Terms : Hide Images
| 7219334317 | diction | The choice and use of words (Chapters 37-39). | 0 | |
| 7219334318 | connotation | An association called up by a word, beyond its dictionary definition (510). | 1 | |
| 7219334848 | point of view | The perspective or attitude of the narrator or speaker in a work of literature (724). | 2 | |
| 7219334849 | formal language | A level of usage achieved through word choice and sentence structure. More formal writing, as in academic papers and business reports, avoids attributes of speech and tends to rely on longer and more complicated sentences (141-143, 500-01). | 3 | |
| 7219341376 | informal language | A level of usage achieved through word choice and sentence structure. Informal language, as in a letter to an acquaintance or a personal essay, resembles some speech in its colloquial language, contractions, and short, fairly simple sentences (141-143, 500-01). | 4 | |
| 7219376829 | colloquial language | The words and expressions of everyday speech. Colloquial language can enliven informal writing but is generally inappropriate in formal academic or business writing (501). | 5 | |
| 7219382754 | slang | Expressions used by the members of a group to create bonds and sometimes exclude others. Most slang is too vague, short-lived, and narrowly understood to be used in any but very informal writing (500-501). | 6 | |
| 7219443364 | jargon | The specialized language of any group, such as doctors or baseball players. Jargon is vague, pretentious, wordy, and ultimately unclear writing such as found in some academic, business, and government publications (502). | 7 | |
| 7219463400 | bathos | The effect resulting from the unsuccessful effort to achieve dignity or sublimity of style; an unintentional anticlimax. | 8 | |
| 7219478084 | concrete language | Concrete words refer to objects, persons, places, or conditions that can be perceived with the senses (833). | 9 | |
| 7222376932 | figurative language | Expressions that suggest meanings different from their literal meanings in order to achieve special effects (515-17) | 10 | |
| 7222916043 | syntax | In sentences, the grammatical relations among words and the ways those relations are indicated. | 11 | |
| 7222920692 | antecedent | The word to which a pronoun refers (319-23). | 12 | |
| 7222922591 | alliteration | The repetition of initial identical consonant sounds or any vowel sounds in successive or closely associated syllables, especially stressed syllables. | 13 | |
| 7222930057 | assonance | The patterning of vowel sounds without regard to consonants. | 14 | |
| 7222943141 | parallelism | Similarity of grammatical from between two or more coordinated elements (Chapter 25). | 15 | |
| 7222946233 | catalog | A list of people, things or attributes. | 16 | |
| 7222952269 | ellipsis | The omission of a word or short phrase easily understood in context (265). | 17 | |
| 7222970975 | inversion | A reversal of the usual word order in a sentence, as when a verb precedes its subject or an object precedes its verb. | 18 | |
| 7223133759 | periodic sentence | A suspenseful sentence in which modifiers precede the main clause, which falls at the end (384-85). | 19 | |
| 7223136662 | cumulative sentence | A sentence in which modifiers follow the subject and verb (385). | 20 | |
| 7223138800 | repetition | Reiteration of a word, sound, phrase, or idea. | 21 | |
| 7223143746 | anaphora | One of the devices of repetition, in which the same expression (word or words) is repeated at the beginning of two or more lines, clauses, or sentences. | 22 | |
| 7223153669 | clause | A group of related words containing a subject and a predicate (263). | 23 | |
| 7287102484 | Independent Clause | A main clause that can stand by itself (466-68). | 24 | |
| 7287124990 | Dependent Clause | A subordinate (dependent) clause serves as a single part of speech and so cannot stand by itself as a sentence (466-68). | 25 | |
| 7287138449 | Simple Sentence | A simple sentence contains one main clause (272-73). | 26 | |
| 7287145014 | Compound Sentence | A compound sentence consists of two or more main clauses and no subordinate clause (272-73). | 27 | |
| 7287160244 | Complex Sentence | A complex sentence contains one main clause and one or more subordinate clauses )272-73). | 28 | |
| 7287165510 | Compound-Complex Sentence | A compound-complex sentence has the characteristics of both the compound sentence and the complex sentence (272-73). | 29 | |
| 7287170368 | Antithesis | Juxtaposition of contrasting words or ideas (often, although not always, in parallel structure). | 30 | |
| 7342870520 | antimetabole | Repetition of words, in successive clauses, in reverse grammatical order. | 31 | |
