APLAC Rhetorical Vocabulary (1-90)

Mr. Sturm

abstract

a piece of writing which summarizes the principles ideas or arguments advanced in

acronym

a word formed by combining the initial letters or syllables of a series of words to form a name (ex. radar, or radio detection and ranging).

adjective

word modifies or tells the reader something about a person, place or thing-Or noun- "modifies" it. _______ answer the questions Which one? What kind? How many? Whose? about a noun.

adverb

word which modifies or tells the reader something about a verb, adjective, or another _____. ______ answer the questions When? Where? How? To what extent? Why?

aesthetic effect

The pleasure, sense of beauty, emotion, or lack of such that readers, speakers, or listeners derive from aural, visual, and print texts.

aesthetic purpose

The pleasure, sense of beauty, and/or emotion a writer sets out to evoke constitutes the work's _____________. Often writers set out to achieve these particular aesthetic effects through subject matter, word choice, structure, and/or figurative devices.

aim- synonym is purpose

The goal of a writer or speaker hopes to achieve with a text -for example, to explain or clarify difficult material, to inform, to persuade. Also called (synonym).

allegory

The device of using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning. In some _______, for example, an author may intend the characters to personify an abstraction like hope or freedom. The _________ meaning usually deals with moral truth or a generalization about human existence.

alliteration

The repetition of sounds, especially initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words (as in she sells sea shells). Although the term is not used frequently in the multiple-choice section, you can look for alliteration in any essay passage. The repetition can reinforce meaning, unify ideas, supply a musical sound, and/or echo the sense of the passage.

allusion

A direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly known, such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art. _______ can be historical, literary, religious, topical, or mythical. There are many more possibilities, and a work may simultaneously use multiple layers of allusion. Ex: Shakespeare often references Greek gods.

ambiguity

The multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage. Ex: "I've never tasted a cake quite like this before."

analogy

A similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them. An _______ can explain something unfamiliar by associating it with or pointing out its similarity to something more familiar. ______ can also make writing more vivid, imaginative, or intellectually engaging. NOTE: ______ can be used as support in exposition and/or persuasion as well as poetic language. Here the writer explains or describes something unfamiliar by comparing it to something familiar OR supports or proves an unknown by comparing it to something known or already proven.
Ex: New vocabulary is like learning to "ride a bike."

analysis

a method by which we examine a piece of art or literature in detail in order to understand it better or draw conclusions from it. Also, we may separate the work into its
"components" to find out what it contains, to examine individual parts, or to study the structure of the whole.

anaphora

One of the devices of repetition, in which the same expression (word or words) is repeated at the beginning of two or more lines, clauses, or sentences. Ex: "Get busy living or get busy dying."

anecdote

A short narrative detailing particulars of an interesting episode or event. The term most frequently refers to an incident in the life of a person.

anecdotal scripting

When a reader makes notes in the margins of a text, notes that highlight important points, pose questions, summarize, or paraphrase, etc., the reader is scripting anecdotally. Another term for "marginalia" (see # 91 below).

annotated bibliography

An ________________ includes a list of resources, formatted according to a particular styles sheet, along with prose commentary for each source. This commentary usually includes a brief summary or overview of the resource, followed by an evaluation and/or recommendation reading the usefulness of the resource.

antecedent

The word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun. Ex: I hate my boss.
He always micromanages me. Boss = ________

antithesis

the juxtaposition of sharply contrasting ideas in balanced or parallels words, phrases, and grammatical structures or ideas. Ex: Alexander Pope reminds us that "To err is human, to forgive divine.'

aphorism

A terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or a moral principle. (If the authorship is unknown, the statement is generally considered to be a folk proverb.) An _______ can be a memorable summation of the author's point.
Ex: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

appeal

One of the three strategies for persuading audiences-logos, ______ to reason; pathos, ______ to emotion; and ethos, ______ to ethics.

apostrophe

A figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love. It is an address to someone or something that cannot answer. The effect may add familiarity or emotional intensity. Ex:
William Wordsworth addresses John Milton as he writes, "Milton, thou shouldst be living at this hour: / England hath need of thee.'

argument

In persuasive or expository writing, an _______ is the course of reasoning used to deliver the point of view or main idea that the writer is trying to get across to the reader. An _______ can also refer to a particular statement, fact, or example, etc., that a writer uses to make his/her point.

