Tool Box Flashcards
Connotation
mental & emotional connection to a word
Denotation
dictionary definition
Diction
word choice
Tone
attitude (use adj to describe type)
Style
personal, unique way of communicating
Syntax
sentence structure, types, & word arrangement
Ethos
an appeal to credibility
Logos
an appeal based on logic or reason
Parallelism
repetition of grammatical elements and structure in writing and speaking
Idiom
a phrase whose meaning is different than the meanings of the individual words in the phrase
Anecdote
a short personal story to demonstrate a point / build credibility
Pathos
an appeal to emotion
Metaphor
a comparison of two things without using “like” or “as”
Simile
a comparison of two things using “like” or “as”
Allusion
a reference in a text to another a text
Malapropism
the use of an incorrect word in place of a similar sounding word
Homophone
two words that sound the same but have different meanings and different spelling
Portmanteau
a word that blends two words into one word
Kinesthesia
a type of imagery used as a poetic device that gives a feeling of natural, or physical bodily movement or action
Passive Voice
a type of clause or sentence in which an action or an object of a sentence, is emphasized rather than its subject (look for helping verbs)
Paradox
an absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition that when investigated or explained may prove to be true
Hubris
excessive pride or self-confidence
Apostrophe
an address to an absent or imaginary person
Non Sequitur
statements, saying, or conclusions that don’t follow the fundamental principles of logic and reasoning (logical fallacies)
Synesthesia
using one sense to describe another sense
Red Herring
a clue or piece of information that is or is intended to be misleading or distracting
Juxtaposition
placing two things next to each other in order to show contrast
Bildungsroman
a tale in which the main character grows from child to adult, or takes some major step in that direction
Catharsis
a release of strong negative emotions (anxiety and grief) with a moral or spiritual awakening
Verisimilitude
small details placed into a work to make it feel realistic, believable, and nuanced
Anachronism
use of anything that is out of time
Hyperbole
exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally
Foil
illustrate or reveal (often mental) information, traits, values, or motivation of one character through the comparison and contrast of another character
Euphemism
refers to a figurative language designed to replace phrasing that would otherwise be considered harsh, impolite, or unpleasant
Truism
statement that is based on self evidence or factual evidence and is accepted at the obvious truth in a way that more proof is not considered, and that a contradicting statement would be illogical
Trope
a figure of speech or genre that serves as its own category
Appositive
a noun or word that is followed by another noun or phrase
Ad Hominem
attacking a person’s personality/traits instead of their points while debating a topic
Chiasmus
two or more clauses that are balanced against each other by the reversal of their structures in order to produce an artistic effect
Oxymoron
two words placed next to each other that contradict or oppose each other
