RA Terms #2

Diction: Refers to the writer's word choices, especially with regard to their correctness, clearness, or effectiveness.

Didactic: From the Greek, meaning "teaching." Didactic works have the primary aim of teaching or instructing, especially moral or ethical principles.

Euphemism: From the Greek for "good speech," euphemisms are a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept.

Exposition: One of the four chief types of composition, the purpose of exposition is to explain something.

Extended Metaphor: A metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout the work.

Figurative Language: Language that uses non-literal words or phrases to create meaning, often to simplify ideas, nuance, or make writing more engaging.

Generic Conventions: Traditions for each genre, helping to define each one.

Genre: The major category into which a literary work fits, such as prose, poetry, and drama.

Homily: This term literally means "sermon," but it can also refer to any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice.

Hyperbole: A figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement, often producing irony.

Hypophora: A figure of reasoning in which one or more questions are asked and then answered, often at length, by the same speaker.

Imagery: Sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or represent abstractions.

Inference/Infer: To draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented.

Invective: An emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language.

Irony/Ironic: The contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant.

Juxtaposition: When two words, phrases, images, ideas are placed close together or side by side for comparison or contrast.

Litotes: From the Greek word meaning "simple" or "plain," a figure of thought in which a point is affirmed by negating its opposite, often used as an understatement.

Loose Sentence: A sentence type in which the main idea (independent clause) comes first, followed by dependent grammatical units.