Rhetorical Terms Flashcards
Ad hominem
“To the man” or “against the man”
Fallacy in which a writer personally attacks his or her opponents instead of their arguments.
Abstract language
Language describing ideas and qualities rather than the observable or specific things, people, or places. Opposite of concrete language.
Allegory
A story, fictional or nonfictional, in which characters, things, and events represent qualities or concepts. The interaction of these characters, things, and events is meant to reveal an abstraction or a truth. The characters and other elements may be symbolic of the ideas referred to.
Alliteration
The repetition of initial identical consonant sounds. Or, vowel sounds in successive words or syllables that repeat.
Allusion
An indirect reference to something (usually a literary text) with which the reader is supposed to be familiar. Allusion is often used with humorous intent, to establish a connection between writer and reader, or to make a subtle point.
Ambiguity
An event or situation that may be interpreted in more than one way. Also, the manner if expression if such an event may be ambiguous. Artful language may be ambiguous. Unintentional ambiguity is usually vagueness.
Analogy.
A comparison to a directly parallel case. When a writer uses an analogy, he or she argues that a claim reasonable for one case is reasonable for the analogous case.
Anaphora
Repetition of a word, phrase, or clause at the beginning of two or more sentences in a row. This is a deliberate form of repetition and his make the writer’s point more coherent
Anecdote
A brief recounting if a relevant episode. Anecdotes are oft inserted into fictional or nonfictional texts as a way of developing points or interjecting humor.
Annotation
Explanatory notes added to a text to explain, cite sources, or give bibliographical data.
Antithesis
A balancing of two opposite or contrasting words, phrases, or clauses.
Assonance
Repetition of a vowel sound within two or more words in close proximity.
Asyndeton
Commas used (with no conjunction) to separate a series of words. The parts are emphasized equally when the conjunction is omitted; in addition, the use of commas with no intervention conjunction speeds up the flow of the sentence. (X, Y, Z. Instead of X, Y, and Z.)
Authority
Arguments that draw on recognized experts or persons with highly relevant experience are said to rest on authoritative backing or authority. Traders are expected to accept claims if they are in agreement with an authority’s view.
Backing
Support or evidence for the claim in an argument.
Balance
Construction in which both halves of the sentence are about the same length and importance.
Begging the question
Often called circular reasoning
Occurs when the believability of the evidence depends on the believability of the claim.
Causal relationship
A writer asserts that one thing results from another. To show how one thing produces or brings about another is often relevant in establishing a logical argument.
Chiasmus
Arrangement of repeated thoughts in g pattern of X Y Y X. Often short and summarizes a main idea.
Ex: never let a fool kiss you or a kiss fool you.
Common knowledge
Shared beliefs or assumptions
A writer may argue that if something is widely believed, then readers should accept it.
Concrete language
Language that describes specific l, observable things, people or places, rather than ideas or qualities.
Connotation
Rather than the dictionary definition, the associations suggested by a word. Implied meaning rather than literal meaning or detonation.
Consonance
Repetition of a consonant sound within two or more words in close proximity.
Conventional
Following certain conventions, or traditional techniques of writing. An over-reliance on conventions may result in lack of originality. The five paragraph theme is considered conventional.
Cumulative
Sentence which begins with the main idea and then expands on that idea with a series of details or other particulars.
Deconstruction
A critical approach that debunks single definitions of meaning based on the instability of language. The deconstruction re-examines literary conventions in light of belief that deconstruction “is not a dismantling of the structure of a text, but a demonstration that it has already dismantled itself.”
Diction
Word choice, particularly as an element of style
Didactic
A term used to describe fiction or nonfiction that teaches a specific lesson or moral or provides a model of correct behavior or thinking.
Dramatic irony
When the reader is aware of an inconsistency between a fictional or nonfictional character’s perception of a situation and the truth of that situation
Either-or reasoning
Fallacy in which the writer reduces an argument or issue to two polar opposites and ignores any other alternatives.
Elliptical
Sentence structure which leaves out something in the second half. Usually, there is a subject-verb-object combination in the first half of the sentence, and the second half if the sentence will repeat the structure but omit the verb and use a comma to indicate the ellipted material.
Emotional appeal
When a writer appeals to readers emotions (often through pathos) to excite and involve them in the argument.
Epigraph
A quotation or aphorism at the beginning of a literary work suggestive of theme.
Equivocation
When a writer uses the same term in two different senses in an argument.
