Rhetorical Features Flashcards
Part-to-whole
Whole is assumed to be like individual parts only larger
Extrapolation
Areas beyond the area of focus are assumed to be like the focused-on area
Prediction
Future is assumed to be like the past
Syllogism
Form of deductive reasoning with a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion
Ex: All the players on the soccer team are “A” students. Patrick is a player on the soccer team. Patrick is an “A” student.
Simple Sentence
Independent clause containing subject and verb
Compound Sentence
Sentence formed by joining two independent clauses using a coordinating conjunction, a semicolon, or a conjunctive verb
Complex Sentence
Sentence made up of an independent clause and one or more dependent clauses joined by subordinating conjunction
Compound-Complex Sentence
Sentence formed from two to more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses joined by one of a variety of conjunctions and punctuation marks.
Coordinating Conjunction
(And, but, or, nor, for, yet, so) joins two simple sentences or independent clauses. If the clauses are closely related, they may be joined with a semicolon.
Ex: I took a chemistry class last summer but I hated it.
Conjunctive Adverb
(Indeed, moreover, consequently, however, therefore, nonetheless) join independent clauses
Ex: I hope to have a career as a chemist someday, therefore I will need to study.
Subordinating Conjunction
(As, as if, before, because, although, if, since, when, whenever, unless, until, while) join an independent and a dependent clause
Ex: Before I went downstairs, I brushed my teeth.
Clausal Modifier
Acts like an adjective or adverb in the structure of a sentence
Ex:
Adjective clause: No one could identify the man who shouted from the opposite rooftop.
Adverb clause: After the game went into extra innings, the crowd began to buzz with anticipation.
Phrasal Modifier
Also functions as adjectives or adverbs in a sentence
Ex:
Prepositional phrase as adjective: Hailstones began falling, threatening the windshield of her new truck .
Appositive
Noun or noun phrase that renames another noun nearby
Ex: Patrick, the Staples employee, is sad.
Participle
Two of the principal parts that every verb has (past, present)
Ex:
Participle as an adjective: A sighing wind added to the chastened mood of the afternoon.
Gerund
Present participle employed as a noun
Ex: Winning requires dedication.
Our family loves camping in the summertime.
Verbal Phrase
composed of a verbal (a verb that also functions as another part of speech) and all of its modifiers and objects
Can be a participle phrase, a gerund phrase, or an infinitive phrase
Absolute Phrase
A word group that modifies an entire sentence and consists of a noun + at least one other word
Concrete Subjects
Specific individuals or objects as opposed to generalized people or things
Expletives
Two indefinite pronouns (it and there) that often are used as subjects in a vague or weakly constructed sentence.
Transitional Words or Phrases
Transitions between ideas
Similarity of Addition Transitions
Comparatively, coupled with, correspondingly, identically, likewise, moreover, similarly, in the same way, together with
Contrast Transitions
Conversely, instead, on the contrary, rather, yet, but, however, still, nevertheless, in contrast
Consequence
As a result, consequently, for this reason, hence, so then, subsequently, therefore, thus, thereupon, wherefore
Example
Chiefly, especially, for instance, particularly, in particular, including, such as, specifically
Exception
Aside from, barring, beside, except, excluding, exclusive of, other than, outside of, save
Generalizing
As a rule, usually, ordinarily, for the most part
Sequence
At first, first of all, to begin with, in the first place, at the same time, for now, for the time being, the next step, in turn, later on, meanwhile, next, then, soon, later, while, earlier, simultaneously, afterward, in conclusion
Summarizing
All in all, all things considered, after all, briefly, by and large, in any case, in any event, in conclusion, on the whole, in short, in summary, in the final analysis, in the long run, on balance, to sum up, to summarize, finally
Common Noun
Word that names a person, place, thing, or idea
Proper Noun
Names a particular place, person, or thing (capitalized)
Pronoun
A word (he, it, they, somebody) used in place of a noun that identifies people, places, things, or ideas without renaming them
Antecedent
the noun that a pronoun replaces
Verb
A word that expresses action (action verbs) or state of being (linking/helping verbs)
Ex: Action- The girl kicked the ball.
Linking- Herman was late for class.
Helping- Patrick is cooking lunch for us today.
Adjective
A word that modifies a noun or pronoun and answers questions as What kind? What one? How many?
Adverb
A word that modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb and answers questions as How? When? Where? How often? To what extent?
Preposition
Word that expresses a relationship between a noun or pronoun and another word in the sentence
Conjunction
Word that connects words or groups of words
Infinitive
Phrase made up of the word to and the base form of a verb (to love, to decide). It can function as an adjective, adverb, or noun.
Interjection
A word or phrase that generally expresses strong emotion, such as surprise or delight.
Ex: Incredible!
Subject
Noun or pronoun that is partnered with an action verb or being verb
Predicate
Verb that expresses the subject’s action or state of being
Direct Object
Noun or pronoun that follows a verb and answers the question Whom? or What?
Indirect Object
Noun or pronoun that follows a verb and answers the question To whom? or for What?
Phrase
A group of related words that does not have a subject and predicate pair and does not express a complete thought, such as a prepositional phrase or a verbal phrase
Clause
Group of related words that contains a subject and predicate
Independent clause- expresses a complete thought
Dependent clause- does not
Conjunctions for Compounding Sentence Elements
The coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, and nor) join subjects, predicates, adjectives, adverbs, prepositional phrases, and dependent clauses within a process called compounding
Declarative Sentence
Makes a statement and ends with a period
Interrogative Sentence
Asks a question and ends with a question mark
Exclamatory Sentence
Expresses strong emotion and often ends with an exclamation point
Imperative Sentence
Gives an order or makes a request
Parallel Structure
Sentence elements that are alike in function should also be alike in construction
Clear Pronoun Reference
Each pronoun in a sentence refers clearly and unmistakably to one particular noun
Ex: While getting the dish out of the washer, Patrick broke it. (unclear = bad)
Appropriate Verb Tense
Writer indicates whether the action occurred in the past, present, or future and stays consistent with the appropriate verb tense
Subject/verb Agreement
Subject and verb must agree in number
Pronoun Agreement
A pronoun agrees in person, number, and gender with its antecedent
Idiom
Phrase that mean something different than the meaning of the individual words would indicate
Ex: Turned a blind eye
Bear down
Intonation
Stress places on different words in a sentence depending on its meaning
