AP lang: rhetorical techniques

Tone

The mood implied by an author word choice and the way the text can make a reader feel. The tone can evoke a number of emotions and perspective. Ex. formal, informal, optimistic, assertive, encouraging, playful, objective, emotional, etc

Diction

Writers word choice to convey a message or establish a particular writing style. 4 levels of diction; formal, informal, colloquial, or slang

Syntax

The way words and phrases are arranged to form sentences

Allusion

A figure of speech which makes brief, even casual reference to a historical or literary figure event or object to create a resonance in the reader or to apply a symbolic meaning. Often religious or historical

Imagery

Uses common figures of speech such as simile, metaphor, onomatopoeia, personification and others in order to convey feelings that cannot be perceived through the written word. Language that appeals to the senses

Paradox

Two opposite things and seems impossible or untrue but actually is possible or true. A self contradictory statement or scenario that challenges conventional thinking

Irony

When something said or done is in contrast to reality or what is expected

Subordination

Uses conjunctions to connect one dependent clause to an independent clause, creating a complex sentence. One idea carries more weight than the other

Coordination

Uses conjunctions to connect two sentences with roughly equal ideas. Both ideas carry approximately equal weight

Repetition

Repeating certain words or phrases in a word. Helps the author create memorable text or emphasise the importance of a concept or idea

Parallelism

Parallel structure or balanced sentences. Sentence structure which places equal grammatical constructions near each other or repeats identical grammatical patterns. Used to add emphasis, organization, or sometimes pacing to writing

Chiasmus

When the same words are used twice in succession, but the second time the order of the words is reversed. ABBA structure

Anaphora

Repetition of a word, phrase, or clause at the beginning of two or more sentences of clauses in a row. This is a deliberate form of repetition and helps make the writer's point more coherent. The deliberate repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of a clause to achieve an artistic effect

Antithesis

Two opposite or contrasting words, phrases, clauses, or even ideas with parallel structure

Epistrophe

The deliberate repetition of a word or phrase at the end of a clause to achieve an statistic effect

Symploce

Anaphora + epistrophe = symploce

Figurative language

Use of words in a way that deviate from the conventional order and meaning in order to convey a complicated meaning, colorful writing, clarity, or evocative comparison

Pathos

Appeal to emotion. To persuade an audience by purposely evoking certain emotions to make them feel the way the author wants them to feel

Ethos

Appeal to ethics

Logos

Appeal to logic. To persuade an audience by logical thought, fact, and rationality

Exigence

The pressing issue, problem, or situation that motivates someone to write something or to use speech persuasively. Like a catalyst.

Cumulative sentence

When the writer begins with an independent clause, then adds subordinate elements that accumulate details about the person, place, event, or idea

Periodic sentence

The opposite construction of a cumulative sentence. When the main idea is not completed until the end of the sentence. The writer begins with subordinate elements and postpones the main clause

Inverted sentence structure

Subject comes after the verb. Inverted sentences are meant to sound awkward. They can highlight a speaker's argument or emphasize a thought by throwing off the readers rhythm.

Rhetorical question

A question that doesn't expect an answer. Rhetorical questions are often used as a part of an argument and to make the reader of listener question there views as the speaker points out some perceived issue or contradiction

Hypophora

Consists of two parts: the first is the question asked by the speaker, and the second is the speaker's response to their own question

Apophasis

Rhetorical device wherein the speaker or writer berings up a subject by either denying it or anything that it should be brought up. Rhetorical relative of irony

Loaded language

Rhetoric used to influence an audience by using words and phrases with strong connotations associated with them in order to invoke an emotional response and/or exploit stereotypes

Kairos

In classical rhetoric, it refers to the opportune time and place. Right or appropriate time to say or do the right or appropriate thing

Zeugma

When you use a word in a sentence once while conveying the two different meanings at the same time. Sometimes the word is literal in one part of the sentence but figurative in another. Sometimes it's just two completely different meanings for the word. Will either confuse the reader or inspire them to think more deeply

Anadiplosis

Writer or speaker uses a word near the end of the clause and then repeats that word to begin the next clause