Rhetoric Devices Flashcards
Ethos
Appeals to ethics/credibility
How to phrase:
Bolsters his/her credibility, presents an ethical issue, raises a moral dilemma/concern
avoid: “uses ethos”
Logos
Appeal to logic
- Facts, statistics, examples
- Causes the readers to come to a logical conclusion/deduction
How to phrase:
Logically asserts, logically conveys
avoid: “uses logic”
Pathos
Appeal to emotion
- Patriotism, fear, nostalgia, sympathy
How to phrase:
evokes a sense of, elicits a feeling of, cultivates the sense of, appeals to
avoid: “uses pathos”
Allusion
An expression designed to call something to mind without explicitly mentioning it.
“It’s raining so much we might need to build an ark”
“She was his Juliet”
Analogy
A comparison between two things, typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification.
“The solar system is like an atom, the sun is the nucleus, and the planets are like electrons”
Imagery
Using description to evoke the five senses.
“The smell of bread wafted through the air.”
Juxtaposition
Two ideas placed closely together that produce contrast or effect.
“All is fair in love and war.”
“she was wild and free”
Anaphora
Repetition at the beginning of lines.
“it was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”
Epiphora
Repetition at the end of lines.
“When I was a child, I spoke as a child.”
Hypophora
When the writer asks a question then continues to answer it.
Antithesis
When contrasting ideas are intentionally juxtaposed.
“The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.”
“We are caught in war wanting peace. We are torn by division wanting unity”
Paradox
A statement of contradiction that seems nonsensical but evokes some measure of truth.
“An apostle of non-violence has been the victim of violence.”
Oxymoron
Two words that are ordinarily contradicting placed side by side.
“It was unbelievably believable.”
“Biggie Smallz”
Invective
Abusive or negative language that attacks, insults, or denounces a person, topic, or institution.
