APL Rhetorical Terms Flashcards
Abstract
Refers to language that describes concepts rather than observable or specific things, people, or places.
Allegory
An extended narrative in prose of verse in which characters events and settings represent abstract qualities that are intended to be read “between the lines”.
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 data
Anthesis
The presentation of two contrasting images. The ideas are balanced by word, phrase, clause or paragraph.
Aphorism
A short often witty statement of a principle or a truth about life.
Aostrophe
Usually in poetry but sometimes in prose; the device of calling out to an imaginary, dead, or absent person or to a place, thing, or personified abstraction.
Argumentation
Writing that attempts to prove the validity of a point of view or an idea by pressing reasoned arguments.
Cacophony
Harsh, awkward, or dissonant sounds usually used in poetry or prose.
Caricature
Descriptive writing that greatly exaggerates a specific feature of a person’s appearance or a facet of personality.
Colloquialism
A word or phrase used in everyday conversation and informal writing but that is often inappropriate in formal writing
Coherence
Quality of a piece of writing in which all the parts contribute to the development of the central ides, theme, or organizing principle.
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 sounds within two or more words in close proximit, as in boost, best; it can also be seen in several compound words, such as fulfill and ping-pong.
Conundrum
A riddle whose answer is or involves a pun; it maybe a paradox or difficult problem.
Deduction
The process of moving from general rule to a specific example.
Denotation
Literal meaning of a word as defined
Description
The picturing in words of something or someone through detailed observation of color, motion, sounds, taste, smell, and touch.
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.
Didactic
Writing whose purpose is to instruct or to teach. A didactic work is usually formal and focuses on moral or ethical concerns. Didactic writing may be fiction or non fiction that teaches a certain lesson or moral or provides a model or 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 Appeal/Pathos
When a writer appeals to readers’ emotion to excite and involve them in the argument.
Epigraph
The use of a quotation at the beginning of a work that hints at its theme.
Ethical Appeal/Ethos
When a writer ties to persuade the audience to respect and believe him or her based on a presentation of image of self through the text.
Euphemism
A more acceptable and usually more pleasant way of saying something that might be inappropriate or uncomfortable. Euphemisms are also used to obscure the reality of a situation.
Euphony
A succession of harmonious sounds used in poetry or prose; the opposite of cacophony.
Example
An individual instance taken to be representative of a general pattern.
Explication
The art of interpreting or discovering the meaning of a text. Explication usually involves close reading and special attention to figurative language.
Exposition
The immediate revelation to the audience of the setting and other background information necessary for understanding the plot.
Generalization
When a writer bases a claim upon an isolated example or asserts that a claim is certain rather than probable. Sweeping generalizations occur when a writer asserts that a claim applies to all instances within instead of some.
Genre
A type of literary work, such as a novel or poem: there are also sub genres, such as science fiction or sonnet, within the larger genres.
Humor
Anything that causes laughter or amusement; up until the end of the renaissance, humor meant a persons temperament.
Hyperbole
Deliberate exaggeration in order to create humor or emphasis.
Image
A word or words, either figurative or literal, used to describe a sensory experience or an object perceived by the sense.
Imagery
Words or phrases that use a collection of images to appeal to one or more of the five senses in order to create a mental picture.
Induction
The process that from a given series of specifics to a generalization.
Inference
A conclusion one can draw from presented data.
Invective
A verbally abusive attack.
Inversion
Reversing the customary; subject first, then verb, then complement order of elements in a sentence or phrase; it is used effectively in many cases, such as posing a question.
Jargon
Technical speak usually used by an expert in a certain profession or field of study.
Logos
appeal to the logical side of an argument.
Lyrical
song like, characterized emotional, subjectivity, and imagination
Mode
the method used to form a literary work
Mood
the tone of a piece of writing