| 7342889837 | polysyndeton | Employing many conjunctions between clauses, often slowing the tempo or rhythm. | 32 | |
| 7342892033 | asyndeton | The omission of conjunctions between clauses, often resulting in a hurried rhythm or vehement effect. | 33 | |
| 7342896565 | zeugma | A general term describing when one part of speech (most often the main verb, but sometimes a noun) governs two or more other parts of a sentence (often in a series). | 34 | |
| 7342946792 | metaphor | A comparison made by referring to one thing as another. | 35 | |
| 7343224682 | simile | An explicit comparison, often (but not necessarily) employing "like" or "as." | 36 | |
| 7343228224 | metonymy | Reference to something or someone by naming one of its attributes. | 37 | |
| 7343303486 | synecdoche | A whole is represented by naming one of its parts or vice versa. | 38 | |
| 7343260280 | personification | Reference to abstractions or inanimate objects as though they had human qualities or abilities. | 39 | |
| 7343265185 | hyperbole | Rhetorical exaggeration. Hyperbole is often accomplished via comparisons, similes, and metaphors. | 40 | |
| 7343271752 | onomatopoeia | Using or inventing a word whose sound imitates that which it names (the union of phonetics and semantics). | 41 | |
| 7343273476 | litotes | Deliberate understatement, especially when expressing a thought by denying its opposite. | 42 | |
| 7343276045 | irony | Speaking in such a way as to imply the contrary of what one says, often for the purpose of derision, mockery, or jest. | 43 | |
| 7344480356 | satire | A genre of comedy that is directed at ridiculing human foibles and vices, such as vanity, hypocrisy, stupidity, and greed. It differs from pure comedy in that the aim is not simply to evoke laughter, but to expose and censure faults, often with the aim of correcting them. | 44 | |
| 7343278206 | sarcasm | A caustic and bitter expression of strong disapproval. Sarcasm is personal, jeering, intended to hurt. | 45 | |
| 7343284534 | oxymoron | Placing two ordinarily opposing terms adjacent to one another. A compressed paradox. | 46 | |
| 7343287488 | allusion | A passing reference in a work of literature to another literary or historical work, figure, or event, or to a literary passage. The reference is not explained, so that it can convey the flattering presumption that the reader shares the writer's erudition and inside knowledge. | 47 | |
| 7343290278 | anecdote | A short narrative detailing particulars of an interesting event or episode. | 48 | |
| 7344485266 | logos | An appeal to reason. Writers may use inductive or deductive argumentation, but they clearly have examples and generally rational tone to their language. | 49 | |
| 7507453658 | ethos | A speaker's demonstration that they are credible and trustworthy to speak on a given topic. | 50 | |
| 7507453659 | pathos | An appeal to emotions, values, desires, and hopes, on the one hand, or fears and prejudices, on the other. | 51 | |
| 7507453660 | cogent | An argument that is clear, logical, and convincing. | 52 | |
| 7507456083 | argument | A process of reasoned inquiry. A persuasive discourse resulting in a coherent and considered movement from a claim to a conclusion. | 53 | |
| 7507456084 | logical fallacy | Potential vulnerabilities or weaknesses in an argument. They often arise from a failure to make a logical connection between the claim and the evidence used to support it. | 54 | |
| 7507459619 | ad hominem | Fallacy of relevance. This fallacy refers to the specific diversion | 55 | |
| 7507459620 | straw man | Fallacy of accuracy. A fallacy that occurs when a speaker chooses a deliberately poor or oversimplified example in order to ridicule and refute an idea. | 56 | |
| 7507462315 | bandwagon appeal | This fallacy occurs when evidence boils down to "everybody's doing it, so it must be a good thing to do." | 57 | |
| 7507462316 | begging the question | A fallacy in which a claim is based on evidence or support that is in doubt. It "begs" a question whether the support itself is sound. | 58 | |
| 7507467600 | hasty generalization | Fallacy of insufficiency. A fallacy in which a faulty conclusion is reached because of inadequate evidence. | 59 | |
| 7507471326 | false dilemma | Fallacy of accuracy. A fallacy in which the speaker presents two extreme options as the only possible choices. | 60 | |
| 7507479846 | non sequitur | Any argument that does not follow from the previous statements. | 61 | |
| 7507479847 | red herring | Fallacy of relevance. This fallacy occurs when a speaker skips to a new and irrelevant topic in order to avoid the topic (Language 99). | 62 | |
| 7507479848 | slippery slope | Also called the camel's nose. The speaker argues that, once the first step is undertaken, a second or third step will inevitably follow, much like the way one step on a slippery incline will cause a person to fall and slide all the way to the bottom. | 63 | |
