Rhetorical Choices & Terms (Ap Lang)

Allude / Allusion

To directly or indirectly reference something commonly known, such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art. Writers often allude to historical, literary, religious, current, or mythical events.

Ex: He was destined to fail; he always flew too close to the sun. The author alludes to the Greek myth of Icarus to emphasize what can happen when one disobeys those who strive too far)

Analogy

Making an analogy can explain something unfamiliar by associating it with or pointing out its similarity to something more familiar.

Ex: Getting politicians to agree is like herding cats. (In other words, it’s very difficult!)

Anecdote

A brief story that illustrates a point that a speaker is trying to make. The story can be real or fictional. An anecdote can paint a vivid picture for the audience, help the audience connect to a topic, cause an emotional response in the audience, or even strengthen the speaker’s credibility.

Audience

Who an author is directing their message towards (whether speaking or writing). Consider direct audience (Ex: In a State of the Union address, Congress) and indirect audience (the American People).

Compare and Contrast

Discussing similarities (comparing) and differences (contrasting) between two things for a persuasive or illustrative purpose.

Ex: Hybrid cars have a much smaller carbon footprint than traditional midsize vehicles. (The underlined detail works to contrast the two different types of cars.)

Connotation

The implied meaning of a word; words can broadly gave positive, negative, or neutral connotations. Connotations may involve ideas, emotions, or attitudes.

Ex: the connotation the word “knife” might be fear, violence, anger foreboding, etc.

Context

The environment beyond/ outside of the text in which a text is delivered or written.

Ex: If delivering a congratulatory speech to awards recipients, the immediate context might be the award ceremony itself; the broader context might be the purpose or societal significance of the actual award.

Denotation

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

Ex: the denotation of a knife would be a tool used to cut.

Diction

Refers to a writer’s word choices, especially with regard to correctness, clearness, or effectiveness for a particular audience or situation. Be able to describe an author’s diction (ex: formal it informal, ornate or plain) and understand the ways diction can complement an author’s purpose — never just say “the writer uses diction” (that’s like saying the writer uses words!)

Ethos*

Appeal to credibility and ethics. Establishing a source (including oneself) as credible and trustworthy.

Ex: “Given my PhD in the subject and years of experience in the field…” helps establish the writer’s credibility.

Exigence

The issue, problem, or situation that causes or prompts someone to write or speak. (What motivates a writer/speaker to argue in the first place.) See also “Occasion,” below.

Ex: A minister write and delivers a eulogy at a funeral. The exigence is that someone has died and it is customary to reflect on a deceased person’s life and accomplishments.

Figurative Language

General term for any artful deviation from the ordinary mode of speaking or writing.

Exs: metaphor, simile, personification, hyperbole, and many others.

The general thinking is that we are more likely to be persuaded by rhetoric that is imaginative, even artful, rather than mundane.

Imagery

Sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or represent abstractions. On a physical level, imagery uses terms related to the five senses: visual, auditory, tactile, gustatory, and olfactory. One image can represent more than one idea.

Ex: It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. Winston Smith, his chin nuzzled into his breast in an effort to escape the vile wind, slipped quickly through the glass doors of Victory Mansions…(1984)

Irony

In the most basic sense, saying the opposite of what you mean; also used to describe situations in which the result of an action are dramatically different than intended.

Ex: “I do so hope there are more people to grade,” is something that a teacher might say ironically.