English Rhetoric Techniques and Principles

Logos

Persuading through rationality (data, stats). The logical clarity of a text’s content, no bias just facts and expertise

Ethos

Persuading through an appeal from the author’s character as revealed by the text (credibility, trust of the author)

Pathos

Persuading by appealing to the audience’s beliefs, values, emotions

Telos

Purpose/goal/end. All rhetoric must have a purpose, goal or a reason. What does the author want from it? What does the audience want from it?

Kairos

Timing, the moment in the time for something. Persuasion at the right moment in which when, where and why something is said matters. Seize the moment/take advantage of the time or make your own opportunity.

Chronos

Sequential time. Progression of time that’s chronological. If Chronos is the beat, Kairos is the beat drop. If Chronos is the game clock, Kairos is the shot clock.

Mesodiplosis

Meso meaning middle—Repeated phrases in the middle of the sentence/phrase/clause

Paronomasia

The use of words similar in sound to achieve a certain effect, such as humor or double meaning.

Independent Clause

A complete sentence with a noun and verb that can stand on its own

Dependent Clause

A complete sentence with a noun and verb that cannot stand on its own

Simple Sentence

One independent clause with modifying phrase(s)

Compound Sentence

Two independent clause with modifying phrase(s)

Complex Sentence

One independent clause and at least one dependent clause with modifying phrase(s)

Compound Complex Sentence

At least 2 independent clauses, one or more dependent clauses, with more modifying phrases(s)

Effective Fragment

Dependent clauses and phrases (fragments) punctuated as a sentence (but a bunch used sequentially would be most effective).

Natural Order

Traditionally Arranged Sentence where the agent (the noun carrying out the verb) comes before the verb

Inverted Order

When the main verb comes before the agent (the noun carrying out the verb)

Periodic Sentence

When the sentence’s main idea is not completed until the very end, which creates suspense. Writers front-load subordinate elements and postpone the main clause.

Cumulative Sentence

When the main clause comes at the very beginning of a sentence, which then leads to various subordinate elements added on for description and detail.

Balanced Sentence

When a sentence is composed of two (or more) parts roughly equal in length, importance, and grammatical structure.

Declarative

Makes a statement

Imperative

Issues a command

Interrogative

Asks a question

Exclamatory

Emphasizes an emotion

Anaphora

The repetition of a word or group of words at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, or sentences.

Epistrophe

The repetition of a word or group of words at the end of successive phrases, clauses, or sentences.

Symploce

Same word/phrase at the beginning of clauses/sentences while simultaneously repeating a different word/phrase at the end of the clauses/sentences

Anadiplosis

The last word at the end of a clause being the first word at the beginning of the next clause

Epanalepsis

The word/phrase at the beginning of the sentence being repeated at the end of the same sentence

Diaphora

Repetition of a common name to designate an individual and then to emphasize the qualities associated with that person’s name or title (ie. “Boys will be boys” or “the president is not the president when he compromises his morals”)

Balance

When the parallel elements are similar in structure (ie all infinitive verbs). The effect is one of equilibrium, and symmetry

Antithesis

When the parallel elements are similar in structure, but seek to contrast one thing from another (ie “better to reign in hell than serve in heaven”).

Chiasmus

Chi meaning criss-cross. When there is a reversal, in words and/or structure, in the second of two parallel clauses (ie “fair is foul, and foul is fair”).

Ellipsis

Because parallelism establishes a pattern upon which the audience can rely on, ellipsis allows for omitting sentence elements out for the sake of pacing or eloquence.

Asyndeton

Omits a conjunction between related words, phrases, or clauses.

Polysendeton

Excessive conjunctions that could usually be omitted between related words, phrases, or clauses.

Paralipsis

Stating that one will not mention a topic but in doing so, brings more attention in an ironic effect.

Zeugma

A figure of speech (usually verb or a adjective) that applies to more than one word (a noun). Usually the nouns are two very different things but the common figure of speech creates a blend of two logically and grammatically different ideas. (ie “You held you breath and the door for me”).