Rhetoric Vocab Quiz 1

rhetoric

the faculty of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion

audience

the listener, viewer, or reader of a text

texts

any cultural product that can be “read”-meaning not just consumed and comprehended but also investigated

context

the circumstances, atmosphere, attitudes, and events surrounding a text

occasion

the time and place a speech is given or a piece is written

purpose

the goal the author wants to achieve

rhetorical triangle

a diagram that illustrates the interrelationships among the speaker, audience, and subject in determining a text

speaker

the person or group who creates a text

persona

greek word for “mask.” The face or character that a speaker shows his or her audience

subject

the topic of a text

rhetorical appeals

rhetorical techniques used to persuade the audience by emphasizing what they find most important or compelling. The three major appeals: ethos (character), logos (reason), pathos (emotions).

ethos

Greek word for “character.” Speakers appeal to ethos to demonstrate that they are credible and trustworthy to speak on a given topic. Ethos is established by both who you are and what you say.

Logos

Greek word for “embodied thought.” Speaker appeal to logos, or reason, by offering clear, rational ideas and using specific examples, details, facts, statistics, or expert testimony to back them up.

counterargument

an opposing argument to the one write is putting forward, A strong writer will usually address it through the process of concession or refutation.

concession

an acknowledgement that an opposing argument may be true or reasonable. A strong argument will include a concession followed by a refutation challenging the validity of the opposing argument.

refutation

a denial of the validity of an opposing argument, In order to sound reasonable, a refutation often follows a concession that acknowledges that an opposing argument may be true or reasonable.

pathos

Greek word for “suffering.” Speakers appeal to pathos to emotionally motivate their audience. This appeal might play on an audience’s values, desires, and hopes, on the other hand, or fears or prejudices, on the other hand.

connotations

meanings or associations that readers have with a word or phrase beyond its literal meaning. They often greatly influence the author’s tone.

satire

the use of irony or sarcasm to critique society or an individual

diction

a speaker’s intentional choice of words

tone

a speaker’s attitude towards the subject conveyed by the speaker’s stylistic and theoretical choices

mood

the feeling or atmosphere created by a text.