argument by analogy

________ can be used as support for arguments or claims in exposition and/or persuasion. Here the speaker or writer supports or proves an unknown by comparing it to something known or already proven or explains or describes something unfamiliar by comparing it to something familiar. (see #12)

argument by authority

writers and speakers can support an assertion or claim by invoking the words of an expert or ______. The quality of this type of argument is dependent on the credibility of the expert in the area or field related to the topic at hand.

argument by causation

This type of argument is based on the assumption that even A leads directly to result B. Cause/effect arguments may be unconvincing or difficult to sustain unless the causal relationship between A and B is generally accepted.

argument by emotion

when a speaker or writer appeals to the heart rather than the mind in order to convince the audience. See also pathos.

article

part of speech-a short word that comes before and points to the noun. _____ are the words a, an, and the.

argument by logic

a ______ _______ attempts to demonstrate the truth or validity of an assertion or conclusion through the relating of a set of premises or body of evidence.
See also logos.

assertation

An unproven statement. _______ supported by evidence and reasoning make arguments.

asyndeton

A syntactical structure (see "syntax,' ," no. 138 below) in which conjunctions are omitted in a series, usually producing more rapid prose. For example: "Veni, vedi, vici" (I came, I saw, I conquered" (a Latin phrase, supposedly spoken by Julius Caesar).

atmosphere

The emotional mood created by the entirety of a literary work, established partly by the setting and partly by the author's choice of objects that are described. Even such elements as a description of the weather can contribute to the ________. Frequently the _________ foreshadows events. Perhaps it can create a mood. Ex: Thunder cracked in the background as he approached the house.

audience

The person or persons who listen to a spoken text or read a written one and are capable of responding to it.

bias

any belief, ideology, value, or prejudice that inhibits impartial judgment is a _____.

chiasmus

a figure of speech and a syntactical structure wherein the order of the terms in the first half of a parallel clause is reversed in the second. Ex: "He thinks I am but a fool.. fool, perhaps am.

claim

An assertion stated as fact. In other words, although a _____ may be presented as a truth, that truth is not supported by evidence

classification

The sorting out of elements into _______ or groups, or the separation of something into its parts. Connected to "division." ___________ and division are used when a writer wants to break something down into its elements or group a number of things in order to analyze them.

clause

A grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb. An independent, or main, _____ expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence. A dependent, or subordinate ______ cannot stand alone as a sentence and must be accompanied by an independent _____. The point that you want to consider is the question of what or why the author subordinates one element to the other. You should also become aware of making effective use of subordination in your own writing.

cliche

An old, tired expression that writers should avoid "like the plague," which is an example of _____.

coherence

A principle demanding that the parts of any composition be arranged so that the meaning of the whole may be immediately clear and intelligible. Words, phrases, clauses within the sentence: and sentences, paragraphs, and chapters in larger pieces of writing are the units that, by their progressive and logical arrangement, make for ________.

colloquial/colloquialism

The use of slang or informalities in speech or writing. Not generally acceptable for formal writing, __________ give a work a conversational, familiar tone. Colloquial expressions m writing include local or regional dialects.

complex sentence

A sentence with one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses. Ex: I was short with him because I was running late.

compound sentence

A sentence with two or more independent clauses. Ex: I really need to go to work but am too sick to drive.

compound-complex sentence

A sentence with two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses. Ex: The dog ran off when I chased him, but I didn't care.

conceit

A fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects. A conceit displays intellectual cleverness as a result of the unusual comparison being made. Ex: Marriage is like getting a root canal.

conclusion

The close of an essay, which should bring the writer's point home in a few sentences or a paragraph. Good conclusions do more than repeat a thesis, but they may refer to facts, ideas, and even the opening anecdote.

conjunction

a word or phrase that joins words, phrases, clauses, ideas. Three types of ________ grace the English language: coordinating (ex: for, and, nor), correlative (ex: either/or, neither/nor), and subordinating conjunctions (ex: after, although, if, since).

connotation

The non-iteral, associative meaning of a word; the implied, suggested meaning. ________ may involve ideas, emotions, or attitudes.

context

In writing, ______ implies the circumstance in which an event occurs. To put writing in _______ means to examine it in relation to the circumstances present at the time of its composition or to examine it in light of the events relevant to its subject or topic. ______ may also be used to indicate the placement of a par within a larger setting. For example, a word in context refers to the meaning of the word in a particular sentence, paragraph, or text. Also called "milieu" in literary analysis or historical documents, meaning the surroundings or environment that somebody lives in and is influenced by

controlling idea

An idea that provides the common thread that ties a text together. A
______________ may be expressed as a thesis, as a topic sentence, or as an extended metaphor or image

critique

An assessment or analysis of something, such as a passage of writing, for the purpose of determining what the piece of writing is, what its limitations are, and how it conforms to the standard of the genre.

