Terms for MCQ and Essay Questions Flashcards
Allusion
A reference to something which is presumably commonly known, such as an event, book, or historical event. (referring to Hitler)
Antecedent
A word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun. Ex: Alice (antecedent) is smart. She (pronoun) likes English.
Antithesis
Balancing contrasting ideas or meanings of phrases/clauses, emphasized by parallel syntax
Apostrophe
A figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person/personified abstraction, such as liberty or love, that cannot respond
Colloquial/colloquialism
The use of slang or informalities in speech or writing
Euphemism
More agreeable/less offensive substitutes for a generally unpleasant word or concept.
Loose sentence
A type of sentence in which the main idea (independent clause) comes first, followed by dependent grammatical units such as pheases and clauses. If a period were placed at the end of the independent clause it’s still a complete sentence.
Parallelism
AKA parallel structure; it refers to the grammatical or rhetorical framing of words to give structural similarity
Periodic sentence
A sentence that presents its central meaning in a main clause at the end.
Prose
The ordinary language people use in speaking or writing, typically in fiction and nonfiction
Rhetorical modes
Major kinds of writing: Exposition, Argumentation, Description, Narration
Syllogism
A deductive system of formal logic that represents two premises (major and minor) that lead to a sound conclusion. Major is broader, while minor is specific and related to the broader concept.
