Rhetoric Terms

Analogy

A comparison that attempts to explain one idea or thing by likening it to another.

Anecdote

A brief narrative offered in a text to capture the audience's attention or to support a generalization or claim.

Kairos

the combination of the "right "moment to speak and the "right "way to speak.

Generalization

A statement that asserts some broad truth based upon a knowledge of specific cases.

claim

The ultimate conclusion generalization, or point- backed up by support- of an argument.

persuasive discourse

A(n) ________ resulting in a coherent and considered movement form a claim to a conclusion.

Allusion

A reference to some famous literary work, historical figure, or event.

Anaphora

The repetition of a group of words at the beginning of successive clauses.

Counterargument

An opposing argument to the one a writer is putting forward.

Synthesis

Combining two or more ideas in order to create something more complex in support of a new idea.

Denotation

The literal or primary meaning of a word.

logical falacies

Most _________ are based on insufficient evidence or faulty logic.

Hyperbole

A figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement.

Ad hominem argument

An argument that attacks the integrity or character of an opponent rather than the merits of an issue.

Tone

In every writing, ________ is the refection of the writer's attitude toward the subject and audience.

Understatement

A way of deliberately representing something as less than it is in order to stress its magnitude.

Exigence

An urgent need or demand.

Pathos

Speakers appeal to this to emotionally motivate their audience.

Refutation

A denial of the validity of an opposing argument.

Generalizations

________ are the end product of inductive reasoning, where a basic truth may be inferred about a class after experience with a representative number of its members.

Concession

An acknowledgement that an opposing argument may be true or reasonable.

Transition

Words, phrases, sentences, or even paragraphs that indicate connections between the writers 'ideas.

Voice

The presence of the sound itself, chosen by the author.

Coloquialism

A word or expression acceptable in informal usage but not in formal discourse.

Connotation

The implication of emotion overtones of a word rather than its literal meaning.

Parallelism

The principle of coherent writing requiring that coordinating elements be given the same grammatical form.

Rebuttal

A voice to possible objections.

Evidence

The logical bases or supports for an assertion or idea.

Logos

Speakers appeal to ________, or reason, by offering clear, rational ideas and using specific details, examples, facts, statistics, or expert testimony to back them up.

evidence

The statistics, facts, anecdotes, and testimonial support provided by the writer in defense of the idea constitute the _______.

Syntax

The order of words in a sentence and their relationship to each other.

Good syntax

________ requires correct grammar as well as effective sentence patterns, including unity, coherence, and emphasis.

Rhetorical question

A question posed with no expectation of receiving an answer.

Ad populum argument

A fallacious argument that appeals to the passions and prejudices of a group rather than its reason.

Diction

The choice of words a writer uses.

Point of view

the perspective from which a piece of writing is developed.

Logical fallacy

Errors in reasoning used by speakers or writers, sometimes in order to mislead their audience.

Ad hominem argument

An argument that attacks the integrity or character of an opponent rather than the merits of an issue

Ad populum argument

A fallacious argument that appeals to the passions and prejudices of a group rather than its reason

Allusion

A reference to some famous literary work, historical figure, or event

Analogy

A comparison that attempts to explain one idea or thing by likening it to another

Anaphora

The repetition of a group of words at the beginning of successive clauses

Anecdote

A brief narrative offered in a text to capture the audience's attention or to support a generalization or claim

Argument

A line of reasoned inquiry

Begging the question

The situation that results when a writer or speaker constructs an argument on an assumption that the audience does not accept

Coloquialism

A word or expression acceptable in informal usage but not in formal discourse

Concession

An acknowledgement that an opposing argument may be true or reasonable

Connotation

The implication of emotion overtones of a word rather than its literal meaning

Counterargument

An opposing argument to the one a writer is putting forward

Denotation

The literal or primary meaning of a word

Diction

The choice of words a writer uses

Enthymeme

Shared assumption

Ethos

Speakers appeal to this to demonstrate that they are credible and trustworthy to speak on a given topic

Evidence

The logical bases or supports for an assertion or idea

Exigence

An urgent need or demand

Generalization

A statement that asserts some broad truth based upon a knowledge of specific cases

One should, however, beware of rash or faulty generalizations

those made on insufficient experience or evidence

Hyperbole

A figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement

Kairos

the combination of the "right" moment to speak and the "right" way to speak

Logical fallacy

Errors in reasoning used by speakers or writers, sometimes in order to mislead their audience

Logos

Speakers appeal to logos, or reason, by offering clear, rational ideas and using specific details, examples, facts, statistics, or expert testimony to back them up

Pathos

Speakers appeal to this to emotionally motivate their audience

Parallelism

The principle of coherent writing requiring that coordinating elements be given the same grammatical form

Point of view

the perspective from which a piece of writing is developed

Qualified argument

An argument that is not absolute

Rebuttal

A voice to possible objections

Red Herring

A side issue introduced into an argument in order to distract from the main argument

Refutation

A denial of the validity of an opposing argument

Rhetorical question

A question posed with no expectation of receiving an answer

Slanting

The characteristic of selecting facts, words, or emphasis to achieve a preconceived intent

Style

They way an author writes

Syntax

The order of words in a sentence and their relationship to each other

Synthesis

Combining two or more ideas in order to create something more complex in support of a new idea

Tone

In every writing, tone is the refection of the writer's attitude toward the subject and audience

Transition

Words, phrases, sentences, or even paragraphs that indicate connections between the writers' ideas

Time transition words

soon, immediately, afterward, later, meanwhile, in the meantime

Comparison transition words

similarly, likewise, also

Contrast transition words

on the other hand, in contrast, nevertheless, by, yet, otherwise

Understatement

A way of deliberately representing something as less than it is in order to stress its magnitude

Voice

The presence of the sound itself, chosen by the author