Rhetorical Terms Quiz 1

alliteration

the repetition of one or more initial consonant sounds in a group of words or line in a poem

asyndeton

the omission of the conjunctions that ordinarily join coordinate words or clauses

compare and contrast

a mode of discourse in which two or more things are compared and contrasted. Comparison often refers to similarities, contrast to differences

complex sentence

an independent clause plus one or more dependent clauses

compound sentence

two or more independent clauses joined by a conjunction

compound-complex sentence

occurs when a single sentence has at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent/ subordinate

connotaion

the suggested or implied meaning of a word or definition

denotation

the dictionary definition of a word

diction

the use of words in oral and written discourse

didactic

having an instructive purpose; intending to convey information or teach a lesson, sometimes in a dry, pompous manner

exigence

-a case or situation that demands prompt action or remedy

-in rhetoric, refers to the impetus or problem that evokes a response. The exigence prompts a writer or speaker to address the situation, its the spark that ignites the need for the writer/ speaker to address the situation

genre

describe literary forms, such as a novel, play, or essay

imagery

an image is a word or phrase representing that which can be seen, touched, tasted, smelled, or felt; imagery is the use of images in writing

juxtaposition

a stylistic choice whereby a writer places two ideas/ images close together or side by side, especially for comparison or contrast

metaphor

a figure of speech that compares unlike objects. When several characteristics of the same subject are compared, the device is called an extended metaphor. A metaphor referring to a particular, person, place or thing is called a metaphorical allusion

rhetoric

the language of a work and its style; words; often highly emotional, used to convince or sway an audience

rhetorical mode/ method of development

a general term that identifies a distinct pattern of writing used to achieve a specific purpose

pattern or argument

examples include cause and effect, chronological, question and answer

rhetorical situation

the exigence, purpose, audience, writer/ speaker, context, and message of a work of writing

sentence structure

the arrangements of the parts of a sentence

similie

a figurative comparison using words like, as , or, or than

simple sentence

one subject and one verb

tone

the author’s attitude towards the subject being written about. The tone is the characteristic emotion that pervades a work or part of a work—the spirit or quality of that is the work’s emotional essence

transition

a stylistic device used to create a link between ideas. Transitions often endow discourse with continuity and coherence