Rhetoric and Writing Devices Study Guide

A comprehensive vocabulary study set defining key rhetorical strategies, modes of discourse, literary devices, and essay composition terms from the lecture notes.

context

The who, when, where, and why behind the text

rhetoric

The act of discourse, or communication- both speaking and writing

rhetorical triangle

In any element are in constant communication with one another: the writer, the subject, and the reader

exigence

The issue or situation that prompted the writer to write now

purpose

The writer's reason for writing

ethos

An ethical appeal; giving the audience a reason to trust

pathos

Appeal to emotion; asks the reader to empathize and feel patriotic

logos

Appeal to logic; using facts to back up an argument

rhetorical modes

The patterns of writing that helps writers develop their idea

rhetorical devices

Tools writers use to add tone and add depth or layers of meaning in their writing, necessary to differentiate good writing from mediocre writing

allusion

A literary, biographical, or historical reference whether real or imaginary

alliteration

The repetition of the same sounds in neighboring words or stressed syllables

analogy

Shows the relationship of one thing to another

diction

Word choice

tone

The writer's attitude in a subject

dennotation

The dictionary definition of a word (literal meaning)

connotation

Feelings associated to a word

hyperbole

An exaggeration usually of great proportions to set a tone

imagery

Appeals to the 5 senses; helps the reader see, smell, hear, taste, and feel something

irony

Can be seen when a contradiction occurs in action or in speech

verbal irony

A person says one thing but means something else

situational irony

A twist of events from what the reader suspects

juxtaposition

The placement to two words or ideas next to each other for emphasis or contrast

metaphor

A comparison of two unlike things to help provide the reader with a mental image

simile

A type of metaphor, but uses the words like or as

parallel structure

Uses similar patterns of sentence structure; ideas are presented in similar grammatical constructs

personification

Writers use this to give inanimate objects human characteristics and abilities

repetition

Occurs when authors repeat a remark to emphasize its importance

satire

Used to ridicule people policies and institutes

symbolism

Uses concrete items to represent abstract ideas

syntax

The arrangement of words within a sentence

SOAPSTONE

Speaker, occasion, audience, purpose, subject, tone

paraphrasing

Taking what you have read, and putting it in your own words

summarizing

Short paragraphs that are faithful to the structure and meaning of the OG essay, but developed in your own words and including only the most essential elements of the OG

plagiarism

The attempt to pass of the work of others as your own

description

The creation of a picture using words

narration

Answers the question "what happened"

illustration

Various types of examples and supporting evidence

process analysis

When you describe how something words; the complexity of the explanation depends on the complexity of the process itself

comparison and contrast

The method of organizing similarities and differences between 2 persons, places, things, or ideas

causal analysis

The rhetorical mode explaining the causes or effects of some events, situation, or phenomenon

definition

A mode used because concepts are often abstract and may mean different things to different readers

classification

A mode of active thinking and writing based on the division of a concept into groups and subgroups

argumentation

A form of active thinking in which you try to convince an audience to accept your position on a topic

voice

The way you express your ideas to the reader the tone you take when addressing your audience

anecdote

A brief engaging account of some incident often historical, biographical, or personal

antecedent

In grammar is the word, phrase, or clause to which a pronoun refers

antithesis

The balancing of one idea or term against another for emphasis

aphorism

A short statement expressing truism or an idea in an original or imaginative way

assonance

Defined generally as likeness or rough similarity of sound

audience

The readership toward which an author directs his or her essay

characterism

The creation of people involved in the action. It is used especially in narrative or descriptive writing

cliche

An expression that once was fresh and original but that has lost much of its utility through overuse

coherence

A quality in effective writing that results from the careful ordering of each sentence in a paragraph in the essay

colloquial language

Conversational language used in certain types of informal and narrative writing (cool, bro)

conflict

In narrative writing is the clash or opposition of events, characters, or ideas that makes the resolution of action necessary

deduction

A form of logic that begins with a generally stated truth or principle and then offers details, examples, and reasoning to support the generalization

emphasis

Indicates the placement of the most important ideas in key positions in the essay