Literacy Devices

Question 1

Rhetoric

Answer 1

is the method of persuasion that originated in ancient Greek and Roman oration, and is still used today in politics, advertising or any medium intended to sway an audience.

Simply put, rhetoric is the art of effective speaking or writing for the purpose of persuasion.

Question 2

Tone

Answer 2

the author’s attitude toward the essay’s topic (serious, anger, ironic, regretful etc.) In addition, the author will appeal to the reader’s reasoning, emotion and/or ethical views:

Question 3

Irony and Satire

Answer 3

the use of words to express the opposite of what one really means or to mock something so as to demonstrate an underlying truth.

Question 4

logos

Answer 4

Appeal to reason: Animals should not be used for experimentation because the alternative use of tissue cultures is far less expensive.

Logos appeals to the audience’s reason, building up logical arguments

Question 5

Pathos

Answer 5

Appeal to emotion: How can anyone accept the thoughtless cruelty with which animals are treated in experimentation?
We must keep “evil” out of our country!

Pathos appeals to the emotions, trying to make the audience feel angry or sympathetic, for example.

Question 6

Ethos

Answer 6

Appeal to ethics: Although I am a scientist, I believe as most of you do, that animals should not simply be deemed disposable in mankind’s pursuit of knowledge at any expense.

Ethos appeals to the speaker’s status or authority, making the audience more likely to trust them.

Question 7

Plain Folks

Answer 7

An appeal to the lowest common denominator: This helps persuade the audience that they can understand something so complex or grandiose; giving the everyday person a sense of empowerment:
“You don’t have to go to university to know….”
“You don’t have to be a rocket scientist….”

Question 8

Allusion

Answer 8

a reference to a well known person, place, event, literary work.
They were just, as the song says, “Long time passing”.

Question 9

Analogy

Answer 9

an extended comparison between two things.
“Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and a few to be chewed and digested.” (Francis Bacon)
“Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you are going to get.” (Forrest Gump)

Question 10

Euphemism

Answer 10

changing the name of something to make it sound more acceptable/better. In a sense, it is like “sugar-coating” something.
An ‘alternative’ fact = a lie
In between jobs = unemployed

Question 11

Figurative language

Answer 11

Similes, metaphors, and personification are used to create an image in the reader’s mind. However, some writers use poetic devices as rhetorical devices to help persuade the reader/audience.

The whirlwinds of the revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges. (Martin Luther King Jr.)

Question 12

Hyperbole

Answer 12

exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.

Question 13

Paradox

Answer 13

a deeper contradiction consisting of two contrasting statements, that in reality have some truth to them (often written using complete sentences).
In order to have peace, we must prepare for war.

Question 14

Parallel Structure (Parallelism)

Answer 14

repetition of specific words, phrases, or clauses in a series, giving emphasis to keywords
“Government of the people, by the people, for the people.” (Abraham Lincoln)

Question 15

Repetition

Answer 15

when used sparingly for effect, repetition can reinforce the writer’s message and/or entertain the reader. Writers may repeat a word, a phrase or an entire sentence for emphasis.
“I have a dream” (Martin Luther King Jr.)
“Make America Great Again” (Donald Trump)

Question 16

Anaphora

Answer 16

the repetition of a phrase at the beginning of consecutive sentences.
“We shall fight in the trenches. We shall fight on the oceans. We shall fight in the sky.” (Winston Churchill)

Question 17

Sentence Fragment

Answer 17

places emphasis on key words to create an overall effect.

Question 18

Rhetorical Question

Answer 18

asking a question that requires no answer.

Question 19

Metaphor

Answer 19

A figure of speech that makes an implied or hidden comparison between two things that are unrelated but share some common characteristics (the opposite of “literal”).
 EXAMPLES:
  “Cause baby you’re a firework”
            or
     “He is such a pig”

Question 20

Simile:

Answer 20

A direct comparison using “LIKE” or “AS”
EXAMPLES:
“She was as sly as a fox”
“That knife is as sharp as a razor”

Question 21

Personification

Answer 21

Giving human characteristics to something in-human (Ex: objects, animals)

Examples:
The wind howled in the night.
The cactus saluted those who drove past.
The tree shook with joy.

Question 22

Dramatic irony

Answer 22

when the audience knows more than the characters

Question 23

Verbal irony

Answer 23

when the speaker says something but it means something else

Question 24

Situational irony

Answer 24

when the opposite of what we expect to happen, happens

Question 25

Alliteration

Answer 25

Alliteration is when two or more words that start with the same sound are used repeatedly in a phrase or a sentence