Rhetorical Analysis Terminology

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering key rhetorical devices, strategies, concepts, and syntactical structures for AP English Language and Composition Unit 1 Chapter 2.

Rhetoric

The art of argumentation, the art of using language effectively and persuasively, or acting on another through words.

Rhetor

Greek term for 'orator'; anyone who composes discourse that is intended to affect community thinking about events.

Rhetorical Choices

All of the moves a speaker or writer makes (both large and small) to enrich the persuasiveness and effectiveness of the text, impact the audience, and further the author's purpose.

Rhetorical Strategy

Broad and overarching rhetorical choices that govern whole sections of a text (e.g., appeals, organization), typically expressed as verbs.

Rhetorical Device

A smaller, specific rhetorical choice a writer or speaker utilizes (e.g., metaphor, alliteration), typically expressed as a noun.

Ethos

Greek for 'character'; a persuasive appeal based on the projected character, credibility, or authority of the speaker or writer.

Logos

Greek for 'embodied thought'; a persuasive appeal based on logic, including inductive and deductive reasoning, facts, statistics, cause-effect, and expert testimony.

Pathos

Greek for 'suffering' or 'experience'; a persuasive appeal to the audience's emotions through powerful words, sensory details, figurative language, or anecdotes.

Absolute Diction

Language using terms like always, never, all, none, or everyone, which makes an argument difficult to prove and should generally be avoided in favor of qualified language.

Allegory

An extended metaphor throughout a text; a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a symbolic meaning, typically a moral or political one.

Alliteration

The repetition of the same consonant sound beginning several words or syllables in sequence.

Allusion

A brief, indirect reference to a famous person, event, place (real or fictitious), or work of art (often Biblical, historical, or literary).

Ambiguity

The quality of being open to more than one interpretation.

Analogy

A comparison between two things, typically on the basis of their structure and for the purpose of explanation or clarification.

Anecdote

A brief story used to illustrate a point.

Amplification

A general term for all the ways in which an argument can be expanded, enriched, or bolstered.

Anaphora

The repetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of several successive clauses or verses.

Antithesis

The juxtaposition of contrasting ideas in balanced (parallel) phrases.

Asyndeton

The omission of conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses, or words.

Bias

Feeling or showing inclination or prejudice for or against someone or something.

Chiasmus

A verbal pattern in which the second half of an expression is balanced against the first, but with the parts reversed.

Concession

An acknowledgment that an opposing argument may be true or reasonable.

Connotation

The emotional implications or associations that a word carries beyond its literal definition.

Denotation

The literal dictionary definition of a word.

Concision

The quality of being concise, brief, or terse.

Counterargument

An opposing argument to the one a writer or speaker puts forth.

Coordinating Conjunctions

Words used to connect clauses, specifically: and, but, for, nor, or, so, yet.

Cumulative (Loose) Sentence

A sentence in which the independent clause comes first, followed by one or more dependent clauses.

Deductive Reasoning

A method of reasoning that moves from a general observation/premise to a specific conclusion.

Diatribe / Tirade

Bitter, abusive criticism or an angry speech of accusation against a person, group, organization, or idea.

Diction

Word choice made by a writer or speaker, described using specific adjectives (e.g., academic, elevated, bombastic).

Didactic

Writing or speech designed to teach a specific lesson or moral in order to provide a correct model of behavior.

Digression

Straying away from the main point under discussion.

Direct Address

Communicating directly with the audience through second-person pronouns (you, your), by name, or by group title.

Denigrate

To criticize unfairly or disparage.

Editorial 'we' (collective first person)

The use of first-person plural pronouns (we, us, our) to include the speaker in a group, often serving a unifying function.

Enumeration

Listing items or ideas in order, often by naming steps such as first, second, or third, to keep rhetoric organized.

Epiphora

Repetition of a word or phrase at the end of several successive clauses.

Euphemism

An indirect, milder, or less offensive way of stating something unpleasant.

Exhortation

Discourse that provides advice or warning to do what is proper and required.

Exigence

The situation or issue that prompts or sparks the rhetoric; the catalyst.

Flawed Assumption

An argument's incorrect assumption of information, occurring either consciously or unconsciously.

Hortative Sentence

A sentence that exhorts, urges, entreats, implores, or calls to action.

Hyperbole

Extreme exaggeration used as a figure of speech.

Imagery

Descriptive language utilizing detail that appeals to one or more of the five senses.

Inductive Reasoning

A form of reasoning that moves from specific observations to a general conclusion.

Invective

Highly critical or insulting language, or discourse that casts blame on someone or something.

Imperative Sentence

A sentence used to command, enjoin, or provide instructions, advice, or requests.

Juxtaposition

Placement of two things closely together to emphasize differences and create a contrasting effect.

Limitation

Occurs when a writer limits what is being claimed to clarify points, define conditions, and defend against counterarguments.

Line of Reasoning (LOR)

The commentary, explanation, and analysis that ties evidence back to the thesis, threading the argument together.

Metaphor

A figure of speech that compares two different things directly without using 'like' or 'as'.

Metonymy

A figure of speech using a word closely related to the term it replaces (e.g., 'crown' for 'king').

Modifier

A word or phrase (usually an adjective or adverb) that clarifies, alters, qualifies, or limits another word in a sentence.

Oxymoron

A paradoxical juxtaposition of two contradictory terms side-by-side.

Parallelism / Parallel Structure

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

Paradox

A statement that appears contradictory at first but reveals a deeper truth upon examination.

Periodic Sentence

A sentence structure in which the main point (independent clause) occurs at the end, after leading dependent clauses.

Persona

Greek for 'mask'; the face or character that a speaker shows to his or her audience.

Personification

Giving human characteristics or qualities to inanimate objects or abstract ideas.

Polemic

Greek for 'hostile'; an aggressive argument that attempts to establish the superiority of one opinion above all others.

Polysyndeton

The deliberate use of many conjunctions in quick succession, often to slow pace or build tension.

Qualifier

Words (such as probably, typically, or often) that limit an argument by framing to what extent a claim is true.

Redundancy

Needless repetition or the use of unnecessary words.

Refutation

When a rhetor anticipates an opposing argument and offers a counterargument/rebuttal to challenge its validity.

Rhetorical Question

A question posed for dramatic or persuasive effect rather than to elicit an answer.

Satire

The use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize flaws or faults in people or society.

Simile

A figure of speech that compares two different things using 'like' or 'as'.

Subordination

The process of connecting clauses together to show that one part is dependent on or less important than the main idea.

Synecdoche

A figure of speech in which a part of something is used to represent the whole.

Syntax

Sentence structure; the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences.

Symbolism

When a concrete object, character, or setting holds an abstract meaning beyond its literal sense.

Jargon

Specialized vocabulary used by people within a specific industry or field that would likely be unfamiliar to outsiders.

Testimony

An individual's account of an event or state of affairs (e.g., expert, eyewitness, or personal).

Tone

The writer's or speaker's attitude toward the subject matter.

Tricolon

A series of three parallel words, phrases, clauses, or statements written in succession.

Understatement

Deliberately making a situation seem less important or serious than it actually is.

Undermine

To lessen the effectiveness, power, or ability of someone or something; to weaken.

Verbal Irony

When what is said is the opposite of what is meant (often synonymous with sarcasm).

Patterns of Organization

Methods of arranging content in speech or writing, such as cause-effect, problem-solution, compare-contrast, or chronological order.