Rhetorical Terms Flashcards

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0
Q

Isocolon

A

A series of similarly structured elements having the same length

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1
Q

Parallelism

A

Similarity of structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases, or clauses

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2
Q

Antithesis

A

Contrasting ideas placed side by side, often using parallel structure

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3
Q

Climatic

A

The arrangement of words, phrases, or clauses in order of increasing importance

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4
Q

Anticlimactic

A

An expectation is established, then something comes along which deflates the expectation

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5
Q

Juxtaposition

A

Placement of two items (words, phrases, style items, etc.) next to each other

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6
Q

Anastrophe

A

Inversion of natural or expected word order

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7
Q

Parenthesis

A

Insertion of a verbal unit which interrupts normal syntactical flow

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8
Q

Apposition

A

Addition of an adjacent, coordinate, explanatory element

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9
Q

Polyptoton

A

Repeating the same root in different forms

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10
Q

Ellipsis

A

Omission of a word or words readily implied by context

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11
Q

Asyndeton

A

Omission of conjunctions between a series of clauses

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12
Q

Polysyndeton

A

Opposite of asyndeton- a superabundance of conjunctions

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13
Q

Assonance

A

Repetition of similar vowel sounds in the stressed syllables of adjacent words

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14
Q

Anaphora

A

Repetition if the same word or group of words at the beginning of successive clauses

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15
Q

Epistrophe

A

Repetition of the same word or group of words at the end of successive clauses

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16
Q

Anadiplosis

A

Repetition of the last word of one clause at the beginning of the following clause

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17
Q

Chiasmus

A

Repetition of grammatical structures in reverse order in successive phrases or clauses

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18
Q

Rhetorical question

A

A question for the purpose of asserting or denying something, not for an answer

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19
Q

Hypophora

A

Asking a question and immediately answering it in order to demonstrate authority

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20
Q

Epiplexis

A

Asking a question in order to reproach or upbraid, rather than elicit information

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21
Q

Rhetorical or logical fallacies

A

A category of arguments with errors in reasoning, often presented as true, misleading arguments

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22
Q

Ad hominem

A

Attacks the person, not the issue

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23
Q

Circular reasoning

A

Argument that restates or rewords rather than proves

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24
Q

Slippery slope

A

Assumes that because one thing is allowed, other, more grievous things will follow

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25
Q

Bandwagon

A

Everybody’s doing it, so therefor you should do it too

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26
Q

Oversimplification

A

A statement or argument that leaves out relevant considerations or evidence

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27
Q

Non sequitur

A

“Does not follow”- part of a statement may be true, but what follows is not true and may not even be related

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28
Q

Appeal to tradition

A

We should continue to do it this way because we’ve always done it this way

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29
Q

Inductive error

A

A conclusion based on too little or too selective evidence

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30
Q

Begging the question

A

Assumes a statement’s conclusion is true without sufficient evidence

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31
Q

Concede

A

To acknowledge and accept as true or valid

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32
Q

Refute

A

To prove wrong by argument or evidence

33
Q

Colloquialism

A

Phrases used in casual conversation, often associated with particular regions of the country

34
Q

Jargon

A

Specialized language of a profession or other group

35
Q

Neologism

A

A recently invented word or phrase

36
Q

Archaism

A

An old-fashioned word or phrase no longer used

37
Q

Synecdoche

A

A whole is represented by naming one of it’s parts

38
Q

Meiosis

A

Understatement used deliberately

39
Q

Paradox

A

A seemingly contradictory statement that contains a measure of truth

40
Q

Euphemism

A

Non threatening language that is substituted for more explicit language

41
Q

Caricature

A

An exaggeration that is often unrealistic and sometimes comical

42
Q

Apostrophe

A

Addressing an inanimate object or abstract thing as if it were human

43
Q

Anecdote

A

A personal story or example used to make a point in a larger work

44
Q

Satire

A

Using irony, derision, sarcasm, ridicule, invective, innuendo, affectation, exaggeration or wit to expose or attack human vice, foolishness, or stupidity

45
Q

Unclear pronoun references

A

When it is unclear to which subject a pronoun refers to

46
Q

Referent

A

The subject or idea to which a word or phrase refers (must identify both the referent and to what the referent refers to)

47
Q

Antecedent

A

The noun a pronoun refers to

48
Q

Loose sentence

A

Main idea comes first, followed by subordinate clauses

49
Q

Periodic sentence

A

Subordinate clauses come first, then main idea concludes the sentence

50
Q

Logos

A

Using logical evidence to support an argument- especially use of facts, data, statistics

51
Q

Ethos

A

Using the speaker’s credibility, authority, and trustworthiness to support an argument

52
Q

Pathos

A

Using emotion to support an argument (25% how the writer feels, 75% of how the writer makes the audience feel)

53
Q

Connotation

A

The implied or understood meaning, how a word is used

54
Q

Denotation

A

Dictionary definition of a word

55
Q

Metaphor

A

Reference of one thing to another, implying a comparison

56
Q

Simile

A

Explicit comparison using like or as

57
Q

Imagery

A

Words which create pictures for the reader

58
Q

Personification

A

Reference to abstractions it inanimate objects as though they had human qualities or abilities

59
Q

Shift

A

Changes within a text

-particularly tone

60
Q

Hyperbole

A

Use of exaggerated terms for emphasis or effect

61
Q

Oxymoron

A

Placing two ordinarily opposing terms directly adjacent to one another. A compressed paradox

62
Q

Onomatopoeia

A

Use of words whose sound corresponds with their semantic value

63
Q

Symbol

A

Something that represents it suggests something other than what it literally is

64
Q

Irony

A

A contrast between expectation and reality (verbal, situation, dramatic)

65
Q

Tone

A

Particular words and their specific meanings which connote an author’s attitude about his subject

66
Q

Archetype

A

An ideal form, universally understood symbol, a model of characteristics, personality, or behavior

67
Q

Allegory

A

Objects, persons, and actions in a narrative, are equated with meanings that lie outside the narrative itself

68
Q

Allusion

A

A reference in a text to a person, place, event in history, or another work of literature

69
Q

Point of view

A
1st person 
3rd person
Objective
Omniscient 
Limited omniscient
70
Q

Subject

A

Who or what performs or expresses the verb

71
Q

Verb

A

The action or state of being

72
Q

Object

A

A noun, pronoun, or noun phrase that receives or is affected by the action of a verb

73
Q

Preposition

A

Shows relationship among words in a sentence, often illustrating location, direction, amount, or manner

74
Q

Pronoun

A

Takes the place of a noun

75
Q

Adjective

A

Describes or modifies another person or thing in the sentence

76
Q

Adverb

A

Describes or modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb

77
Q

Clause

A

The basic building block of a sentence

  • independent
  • dependent
  • adjective
  • noun
78
Q

Comma

A

A punctuation mark (,) used to indicate a separation of ideas or of elements within the structure of a sentence

79
Q

Colon

A

A punctuation mark (:) used after a statement that introduces a quotation, explanation, example, or series

80
Q

Semicolon

A

A punctuation mark (;) used to connect independent clauses and suggest a closer relationship between the clauses than a period does