Rhetorical Terms Quiz 1 - AP Lang

Anecdote/Anecdotal

Short story or event, often proposed to support or demonstrate a point/not necessarily true or reliable, because based on personal accounts rather than facts or research.

Subjective Truth

A state of reality that can change depending on who is perceiving it, or where or when it is being perceived (Vs. Objective)

Objective Truth

Reality as it is, apart from what we think or feel about it. (Vs. Subjective)

Paradox

A statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.

Dichotomy

When something is divided into two parts, or two opposing ideas.

Juxtaposition

Placement of two things closely together to emphasize comparisons or contrasts. By putting two separate things or concepts together, you can create contrast.

Ambiguity

The quality of being open to more than one interpretation; inexactness.

Anaphora

The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses.

Parallelism

Phrases or sentences of a similar construction/meaning placed side by side, balancing each other. Or using wording, structure, sound, meaning that are similar or identical grammatically.

Asyndeton

The omission or absence of a conjunction(for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) between parts of a sentence.

Polysyndeton

The use, for rhetorical effect, of more conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) than is necessary or natural.

Syllogism

A form of deductive reasoning consisting of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion.

Faulty syllogism

An incorrect conclusion (the third statement) is made from two statements that are related; this results from faulty deductive reasoning.

Synecdoche

A figure of speech in which a part is used for the whole.

Hyperbole

Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.

Understatement

Minimizing the importance of something. (Vs. Litotes - both forms of speech that involve downplaying the characteristics of something)

Litotes

Special kind of understatement which involves expressing a positive sentence using its negative form. (Vs. Understatement - both forms of speech that involve downplaying the characteristics of something)

Anecdotal/anecdote Example

Ex: I once had a border collie. She was so smart!

Subjective Truth Example

Ex: Schools is dangerous

Objective Truth Example

Ex: School is an education system run by the goverment

Paradox Example

Ex: "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."

Dichotomy Example

Ex: Grouping mammals by those that live on land and those that live in water, love and hate, war and peace

Juxtaposition example

Ex: You can see the light of the stars at night only because of the darkness of space.

Ambiguity Example

Ex: Foreigners are hunting dogs - It is unclear whether dogs were being hunted, or foreigners are being spoken of as dogs.

Anaphora Example

Ex: "My life is my purpose. My life is my goal. My life is my inspiration."

Parallelism Example

Ex: Like father, like son.

Asyndeton Example

Ex: "I came, I saw, I conquered."

Polysyndeton Example

Ex: 'Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers.

Syllogism Example

Ex: Rocks are hard, hard things shouldn't be chewed, therefore rocks shouldn't be chewed.

Faulty Syllogism Example

Ex: Jane is a student; students like to party; this, Jane likes to party.

Synecdoche Example

Ex: All hands on deck - Because hands are only a PART of the human body.

Hyperbole Example

Ex: I've told you a million times.

Understatement Example

Ex: "I have to have this operation. It isn't very serious. I have this tiny little tumor on the brain."

Litote Example

Ex: "It could have been worse, I only broke both arms."