rhetorical terms Flashcards
anecdote
A brief recounting of a relevant episode. Anecdotes are often inserted into fictional or non fictional texts as a way of developing a point or injecting humor.
understatement
The ironic minimizing of fact, understatement presents something as less significant than it is. The effect can frequently be humorous. “Our defense played valiantly, and held the other team to merely eight touchdowns in the first quarter.”
syntax
Grammatical arrangement of words. This is perhaps one of the most difficult concepts to master. First, a reader should examine the length of sentences (short or long). How does sentence length and structure relate to tone and meaning. Are they simple, compound, compound-complex sentences? How do they relate to one another? Syntax is the grouping of words, while diction refers to the selection of individual words.
paradox
A seemingly contradictory situation which is actually true.“You can’t get a job without experience, and you can’t get experience without getting a job.”
diction
Word choice, particularly as an element of style. Different types of words have significant effects on meaning.
connotation (diction)
Rather than the dictionary definition (denotation), the associations suggested by a word. Implied meaning rather than literal meaning. (For example, “policeman,” “cop,” and “The Man” all denote the same literal meaning of police officer, but each has a different connotation.)
colloquial (diction)
Ordinary or familiar type of conversation. A “colloquialism” is a common or familiar type of saying, similar to an adage or an aphorism.
denotation (diction)
The literal, explicit meaning of a word, without its connotations.
jargon (diction)
The diction used by a group which practices a similar profession or activity. Lawyers speak using particular jargon, as do soccer players.
vernacular
- Language or dialect of a particular country. 2. Language or dialect of a regional clan or group. 3. Plain everyday speech
antithesis
Two opposite or contrasting words, phrases, or clauses, or even ideas, with parallel structure. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”
parallelism
Sentence construction which places equal grammatical constructions near each other, or repeats identical grammatical patterns. Parallelism is used to add emphasis, organization, or sometimes pacing to writing. “Cinderella swept the floor, dusted the mantle, and beat the rugs.”
tone
A writer’s attitude toward his subject matter revealed through diction, figurative language and organization. To identify tone, consider how the piece would sound if read aloud (or how the author wanted it to sound aloud). Tone can be: playful, serious, businesslike, sarcastic, humorous, formal, somber, etc.
metonymy
Replacing an actual word or idea, with a related word or concept. “Relations between London and Washington have been strained,” does not literally mean relations between the two cities, but between the leaders of The United States and England. Metonymy is often used with body parts: “I could not understand his tongue,” means his language or his speech.
synecdoche
A kind of metonymy when a whole is represented by naming one of its parts, or vice versa. “The cattle rancher owned 500 head.” “Check out my new wheels.”
anaphora
Repetition of a word, phrase, or clause at the beginning of two or more sentences or clauses in a row. This is a deliberate form of repetition and helps make the writer’s point more coherent. “I came, I saw, I conquered.”
antecedent
The word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun. The AP language exam occasionally asks for the antecedent of a given pronoun in a long, complex sentence or in a group of sentences. “If I could command the wealth of all the world by lifting my finger, I would not pay such a price for it.” An AP question might read: “What is the antecedent for “it”?
analogy
An analogy is a comparison of one pair of variables to a parallel set of variables. When a writer uses an analogy, he or she argues that the relationship between the first pair of variables is the same as the relationship between the second pair of variables. “America is to the world as the hippo is to the jungle.” Similes and metaphors are sometimes also analogies.
polysyndeton
When a writer creates a list of items which are all separated by conjunctions. Normally, a conjunction is used only before the last item in a list. Examples of polysyndeton: “I walked the dog, and fed the cat, and milked the cows.” “Or if a soul touch any unclean thing, whether it be a carcass of an unclean beast, or a carcass of unclean cattle, or the carcass of unclean creeping things…he also shall be unclean.” Polysyndeton is often used to slow down the pace of the writing and/or add an authoritative tone.
euphemism
A more agreeable or less offensive substitute for generally unpleasant words or concepts. Sometimes they are used for political correctness. “Physically challenged,” in place of “crippled.” Sometimes a euphemism is used to exaggerate correctness to add humor. “Vertically challenged” in place of “short.”
inductive
An argument in which it is thought that the premises provide reasons supporting the probable truth of the conclusion. In an inductive argument, the premises are intended only to be so strong that, if they are true, then it is unlikely that the conclusion is false. (also see deductive argument)
deductive
An argument in which it is thought that the premises provide a guarantee of the truth of the conclusion. In a deductive argument, the premises are intended to provide support for the conclusion that is so strong that, if the premises are true, it would be impossible for the conclusion to be false
juxtaposition
Placing things side by side for the purposes of comparison. Authors often use juxtaposition of ideas or examples in order to make a point.(For example, an author my juxtapose the average day of a typical American with that of someone in the third world in order to make a point of social commentary).