deductive reasoning

Reasoning that begins with a general principle and concludes with a specific instance that demonstrates that general principle. Ex: Monkeys like bananas. Lucy is a monkey. → Lucy likes bananas.

definition

Explanation of the nature of a word, thing, or idea. ________ attempts to make us understand something we already knew in a novel or new way. When Nancy Mairs discusses "being a cripple," she is using a label others try not to use, and she redefines what it means.

denotation

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

description

Depiction through sensory evidence. _______ is not just visual: it uses details of touch, smell, taste, and hearing. These concrete details can support a specific argument, give the reader a sense of immediacy, or establish a mood. _______, while tied to the concrete, can also use metaphor, as when Richard Rodriguez writes "At one point his words slid together to form one word-sounds as confused as the threads of blue and green oil in the puddle next to my shoes.

dialect

The language and speech idiosyncrasies of a specific area, region, or group.
For example, Minnesotans say "you betcha" when they agree with you, and Georgians might say "y'all" when speaking to a group. _______ are evident in speech from a different era, culture, or region.

diction

Related to style, ______ refers to the writer's word choices, especially with regard to their correctness, clearness, or effectiveness. You should be able to describe an author's _______ (for example, formal or informal, ornate or plain) and understand the ways in which ______ can complement the author's purpose. _______, combined with syntax, figurative language, literary devices, etc., creates an author's style

didactic

From the Greek, _______ literally means "teaching." ______ works have the primary aim of teaching or instructing, especially the teaching of moral or ethical principles.

discourse

A serious and lengthy speech or piece of writing about a topic OR a serious discussion about something between people or groups. Also could refer to language, especially the type of language used in a particular context or subject or a unit of language, especially spoken language, that is longer than the sentence.

division

The separation of something into parts. Connected to "classification." Classification and ______ are used when a writer wants to break something down into its elements or group a number of things in order to analyze them. Ex: Newspaper divided into news, advertisements, classifieds, etc.

draft

An unfinished essay that has not been completely revised, edited, and proofread. When still in the ______ stage, writers can rethink not only the structure of the essay but the ideas as well.

engage

to pique and maintain the interest of the reader throughout the reading of a text.

ethos

The author's ability to reveal his or her credibility, expertise, or goodwill in the text.

euphemism

From the Greek for "good speech," _________ are a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept. The __________ may be used to adhere to standards of social or political correctness or to add humor or ironic understatement. Saying "earthly remains" rather than "corpse" is an example of euphemism.

exposition

In essays, one of the four chief types of composition. the others being argumentation, description, and narration. The purpose of _______ is to explain something. In drama, the exposition is the introductory material, which creates the tone, gives the setting, and introduces the characters and conflict.

expository discourse

The elements of ______________ include audience, purpose, structure or form, and speaker or voice.

extended metaphor

A ________ developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout a work.

evidence

The idea (facts, statistics) that support an argument. ________ takes different forms depending on the kind of writing in which it appears, but it is generally concrete, agreed-upon information that can be pointed to as example or proof. When writer Vicki Hearn, in "What's Wrong with Animal Rights?" argues against animal rights advocates by pointing to things she learned as an animal trainer; she is using her experience as ________.

figurative language

Writing or speech that is not intended to carry literal meaning and is usually meant to be imaginative and vivid

figure of speech

A device used to produce figurative language. Many compare dissimilar things. _____________ include apostrophe, hyperbole, irony, metaphor, metonymy, oxymoron, paradox, personification, simile, synecdoche, and understatement.

flow

When ideas "____" in an essay, speech, or narrative, they are presented in a fluent, seamless, logical, and/or meaningful way without any distractions or interruptions that impede the reader.

focus

In writing or speaking, to sustain attention on the purpose and/or controlling idea of the piece by consistently connecting the various parts of the piece to that purpose/controlling idea.

generic conventions

This term describes traditions for each genre. These ________ help to define each genre; for example, they differentiate an essay and journalistic writing or an autobiography and political writing. Try to distinguish the unique features of a writer's work from those dictated by _______.

