, life/death, etc.

inversion

The reversal of normal, grammatical word order—often for emphasis. "Never should you forget who your boss is." "The platypus is more important/What is more important is the platypus." "Smart are you." --Yoda.

analogy/analogous

a comparison of similar things—usually using something familiar to explain something unfamiliar. Water pipes for electrical circuits.

qualification

(in argument or logic) A restriction in meaning or application. "Subject A's premise would work very well under a totalitarian government, but in a democratic government, the premise seems unlikely to succeed."

logical fallacies

Incorrect reasoning (often intentional) in argument. Fallacies often exploit emotional triggers in the anticipated audience. (There are many different logical fallacies; we will learn many by name this year.) EX. Argument: Cutting people is a crime. Surgeons cut people. Therefore, surgeons are criminals.

metaphor

comparison not using like or as. Or, a thing regarded as representative or symbolic of something else, esp. something abstract

simile

comparison using like or as

apostrophe

A dramatic address to someone not present. "Oh, Charles Dickens, where are you now?"

allusion

an indirect reference to something outside the text—usually another work of art. "Don't be a scrooge." (Notice there's no mention of Charles Dickens or the title, A Christmas Carol? This is an indirect reference.)

hyperbole

Obvious and intentional exaggeration—for rhetoric

understatement

Where the speaker deliberately portrays the situation as less serious or important than it really is. "It's just a flesh wound." (Black Knight, after having both arms cut off, in Monty Python's the Holy Grail)

paradox

a seemingly contradictory assertion that may have some truth in it. Ex. "What a pity that youth must be wasted on the young" (George Bernard Shaw). Ex. War is peace; Freedom is slavery; Ignorance is strength. (George Orwell, 1984)

epithet

a descriptive word, phrase or title: ex. "Frederick the Great," It can also mean name calling.

euphemism

using a more polite term for a coarse or unpleasant term

conceit

an extended metaphor—often the basis for an entire poem. "Love is a rose... blush as petals...steadfast as the stem...spiteful as thorns...enduring as roots...."

metonymy/synecdoche

a figure of speech consisting of the use of the name of one thing for that of another with which it is associated ("The white house said today"—meaning, the press secretary of the current administration said); The use of a part of something to represent the whole.("Ten sails crossed the sea" -meaning, ten ships crossed the ocean).

alliteration

repetition of initial sounds

Onomatopoeia

the use of a word whose sound imitates the act or thing it names. The "buzzing" of a bee, for example, or the sound, "boom."

objective

An __________ statement is completely unbiased. It is not affected by the speaker's previous experiences or tastes. It is verifiable by looking up facts. Generally, one cannot argue with such a statement.

subjective

A ______________ statement has been colored by the character of the speaker or writer. Such a statement is an opinion; it often has a bias. These statements are often the root of arguments and are "subject" to personal opinion.

Cliché

an overused statement or idea.

Satire

Corrective ridicule

parody

mocking imitation

Irony

when the literal meaning is opposite the actual meaning.

Archetype

the original pattern or model of a character or idea that is frequently copied or repeated.

Histrionic

deliberately dramatic or theatrical.

Wry

cleverly and often ironically or grimly humorous. It technically means "bent," like the smile of an ironic, clever person.

Juxtapose/juxtaposition

an act or instance of placing things/words/concepts close together or side by side for comparison or contrast. A horrible troll holding a beautiful orchid, for example.

Deductive

Reasoning that moves from the general (rule or law) to the specific (instance). "Teachers at Amador are generally mammals. Mr. Thayer must be a mammal."

Inductive

reasoning that moves from the specific (instance) to the general (presumed rule or law). "Mr. Thayer is 52 years old. Teachers must all be 52 years old." (Note: this kind of reasoning is often faulty reasoning. It's the kind of reasoning that leads to stereotypes and overgeneralizations. We usually want to recognize, but avoid this kind of reasoning.)

Anaphora

repetition of the initial word or phrase in a series of clauses or phrases for emphasis and rhythm.

Epistrophe

The repetition of the same word or words at the end of successive phrases or clauses. This is the counterpart to anaphora.

Aphorism

A pithy observation that contains a general truth, such as, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." (almost synonymous with epigram—but not paradoxical or necessarily poetic)

Analysis

the separating of material into its constituent elements and determining its essential features and their relations

Argumentation

the act of using reasons to justify claims.

Syllogism

a logical argument in which a conclusion is inferred from two premises. It's a form of deductive reasoning. It goes like this: (1) All dogs are mammals. (2) Mingo is a dog. (3) Therefore, Mingo is a mammal

Chiasmus

A rhetorical or literary figure in which words, grammatical constructions, or concepts are repeated in reverse order, in the same or a modified form. EX."Poetry is the record of the best and happiest moments of the happiest and best minds." EX. "Pleasure's a sin, and sometimes sin's a pleasure" (Byron). EX. "He was wise and compassionate as a counselor, but as a teacher inefficient and ineffectual." EX. "It's not the men in my life, it's the life in my men" (Mae West).

Ellipsis

omission of one or more words for conciseness and effect. Ex. "Youth is a blunder; manhood a struggle; old age a regret." (The word "is" is omitted after the first clause.)

Asyndeton

omission of conjunction before the last item in a series. Ex. "Government of the people, by the people, for the people..."

Allegory

a story in which things and people represent something entirely other—an idea or a philosophy. These typically contain within a moral or lesson.

Simple Sentence

subject-verb (I went to the store.)

Compound Sentence

2 independent clauses joined by a conjunction (I went to the store, and I bought candy.)

Complex Sentence

independent clause and dependent clause (While traveling to the store, I saw my friend.)

Antecedent

a word, phrase, clause, or sentence, to which another word (especially a pronoun) refers. "Mike lost his penguin and he can't find it."

Nostalgia

a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past.

Enumeration

the listing of things; to list one thing after another in prose.

Dichotomy

a division or contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or entirely different. "There doesn't need to be a _______ between religion and science."

Hypophora

Asking a question and then answering that same question. "What did you come here for? To learn how to have a good time!"

Rebuttal

merely a response to the counterargument, advancing your side of an issue--may not be effective, may not prove someone or something wrong.

Refutation

to use evidence to prove a counterargument is wrong--this is done in response to another argument. When a rebuttal is absolutely effective, it becomes a this.

Concession

acknowledging other points of view--admitting that the opposition has a good point. This builds credibility.

Message

the subject matter of a work of rhetoric.

Exigence

the provocation (or reason) to make the argument or work of rhetoric. Why did the writer give this speech?

Purpose

what writer or speaker hopes to achieve by writing or giving a speech.

Audience

awareness of the specific, intended audience of a work of rhetoric—awareness of the traits and perspectives of this audience.

Context

The time, place, occasion, or other relevant contextual information about the moment of the work of rhetoric.

Writer/speaker

Our awareness of how the writer or speaker's perceptions, or perspective, governs the text.