Definitional Strategies and Descriptive Writing — Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture notes on definitional strategies and descriptive writing.

Definitional strategies

A set of rhetorical tools used to define terms in order to support an argument and enhance ethos; types include authoritative, dictionary, operational, negative, etymological, contextual, exemplar, analogical, and stipulative definitions.

Ethos

The speaker's credibility and character; enhanced by precise language and the use of definitional strategies to present oneself as credible and trustworthy.

Authoritative definition

A definition grounded in recognized authorities (e.g., dictionaries or scholars) used to lend legitimacy to a claim.

Dictionary definitions

Standard meanings from dictionaries that serve as baseline definitions; widely used but may be incomplete.

Operational definition

Defines a concept by the concrete operations or criteria used to measure or implement it.

Negative definition

Defines a term by stating what it is not; helps clarify boundaries and challenge misperceptions.

Etymological definition

Defines a term by tracing its origin and linguistic history.

Exemplar definition

Defines a term by giving representative examples that illustrate its use.

Contextual definition

Defines a term by tracing its usage across time or contexts to show how meaning shifts.

Analogical definition

Defines a term by comparing it to a similar thing to highlight shared features.

Stipulative definition

Creates a new or specific meaning for a term for the purposes of a discussion.

Depiction

A descriptive technique that uses concrete sensory details to create a vivid scene and atmosphere (show, don’t tell).

Onomatopoeia

A word that imitates a natural sound, used to convey auditory imagery.

Kairos

The opportune moment or timeliness that makes an argument especially relevant.

Gourmet (Wallace)

In Wallace's essay, a gourmet is someone who thoughtfully considers food’s origins, production, and ethical implications; more reflective than the casual ‘foodie’."