Learn: Vocab Test #2

Allusion

A reference that recalls another work, another time in history, another famous person, and so forth

Apostrophe

Prayer-like, this is a direct address to someone who is not present, to a deity or muse, or to some other power

Connotation

The associations or moods that accompany a word. Words are generally negative (sadistic), positive (serendipitous), or neutral (instrument)

Deductive

A form of logical argumentation that uses claims or premises. The assumption by the author is that you will accept the claims as true and that you will deduce the correct conclusion from the accepted premises at the outset

Denotation

This is the opposite of connotation and is quite literally the dictionary meaning of a word

Diction

The particular words an author uses in any essay. Diction choices (why one word is used as opposed to the other) are the essential building blocks of composition

Ethos

An appeal to credibility. the writer is seeking to convince you that he or she has the background, history, skills, and or expertise to speak on the issue

Hyperbole

An exaggeration that bolsters an argument

Inductive

A form of logical argumentation that requires the use of examples (micro)

Infinitive

The word "to" plus a verb, usually functioning as a noun

Irony

The use of words to express something other than and often the opposite of the literal meaning

Juxtaposition

Making one idea more dramatic by placing it next to its opposite

Logos

An appeal to reason

Pathos

An appeal to emotion. Pathos arguments may use loaded words to make you feel guilty, lonely, worried, insecure, or confused

Personification

Giving human attributes to non-human things

Repetition

A fundamental form of rhetorical stress that calls the reader's attention to a particular word, phrase, or image for emphasis of meaning

Rhetorical question

A question whose answer is assumed, a rhetorical question is designed to force the reader to respond in a predetermined manner

Rhetorical shift

This occurs when the author of an essay significantly alters his or her diction, syntax, or both

Simple sentence

An independent clause

Syntax

The formation of sentences

Understatement

This creates exaggeration by showing restraint, it is the opposite of hyperbole

Rhetorical situation

Exigence, purpose, audience, writer, context, message