APLAC Language of Composition Chapter 1 Test Review

rhetorical triangle

represents the relationship between the speaker, audience, subject; Aristotelian triangle

context

occasion or the time and place it was written or spoken

purpose

goal the speaker/writer wants to achieve

thesis

the central idea in a work to which all parts of the work refer

assertion

an emphatic statement; declaration; if supported by evidence it becomes an argument

persona

the speaker, voice, or character assumed by an author of a piece of writing

logos

A Greek term that means "word"; an appeal to logic

ethos

A Greek term referring to the character of a person

pathos

A Greek term that refers to suffering but has come to be associated with broader appeals to emotion

tone

the speaker's attitude toward a subject or audience

assumption

a belief or statement taken for granted without proof

counterargument

a challenge to a position; an opposing argument

refute

to discredit an argument, particularly a counterargument

juxtaposition

normally unassociated ideas, words, or phrases are placed next to one another for contrast; often creates and effect of surprise and wit

inverted order

involves constructing a sentence so the predicate comes before the subject; used to create emphasis or rhythmic effect

natural order

involves constructing a sentence so the subject comes before the predicate

rhetorical fragment

sentence fragment used deliberately for a persuasive purpose or to create a desired effect

waffles

vacillate, flip-flop, change, equivocate

slang

recently coined words often used in informal situations

connotation

the implicit meaning of the words, with suggestions, associations, emotional overtones

jargon

words and expressions characteristic of a particular trade, profession, or pursuit

parallel structure

a grammatical or structure similarity between sentences or parts of a sentence

concrete diction

specific words that describe physical qualities or conditions

abstract diction

language that denotes ideas, emotions, conditions, or concepts that are intangible

colloquial expressions

nonstandard, often regional, ways of using language appropriate to informal or conversational speech and writing

high/formal diction

contains language that creates and elevated tone, free of slang, idioms, colloquialisms, and contractions

denotation

the exact, literal definition of any word, independent of any emotional association or secondary meaning

5 parts of the classical model

introduction, narration, confirmation, refutation, conclusion

introduction

exordium (beginning a web); where writer often establishes ethos

narration (cm)

narratio; provides facts and background information; often appeals to pathos

confirmation

confirmatio; major part of text that develops/proves writer's case; appeals strongest to logos

refutation

refutatio; addresses counterargument; largely logos

conclusion

peroratio; closes the essay; pathos is usually used and ethos reminded of

narration (pod)

telling a story or recounting a series of events; based on experience or knowledge; usually in chronological order

description

similar to narration because both include specific details; emphasizes senses by painting a picture; used to describe/establish a mood or atmosphere

process analysis

explains how something works, how to do something, or how something was done; the key is clarity

exemplification

providing a series of examples turns a general idea into a concrete idea, making it clearer and more persuasive

comparison & contrast

juxtaposing 2 things to highlight their similarities and differences

classification & division

make connections between things that might otherwise seem unrelated

definition

may lay the foundation to establish common ground or identifying areas of conflict

cause & effect

usually signaled by a 'why' in the title or opening sentence

periodic vs. loose/cumulative sentence

makes sense fully at end of the sentence vs. makes sense if brought to a close before end of the sentence