Fill in the Blank Vocab Flashcards

An ad hominem fallacy is a fallacy of logic in which a person's character or motive is attacked instead of that person's _______.

argument

An allegory is a story in which the people, places, and things represent general _______ or moral qualities.

concepts

An allusion is a brief reference to a ________, place, event, or passage in a work of literature or the Bible assumed to be sufficiently well known to be recognized by the reader.

person

An analogy is a comparison between two things in which the more complex is explained in terms of the more _______.

simple

Repetition of the same word or group of words at the beginning of successive clauses, sentences, or lines is known as _______.

anaphora

An anecdote is a short entertaining account of some happening, frequently _______ or biographical.

personal

'Appeal to authority' in arguments refers to citation of information from people recognized for their special knowledge of a subject for the purpose of strengthening a speaker or writer's _______.

arguments

Argumentation is the exploration of a problem by investigating all sides of it; persuasion through _______.

reason

Asyndeton is a figure of speech where conjunctions are omitted, producing a fast pace and _______ prose.

rapid

'Begging the question' refers to a fallacy of logical argumentation that assumes as true the very thing that one is trying to _______.

prove

The cause and effect relationship is an examination of the _______ and/or effects of a situation or phenomenon.

causes

Classification as a means of ordering means the arrangement of objects according to _______.

class

A colloquial expression consists of words and phrases used in everyday speech but avoided in _______ writing.

formal

In argumentation, concession is when you show an audience that you have anticipated potential opposition and objections, allowing you to _______ their ability to oppose you.

diffuse

Connotation is the set of associations implied by a word in addition to its literal _______.

meaning

Deduction in reasoning is a form of reasoning that begins with a generalization and applies it to specific _______ since it is opposite to induction.

cases

Denotation refers to the literal _______ of a word; the dictionary meaning.

meaning

Diction in writing refers to a writer's choice of words, phrases, _______ structures, and figurative language.

sentence

A didactic tone is one designed to teach an ethical, moral, or _______ lesson.

religious

Digression in writing means a temporary _______ from the main subject.

departure

An elegiac tone is one that is of, relating to, or involving elegy or mourning; expressing _______ for something irrecoverably passed.

sorrow

An epigraph is a quotation set at the _______ of a literary work or one of its divisions to suggest its theme.

beginning

A euphemism is the use of a less direct word or phrase that is less distasteful or offensive than another; it can serve as a form of _______.

softening

Expository writing is writing that _______ or analyzes.

explains

A false dilemma is a fallacy committed when too few available _______ are considered, deeming all but one impossible.

alternatives

Figurative language is language used to create a special effect or feeling; it includes alliteration, hyperbole, _______, etc.

metaphor

Hyperbole is an extravagant exaggeration of fact, used for serious or _______ effect.

comic

Inductive reasoning works from specific observations to the formulation of a _______; often called a 'bottom-up' approach.

generalization

Invective is language characterized by _______ or abuse.

insult

Inverted syntax means reversing the normal _______ order of a sentence.

word

Irony in literature is a method of humorous or sarcastic expression where the intended meaning is the _______ of the usual meaning.

opposite

Verbal irony refers to stating the _______ of what is said or meant.

opposite

Situational irony occurs when what happens is the opposite of what is _______.

expected

Dramatic irony is when the audience is aware of something that the _______ on stage are not.

characters

Juxtaposition means placing two or more things side by side for _______ or contrast.

comparison

Litotes is a figure in which an affirmative is expressed by _______ of the contrary.

negation

A metaphor is a figure of speech comparing one thing to another by _______ of it as though it were that thing.

speaking

Metonymy is a figure of speech using the name of one thing for another that is _______ with it.

associated

Mood in literature refers to the feeling a piece of literature arouses in the _______.

reader

A motif is a recurring thematic _______; a dominant idea or central theme.

element

A non sequitur is a statement that does not logically _______ from what preceded it.

follow

An oxymoron is a figure of speech where contradictory _______ or ideas are combined.

terms

A parable is a short story from which a _______ may be drawn.

lesson

Parallelism in writing involves using the same part of speech or _______ structure in elements of a series.

syntactic

A paradox is a statement that seems _______ but may be true in fact.

self-contradictory

Parody is a literary composition that imitates the style of a serious work or writer, treating trivial material with _______.

humor

Personification is a figure of speech where an inanimate object or abstract concept is endowed with _______ attributes.

human

Periodic sentence structure means writing a sentence so that the full _______ is not understood until the end.

meaning

Point of view in literature refers to the way something is viewed, including the _______ between the storyteller and the characters.

relationship

Polysyndeton is the use of many conjunctions, slowing the pace or emphasizing numerous _______ or clauses.

words

The post hoc fallacy is a logical fallacy assuming that an incident preceding another is the _______ of the secondary incident.

cause

A pun is a humorous ____ on words.

play

Rhetoric is the art of using words _______ to influence or persuade.

effectively

A rhetorical question is a question asked for effect to emphasize a point, with no answer _______.

expected

Sarcasm in terms of irony is a type of irony where one appears to praise something while actually _______ it.

insulting

Satire is a literary work that ridicules vices, abuses, and absurdities through _______ and irony.

humor

A simile is a figure of speech involving a comparison using 'like' or _____ .

as

Stream of consciousness is a technique that records a character's thoughts and feelings without regard to logical _______.

sequence

Syllogism is a form of reasoning with two premises and a _______ drawn from them.

conclusion

In literature, a symbol is something that stands for another thing, frequently an object used to represent an _______.

abstraction

Synecdoche is a type of metonymy where a part is substituted for the _______.

whole

Syntax in grammar refers to the arrangement of words in a _______ to show their relationship.

sentence

Tone in writing refers to the author's _______ toward the subject matter.

attitude

Understatement is the deliberate representation of something as much _______ than it really is.

less

Vernacular is the characteristic language of a particular group, often using slang or _______ expressions.

informal

Wit in literature is a message whose ingenuity evokes _______.

laughter