#2 Glossary Weeks 6-10

Diction

The deliberate choice of words by a writer or speaker

(ex. In “Letter from Birmingham Jail” Martin Luther King Jr. shifts from academic, theological diction to vivid, emotional diction when describing segregation.)

Either/Or False Dilemma

A logical fallacy that unfairly reduces a complex issue down to two mutually exclusive choices, ignoring any middle ground, nuance, or alternative solutions.

(ex. “America: Love it or leave it.” implies there are only two paths.)

Enthymeme

A three part deductive argument (syllogism) in which one of the premises is left unstated because it is assumed to be an obvious truth.

(ex. “We cannot trust this politician because he has lied in the past.” Does not state the major premise, people who lie in the past can never be trusted.)

Equivocation

A fallacy where a writer uses the same word in two different senses within an argument, or uses ambiguous language to hide the truth or shift blame.

(ex. “The sign said ‘Fine for Parking Here,’ so I parked here because I thought it was fine to do so.” The word shifts from meaning a financial penalty to meaning acceptable.)

Faulty Analogy

a logical fallacy where an argument relies on a comparison between two things that are not truly alike.

(ex. writer argues employees are like nails, needing to be hit on the head (driven) to make them work (be productive). BUT treating a human like a piece of hardware will destroy morale.)

First-hand evidence

information, data, or arguments gathered through direct personal experience or observation. Comes from writer’s own life.

(ex. As a high schooler, I experience early start times every day. Setting my alarm for 5:30 AM leaves me chronically sleep-deprived.)

Hasty Generalization

Logical fallacy when a speaker draws a broad conclusion based on a small or unrepresentative sample size.

(ex. “My grandpa smoked two packs of cigarettes a day and lived to be 95, so smoking isn’t bad” uses on exceptional case.)

Hortative Sentence

choice of words that advises, calls to action, or gently encourages listener to do something.

(ex. We must try harder if we want to save our local environment)

Hyperbole

Author’s use of deliberate, extreme exaggeration as a rhetorical strategy to prove a point and strengthen argument.

(ex. “if we don’t pass this environmental bill today, our rivers will turn into rivers of boiling sludge by tomorrow morning”)