Rhetorical Devices (35) Flashcards
Ad Homminem
-A rhetorical device that involves commenting on or against the individual making an argument rather than on the argument itself.
-Focusing your statement on attacking and bringing down a person rather than their argument
Allusion
An indirect reference to a certain culture idea or work that is used to alter tone or understanding within a passage
Anaphora
The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences
Repeating a word or phrase at the beginning of clause
Anecdote
-A quick story about something that is interesting, usually with a theme or person
-A short amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person
Aphorism
A statement or observation that is real but can also be taken in a figurative way
Asyndeton
-One or several conjunctions are deliberately omitted a series of related clauses
-Coordinating conjunction such as and or but for etc are not used in a sentences in order to add more emphasis
Climax
A figure of speech in words, phrases, or clauses are arranged in order of increasing importance
Putting words or phrases in order from least to most important
Colloquilism
A word or phrase that you would use in a normal conversation with friends but never trying to be formal.
Concession
Referencing an opposing view in your own writing. It helps your argument showing that you considered an opposing view to your own
Contingency
a future event or circumstance which is possible but cannot be predicted with certainty.
Connotation
-The feeling or emotions evoked from the chosen diction
Ethos
- represents credibility or an ethical appeal
-When a person establishes trust knowledge morals characters to persuade
Forced Teaming
When the author utilizes ethos which makes or forces the readers into thinking they are a team. It build credibility and it persuades them into their beliefs.
Hyperbole
-Exaggerated statements or claims not to be taken literally
-Dramatic overstatement
Imagery
A piece of literature or speech that paints an image in an audience’s mind using descriptive language to portray differences
Implied Metaphor (1)
Metaphor (2)
(1)Comparing two things without coming out and saying it directly
(2)Comparing two things without using like or as
Juxtaposition
-The idea of placing two things together so we can see the contrast between them
-Structure of having two things and arranging the to one another to highlight the differences
Logos
-Any content in an argument that is meant to appeal to logic
-Use of logic or facts to agree with the audience/speaker
Parallelism
The use of consecutive verbal constructions which correspond in grammatical structure and sound
Personification
A figure of speech where the author shows and or expresses concept animals or inanimate objects endowing them with human attributes and emotions
Polysyndeton
A conjunction that happens a lot in one sentence to join thoughts together
Pun
A joke based on the interplay of homophones
Euphemism
A mild or indirect word, subsidies for one considered to be hard
Rhetorical Question
A question asked in order to create a dramatic effect or to make a point rather than make it a question
Rule of 3
-A writing principle that suggests that a trio of events or characters is more memorable, humorous, satisfying, or effective than other numbers
-Three items, events, or words grouped together are more memorable and effective to an audience
Satire
The use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule in order to expose and criticize people’s stupidity or vices
-Making fun of something’s flaws in a funny or exaggerated way.
Syntax
-The grammatical arrangement of words in a sentence in order to make an idea stand out
-The length of a sentence
-The chosen punctuation of a sentence
Tone
the way an author/speaker expresses his/her emotions to the reader.
Double Bind
when a speaker gives the audience two choices that meet the same outcome regardless of the alternative chosen, your desired objective is met
Irony
-Which words are used in such a way that their intended meaning is different from the actual meaning of the words. It may also be a situation.
-Opposite of what is meant is said
Pathos
Other common emotional feelings happiness sadness guilt excitement from audience
Understatement
-A way to intentionally decrease the severity of a situation.
-A figure of speech that authors use to make a situation intentionally seem less important than it really is.
Rapport
The speaker making a good relation or connection between the author and the reader to make the speaker seem more reliable and trustworthy
Absolutes
Extreme language that leaves no room for debate, used to make a point seem more confident (“best”, “all”, “worst,” never, always, none, all)
Analogy
a comparison between two things, typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification
