Stillson’s Terms

Question 1

Alliteration

Answer 1

Using words with the same first letter repeatedly close together in a phrase or sentence

Question 2

Allusion

Answer 2

Making a brief reference to the cultural canon -e.g. The Bible, Shakespeare, classical mythology, etc.

Question 3

Analogy

Answer 3

Explaining something complex by comparing it to something simple

Question 4

Anecdote

Answer 4

Offering a brief narrative episode. This device conserved many functions in a text-for example, introducing an issue, serving as evidence, to illustrate a point, and so on

Question 5

Antithesis

Answer 5

The rhetorical contrast of ideas; a contrast or opposition between two things

Question 6

Argument

Answer 6

The combination of reasons, evidence, etc. that an author uses to convince an audience of their position

Question 7

Aristolian Appeals

Answer 7

Ethos
Logos
Pathos

Question 8

Attitude

Answer 8

The writer’s personal views or feelings about the subject at hand

Question 9

Audience

Answer 9

Who is the author is directing his or her message towards

Question 10

Compare & Contrast

Answer 10

Discussing the similarities and differences between two things to some persuasive or illustrative purpose

Question 11

Concession

Answer 11

Agreeing with the opposing viewpoint on a certain smaller point (but not in the larger argument)

Question 12

Connotation

Answer 12

The implied meaning of a word; words can broadly have positive, negative, or neutral connotations

Question 13

Context

Answer 13

The extra-textual environment in which the text is being delivered

Question 14

Counterargument

Answer 14

The argument(s) against the author’s position

Question 15

Deductive Reasoning

Answer 15

A form of logical reasoning wherein a general principle is applied to a specific case