study for midterm -- devices 23'

Question 1

an implicit reference to something, usually to a piece of literature, religious figures, or a well-known historical event

Answer 1

allusion

Question 2

a comparison between things that have a similar function or structure, usually with the use of the words like or as

Answer 2

analogy

Question 3

the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses (groups of words with a subject and a verb)

Answer 3

anaphora

Question 4

the making of a speech or address to an absent person (a cousin who is in jail) or a thing that is personified (such as Death).

Answer 4

apostrophe

Question 5

a sentence or series of sentences in which conjunctions are omitted in a serios of words, phrases or clauses

Answer 5

asyndeton

Question 6

a short, illustrative story

Answer 6

anecdote

Question 7

an attempt to persuade the reader through an emotionally charged anecdote, description, or allusion

Answer 7

appeal to emotion (pathos)

Question 8

refers to the speaker’s character as it appears to the audience. Aristotle says that if we believe that a speaker has good sense, good moral character, and good will, we are inclined to believe what that speaker says. Today we might add that a speaker should also appear to have the appropriate expertise or authority to speak knowledgeably about the subject matter

Answer 8

appeal to ethos

Question 9

the examination of an argument in terms of its logical support (or lack thereof)

Answer 9

appeal to logic (logos)

Question 10

a rhetorical device in which words, grammatical constructions, or concepts are repeated in reverse order, in the same or a modified form

Answer 10

chiasmus

Question 11

acknowledging the validity or logic of something your opponent believes. Making a concession means you allow that they have a point about something

Answer 11

concession

Question 12

refers to the emotional, historic, and sensual (relating to the senses) associations of a word

Answer 12

connotation

Question 13

presents an opposing argument to a writer’s claim and then rebuts (responds to) it

Answer 13

counterclaim

Question 14

refers to the author’s choice of words

Do not write “the author uses diction.” State that “the author’s diction” does X instead.

Answer 14

diction

Question 15

a deliberate exaggeration

Answer 15

hyperbole

Question 16

the use of vivid sensory details to create a picture for the audience

Answer 16

imagery

Question 17

the placement of two or more things side by side

Answer 17

juxtaposition

Question 18

refers to the timeliness of an argument (opportune moment)

Answer 18

kairos

Question 19

a comparison between two different things without the use of like or as

Answer 19

metaphor

Question 20

a writer’s sentence structure or form is repeated in the same pattern over and over

Answer 20

parallelism or parallel structure

Question 21

conjunctions (e.g. and, but, or) are used repeatedly in quick succession, often with no commas, even when the conjunctions could be removed

Answer 21

polysyndeton

Question 22

an argument or evidence presented to contradict or disprove another’s reasoning or claim

Answer 22

rebuttal

Question 23

purposefully repeating a word or phrase a number of times throughout a text

Answer 23

repetition

Question 24

questions to which the speaker/writer expects no response

Answer 24

rhetorical questions

Question 25

the arrangement of words, punctuation, clauses, and phrases in a sentence. When analyzing syntax, pay attention to sentence length (is it long or short?), order of words (unexpected changes, additions, or deletions?), and punctuation (semicolons, commas, em dashes, and periods all have different effects).

Answer 25

syntax

Do not write that “the author uses syntax.” Instead, describe what you notice about the syntax of the sentence.