Rhetorical Terms

Diction

Diction

Word choice in writing or speech

Syntax

Arrangement of words and phrases

Metaphor

Comparison without using like or as

Simile

Comparison using like or as

Personification

Giving human qualities to non-human things

Hyperbole

Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally

Litotes

Ironical understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of its contrary ("you won't be sorry" or "not bad" ot "she is no spring chicken"

Metonymy

Substitution of a related term to represent the whole (suit for business executive ot the track for horse racing, at The White House said today that...) Broader Ideas and terms

Synecdoche

A figure of speech in which a part is used to represent the whole or vice versa (nice wheels, "boots on the ground" when talking about war reffering to soldiers) more specific parts of a thing

Oxymoron

Contradictory terms placed together

Alliteration

Repetition of initial consonant sounds

Allusion

Indirect reference to a person, place, or thing

Imagery

Visually descriptive or figurative language

Aphorism

Concise statement of a principle or truth ("Actions speak louder than words")

Archaic diction

Old-fashioned or outdated word choice

Pedantic diction

Writing that is overly concerned with literal accuracy and formality.

Colloquialism

Informal expression in writing or speech

Parallelism

Similarity of structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases, or clauses.

Trope

Figurative or metaphorical language; can be a metaphor, simile, personification, and hyperbole.

Scheme

Artful variation in the arrangement of ideas or words; can be parallelism, juxtapositions, and antitheses.

Euphemism

Substitution of a mild or vague term for a harsh or blunt one

Antithesis

Contrast or opposition in writing using parallelism

Antimetabole

Repetition of a phrase or sentence in reverse order ("eat to live not live to eat. Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country")

Juxtaposition

Placing two elements side by side to emphasize comparisons and contrasts.

Anaphora

Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses ("not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need -- not as a call to battle, though embattled we are")

Asyndeton

Omission of conjunctions between parts of a sentence for effect

Polysyndeton

Several coordinating conjunctions are used in succession for effect

Deductive Reasoning

Reaching a conclusion based on multiple truths or premises, if all premises are true, then the conclusion has to be true.

Inductive Reasoning

Beginning with a conclusion and examining the premises as evidence for the likelihood of the point. If a certain thing is true, then the other things are likely true based on that thing.

Cumulative Sentence/Loose sentence

Starts with an independent clause and adds subordinate elements or modifiers. ("My summer was nice, traveling to Colorado, playing with my daughters, slaying dragons, and such")

Periodic Sentence

Main clause is at the end for emphasis (In order to do well in this class or be successful in life, you must develop your voice)

Declarative Sentence

Declares/states a fact

Hortative Sentence

Sentence that encourages action

Imperative Sentence

Gives a direct command

Inversion

A change from the subject-verb typical sentence order.

Denotation

Literal or dictionary definition of a word

Connotation

Emotional or cultural association of a word

Apostrophe

Rhetorical device addressing an absent person or object

Logos

Appeal to logic in persuasion

Ethos

Appeal to ethics or credibility in persuasion

Pathos

Appeal to emotions in persuasion

Rhetoric

Art of effective speaking or writing to persuade an audience.

Aristotelian Triangle

Relationship between speaker, audience, and subject

Refutation

Disproving an argument or counterclaim

Concession

Acknowledging a point made by the opposition

Context

Describes the circumstances surrounding the writing.

Text

Written or printed work

Purpose

Reason for writing or speaking

Persona

Role or character adopted by a writer or speaker

Counterargument

Opposing viewpoint in an argument

Occasion

Time and place a text is produced or received

Satire

Use of humor, irony, or ridicule to criticize

Allegory

Story or poem with hidden meaning

Polemic

Strong verbal or written attack. Can also be an argument that does not acknowledge other viewpoints and establishes superiority.

Irony

Expression of meaning using language that signifies the opposite

Paradox

Seemingly contradictory statement that may be true ("I know that I know nothing")

Didactic Prose

Intended to teach or instruct

Stream-of-consciousness Prose

Writing that reflects the inner thoughts of a character

Zeugma

One word applies to two words/concepts/things in two different ways--usually one literal and one more abstract/figurative use of the word. ("John and his license expired last week. You and your theory have failed.")

Propaganda

Information used to promote a particular cause (appeals to pathos)

Bias

Prejudice in favor of or against something