Deck #4 Flashcards
Definition: Rhetoric
the art of effective communication
Definition: Rhetorical Question
question not asked for information but for effect
Definition: Aristotle’s Rhetorical Triangle
the relationships in a piece of writing or a speech among the speaker/writer, the event(s) or experiences that inspired the subject (exigence), the audience, the message, the author’s purpose, and the appeals, tools, and techniques used to achieve that purpose. Context (history, environment, background information, culture) surround and influence every part of the triangle.
Example: Rhetorical Question
“Are you kidding me?”
Example: Romanticism
Frankenstein- a focus on emotion, nature, and a condemnation of the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution
Impact: Rhetorical Question
makes the audience think and engage with the topic without expecting an answer. It can emphasize a point, create curiosity, or persuade the listener.
Definition: Romanticism
art or literature characterized by an idealistic, perhaps unrealistic view of people and the world, and an emphasis on nature
Definition: Sarcasm
A generally bitter comment that is ironically or satirically worded
Example: Sarcasm
“they’re really on top of things” to describe a group of people who are very disorganized
Impact: Sarcasm
can add humor, mock, or emphasize a point. It can make communication more engaging but may also cause confusion or offense if misunderstood.
Definition: Satire
A work that reveals a critical attitude toward some element of life to a humorous effect
Impact: Satire
highlights flaws or issues in society, politics, or individuals using humor, irony, or exaggeration. It can entertain, criticize, and inspire change
Definition: Sentence
A group of words, including subject and verb, that expresses a complete thought.
Example: Satire
The Simpsons- uses satire to humorously exaggerate current trends and issues
Definition: Appositive
A word or group of words placed beside a noun or noun substitute to supplement its meaning
Impact: Appositive
adds extra information about a noun, making writing clearer and more detailed. It helps provide context or description.
Definition: Balanced sentence
A sentence in which two parallel elements are set off against each other like equal weights on a scale
Example: Appositive
“My dog, Sophie, loves eating pizza crust.”
Definition: Clause
A grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb
Example: Balanced sentence
“She loves reading books, and he enjoys writing stories.”
Impact: Balanced sentence
creates rhythm and clarity, making ideas easier to understand and more impact. It can also emphasize contrast or parallel ideas effectively.
Definition: Compound sentence
Contains at least two independent clauses but no dependent clauses.
Example: Compound sentence
“I wanted to go to the park, but it started raining.”
Example: Complex sentence
“Although it was raining, I decided to go for a run.”
Definition: Complex sentence
Contains only one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.
Definition: Cumulative sentence
When the writer begins with an independent clause, then adds subordinate elements
Example: Cumulative sentence
“The sun set behind the mountains, casting a warm glow over the valley, while the sky turned shades of pink and orange.”
Definition: Periodic sentence
When the main idea is not completed until the end of the sentence
Definition: Simple sentence
Contains only one independent clause
Example: Periodic sentence
“After hours of waiting, a bright smile appeared on her face as she received the good news.”
Example: Simple sentence
“The cat slept peacefully.”
Definition: Declarative sentence
States an idea. It does not give a command or request, nor does it ask a question
Example: Declarative sentence
“The sky is blue today.”
Definition: Imperative sentence
Issues a command
Example: Imperative sentence
“Please close the door.”
Definition: Interrogative sentence
Sentences incorporating interrogative pronouns (what, which, who, whom, and whose)
Example: Interrogative sentence
“What time does the movie start?”
Definition: Style
The choices in diction, tone, and syntax that a writer makes
Definition: Symbol
Anything that represents or stands for something else
Example: Symbol
A dove is a symbol of peace
Impact: Symbol
adds deeper meaning to a text, representing ideas, emotions, or themes beyond its literal sense. It makes writing more powerful and thought-provoking.
Definition: Syntax/sentence variety
Grammatical arrangement of words
Definition: Theme
The central idea or message of a work
Example: Theme
The Tortoise and the Hare- slow and steady wins the race, emphasizing the value of persistence and consistency over arrogance and rushing.
Definition: Thesis
The sentence or groups of sentences that directly expresses the author’s opinion, purpose, meaning, or proposition
Example: Thesis
“Exercise improves physical health and mental well-being.”
Definition: Tone
A writer’s attitude toward his subject matter revealed through diction, figurative language and organization
Example: Tone
The Hunger Games- dark and tense, reflecting the struggles and dangers the characters face in their dystopian world.
Impact: Tone
sets the mood and attitude of a piece, influencing how the audience feels and understands the message. It can make writing serious, humorous, sad, or persuasive.
Definition: Understatement
The ironic minimizing of fact, understatement presents something as less significant than it is
Example: Understatement
Winning the lottery might be a small boost to your finances
Impact: Understatement
downplays a situation, making it seem less important than it is. It can create humor, irony, or emphasize something subtly.
