APL Rhetorical Terms Flashcards
Abstract
refers to language that describes concepts rather that concrete images (ideas and qualities rather than observable things, people, or places). the observable or “physical” is usually described in concrete language.
Allegory
An extended narrative in prose or verse in which characters, events, and settings represent abstract qualities and in which the writer intends a second meaning to be read beneath the surface of the story; the underlying meaning may be moral, religious, political, social, or satiric.
Anecdote
a short simple narrative of an incident; often used for humorous effect or to make a point.
Annotation
Explanatory notes added to a text to explain, cite sources, or give bibliographical ideas
Antithesis
the presentation of two contrasting images. the ideas are balanced by word, phrase, clause, or paragraphs. “to be or not to be” “ask not what your country can do for you, but what can you do for your country…”
Aphorism
a short, often witty statement of a principle or a truth about life: “Early bird gets the worm.”
Apostrophe
usually in poetry but sometimes in prose, the device of calling out an imaginary, dead, or absent person of to a place, thing, or personified absttraction
Argumentation
writing that attempts to prove the validity of a point of view or an idea by presenting reasoned arguments; persuasive writing is a form of arguementation
Cacophony
dissonance harsh, awkward, or dissonant sounds used deliberately in poetry or prose; the opposite of euphony
Caricature
descriptive writing that greatly exaggerates a specific feature of a persons appearance or a faucet of personality
Colloquialism
a word or phrase (including slang) used in everyday conversation and informal writing bu that is often inappropriate in formal writing.
concrete language
language that describes specific observable things, people, or places rather than ideas or qualities
connotation
implied or suggested meaning of a word because of its association in the readers mind.
consonance
repetition of identical consonant sounds within two or more words in close proximity, as in boost/best it can also be seen within several compound words, such as fulfill and ping-pong
conumdrum
a riddle whose answer is or involves a pun, it may also be a paradox or difficult problem
coherence; unity
quality peice of writing in which all the parts contribute to the development of the central idea, theme, or organizing principle.
deduction
the process of moving from a general rule to a specific example
denotation
literal meaning of a word as defined
description
the picture meaning in words of something or someone through detailed observation of color, motion, sound, taste, smell, and touch; one of the four modes of disciurse
diction
word choice; an element of style; diction creates tone, attitude and style, as well as meaning. different types and arrangements of words have significant effects on meaning. an essay written in academic diction would be much less colorful but perhaps more precise than street slang.
didactic
writing whose purpose is to instruct or to teach. a didactic work is usually formal and focus on moral and ethical concerns. didactic writing may be fiction or be nonfiction that teaches a specific lesson or moral or provides a model of correct behavior or thinking
discourse
spoken or written language including literary works; the four traditionally classified modes of discourse are: description, exposition, narration, and persuasion
emotional appeals - pathos
when a writer appeals to readers emotions (often through pathos) to excite and involve them in the arguement
epigraph
the use of a quotation at the beginning of a work that hints at its theme. hemingway begins the sun also rises with two epigraphs, one of them is “you are all a lost generation” by gertrude stein
