English - Comprehension Techniques

Inclusive Language

Language free from discrimination or stereotypes, acknowledging diversity and promoting equality, respecting all individuals

Workman, chairman X

Workers, chair/chairperson √

Rhetorical Question

A question not requiring an answer

How long until action is taken against global warming?

Hyperbole

Over-exaggeration

Josh is still unemployed. He must be the brokest man on the planet!

Anaphora

Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive sentences, phrases or clauses

Every breath you take, and every move you make. Every bond you break. Every step you take

Epistrophe

Repetition at the end of sentences (opposite of anaphora)

I love bugs. Small bugs. Big bugs. And very big bugs!

Repetition

Repeating a word or phrase over and over

Anaphora and epistrophe are forms of repetition

Alliteration

Reflects repetition in two or more nearby words of initial consonant sound

Suzy saw a silly seal

Asyndeton

Conjunctions (and, or, but) are omitted (removed) from a series of words, phrases or clauses

I came, I saw, I conquered

Polysyndeton

Conjunction words used in succession (opposite of asyndeton)

We live and laughed and loved and left

Statistics, anecdotal evidence & expert opinion

Evidence to support a claim

30% of smokers don't quit their whole life

When you eat beetroots, your pee turns purple. Happened to me at a family dinner once

9/10 doctors recommend Colgate Extra Fresh

Colloquial Language

Informal and conversation

Want to - wanna, Because - cuz

Invective Language

Abusive language expressing disapproval or attacks someone, an object, idea, etc

His judgement is as sound as his heard is hard.. Shameful that he's a commander of our troops!

Imperative

Give orders, commands or instruction

Wake up! Don't go. Turn left. Don't panic.

Synecdoche

Saying part of something to represent a whole

ABC's, "Nice wheels" referencing a nice car

Antithesis

A phrase consisting of two contrasting ideas

Give all men your ear, but few your voice

Parallel Structure/Parallelism

Same pattern of words to show two or more ideas have same level of importance

I plan to walk the dog, write a letter and go to bed

Periodic Sentences

A sentence deliberately structured to place the main point at the end

In spite of heavy snow and cold temperatures, the game continued

Tricolons/Tetracolons

Three/Four successive, parallel elements

Be sincere, be brief, be seated

Allusion

Reference

If it doesn't stop raining, I'm gonna build an ark (Noah's Ark reference)

Euphemism

'Euthanising' the word, a substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive expression for one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant

Passed away - dead, laid off - fired

Juxtaposition

Two things placed closely with contrasting effect

War and peace, light and dark, mostly used in imagery

Oxymoron

Combines contradictory or opposing words to create a unique expression

Deafening silence, bittersweet

Diction

Choice of words and phrasing in writing

Formal, informal, colloquial

Simile

A comparison using 'like' or 'as'

Fast as a cheetah, built like a bus

Metaphor

A comparison without using 'like' or 'as'

Heart of gold, eyes like jewellery, music to my ears

Personification

Giving inanimate objects/animals human qualities

The trees whispered, the stars danced

Onomatopia

Sound Effects

Boom, Bang, Pow

Litote

Deliberate understatement

Not bad, he isn't the friendliest person

Verbal Irony

Contrast between expectation and reality through verbal exclamation

During a very cold day "Isn't it warm today!"

Dramatic Irony

When the reader is aware of something the characters aren't

Person mocking his friend for losing his wallet, whilst also having his being stolen without him noticing

Situational Irony

Situation does not have outcome expected at first

A fire station burning down

Emotional Appeal (Pathos)

Appeal to emotions

Guilt

Logical Appeal (Logos)

Appeal to reason

Facts & statistics

Ethical Appeal (Ethos)

Appeal to authority

Expert opinion

Time Appeal (Kairos)

Appeal to time

Limited time only