| 7507482644 | concession | An acknowledgement that an opposing argument may be true or reasonable. In a strong argument, a concession is usually accompanied by a refutation challenging the validity of the opposing argument (Language 1164). | 64 | |
| 7507482645 | counterargument | An opposing argument to the one a writer is putting forward. Rather than ignoring a counterargument, a strong writer will usually address it through the process of concession and refutation (Language 1167). | 65 | |
| 7507486082 | deductive reasoning | This type of conclusion works from general principles or universal truths (a major premise) and applying it to a specific case (a minor premise). Deductive reasoning is often structured as a syllogism (Language 118). | 66 | |
| 7507486083 | inductive reasoning | The arranging of an argument so that it leads from particulars to universals, using specific cases to draw a conclusion (Language 115). | 67 | |
| 7507491408 | Rogerian Argument | An argument based on the assumption that having a full understanding of an opposing position is essential to responding to it persuasively and refuting it in a way that is accommodating rather than alienating (Language 1176). | 68 | |
| 7507491409 | tone | A speaker's attitude toward the subject conveyed by the speaker's stylistic and rhetorical choices. | 69 | |
| 7670409298 | mood | The feeling or atmosphere created by a text. | 70 | |
| 7670409299 | persona | Greek for "mask." The face or character that a speaker shows to his or her audience. | 71 | |
| 7670412073 | anachronism | Assignment of something to a time when it was not in existence. | 72 | |
| 7670412074 | aphorism | A concise statement of a principle or a precept given in pointed words. | 73 | |
| 7670415338 | aposiopesis | Breaking off suddenly in the middle of speaking, usually to portray being overcome with emotion. | 74 | |
| 7670415339 | apostrophe | Turning one's speech from one audience to another. Most often, apostrophe occurs when one addresses oneself to an abstraction, to an inanimate object, or to the absent. | 75 | |
| 7670417835 | euphemism | A device in which indirectness replaces the directness of a statement, usually in an effort to avoid offensiveness. | 76 | |
| 7670417836 | juxtaposition | Placement of two things closely together to emphasize similarities or differences. | 77 | |
| 7670420808 | prose | In its broadest sense the term is applied to all forms of written or spoken expression not having a regular rhythmic pattern. | 78 | |
| 7670420809 | verse | A unit of poetry, in which case it has the same significance as stanza or line; and as a name given generally to metrical composition. | 79 | |
| 7733771762 | declarative | A sentence that makes a statement. | 80 | |
| 7733771763 | interrogative | A sentence that asks a question. | 81 | |
| 7733775328 | imperative | A sentence that issues a request or command. | 82 | |
| 7733775329 | exclamatory | A sentence that makes exclamations. | 83 | |
| 7733780199 | verisimilitude | the quality of being true or real | 84 | |
| 7733782697 | didactic | speech or writing that is didactic is intended to teach people a moral lesson | 85 | |
| 7733782698 | invective | rude and insulting words that someone says when they are very angry | 86 | |
| 7733782699 | pedantic | paying too much attention to rules or to small unimportant details | 87 | |
| 7733785751 | grotesque | A term used to describe physical, spiritual, or moral deformity in a work of satire. | 88 | |
| 7733785752 | inquisitive | interested in a lot of different things and wanting to find out more about them | 89 | |
| 7733800899 | irreverent | someone who does not show respect for organizations, customs, beliefs etc that most other people respect - often used to show approval | 90 | |
| 7733785753 | sanguine | happy and hopeful about the future | 91 | |
| 7733788717 | melancholy | a feeling of sadness for no particular reason | 92 | |
| 7733788718 | sardonic | grimly mocking or cynical | 93 | |
| 7733788719 | nostalgic | looking back on a time in the past, and remembering it in a happy way, and in some ways wishing that things had not changed | 94 | |
| 7733791808 | respectful | feeling or showing respect | 95 | |
| 7733791809 | sympathetic | willing to give approval and support to an aim or plan | 96 | |
| 7733791810 | clinical | considering only the facts and not influenced by personal feelings | 97 | |
| 7733808426 | emphatic | expressing an opinion, idea etc in a clear, strong way to show its importance | 98 | |
| 7733808427 | cynical | unwilling to believe that people have good, honest, or sincere reasons for doing something | 99 |