genre

The major category into which a literary work fits, The basic divisions of literature are prose, poetry, and drama. However, ______ is a flexible term; within these broad boundaries exist many subdivisions that are often called genres themselves. For example, prose can be divided into fiction (novels and short stories) or nonfiction(essays, biographies, autobiographies, etc.). Poetry can be divided into lyric, dramatic, narrative, epic, etc. Drama can be divided into tragedy, comedy, melodrama, farce, etc.

homily

This term literally means "sermon," but more informally, it can include any serious talk, speech. or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice.

hyperbole

A figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement. ________ often have a comic effect; however, a serious effect is also possible. Often, _______ produces irony.

imagery

The sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or represent abstractions. On a physical level, ________ uses terms related to the five senses; we refer to visual, auditory, tactile, gustatory, or olfactory imagery. On a broader and deeper level, however, one image can represent more than one thing. For example, a rose may present visual _______ while also representing the color in a woman's cheeks and/or symbolizing some degree of perfection (It is the highest flower on the Great Chain of Being). An author may use complex ________ while simultaneously employing other figures of speech, especially metaphor and simile. In addition, this term can apply to the total of all the images in a work.

inductive reasoning

Reasoning that begins by citing a number of specific instances or examples and then shows how collectively they constitute a general principle. Ex: Harold is a grandfather. Harold is bald. → All grandfathers are bald. (Can lead to faulty conclusions.)

inference/infer

To draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented. When someone asks for an _______ to be drawn from a passage, the most direct, most reasonable inference is the safest answer choice. If an ________ is implausible, it's unlikely to be correct. Note that if the answer is directly stated, it is not inferred and is wrong. You must be careful to note the connotation--negative or positive--of the words used.

integrate

in any researched and/or documented essay: quoted, paraphrased, and/or summarized words of others that will be incorporated into the writer's own text. To do this smoothly, writers should seamlessly blend or weave their own words with those of others. This is the _________ of quotations and citations. If quotations, etc., are ________, no quotation will stand alone as a sentence. For example: In The Greatest Glossaries Ever Known, John Smith asserts that "all good glossaries are written in alphabetical order" (72). Here the words of John Smith-those within the quotation marks- are introduced by the writer's own words. The citation for the John Smith resource-The Greatest Glossaries Ever Known-is ______ into the text, with the specific page number cited in parentheses at the end of the sentence.

introduction

The beginning of an essay; it should generally state a writer's main point. An __________ can include a thesis statement and can even begin to develop the thesis, but it can also simply pose a question, the answer to which will be the essay's thesis. It can also begin with a story/ anecdote, out of which the thesis will develop. "William F. Buckle, Jr’s “Why Don’t We complain?” is a good example of an anecdotal ________

invective

An emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language.

irony/ironic

The contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant. The difference between what appears to be and what actually is true. In general, there are three major types of _____ used in language; (1) In verbal _____, the words literally state the opposite of the writer's (or speaker's) true meaning. (2) In situational ____, events turn out the opposite of what was expected. What the characters and readers think ought to happen is not what does happen. (3) In dramatic ____, facts or events are unknown to a character in a play or piece of fiction but known to the reader, audience, or other characters in the work. Irony is used for many reasons, but frequently, it's used to create poignancy or humor.

jargon

The specialized vocabulary of a particular group. Ex: RAM, processor, gigabit

juxtaposition

The location of one thing adjacent to another to cause an effect, reveal an attitude, or make a point. Ex: Beggars can't be choosers. You can't teach an old dog new tricks.

logical argument, classical

_________________ derive from Greek and Roman philosophers and include three types of appeals: emotional appeal, or pathos-appeal to the emotions of the audience; logical appeal, or logos appeal to reason; and ethical appeal, or ethos-the character or expertise of the speaker.

logical argument, contemporary

_________________ may employ strategies and appeals beyond the three that characterize classical argument. These may include, but are not limited to, argument by definition, induction, inference, and analogy.

logical fallacy

Refers to the flaw in the structure of an argument that renders the argument invalid. The term is also used to mean any argument that is faulty or problematic

logos

The author's ability to reveal logic and reason in the text.

loose sentence

A type of sentence in which the main idea (independent clause) comes first, followed by dependent grammatical units such as phrases and clauses. If a period were placed at the end of the independent clause, the clause would be a complete sentence. A work containing many loose sentences often seems informal, relaxed, and conversational. Generally loose sentences create loose style.