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Rhetorical devices

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8299803179EnglishEnglish0
8299803180adagea proverb or wise saying commonly used (ex: Things are not always as they seem.)1
8299803181allegorya story in which people, things and happenings have a hidden or symbolic meaning.(fables, parables, apologue have meanings on two or more levels.)2
8299803182alliterationwords used in quick succession and begin with letters belonging to the same sound group; a repetition of similar sounds/letters in the sentence. (Wicked witch of the west went her own way.)3
8299803183allusiona passing reference to a commonly-known historical, cultural, religious, literary, or mythical person, place, event, or work of art, whereby the reader must make the connection within the current text.4
8299803184ambiguitymultiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, passage or sentence; can lead reader toward uncertainty of meaning5
8299803185analogyestablishing a relationship based on similarities between two concepts or ideas; helps convey meaning of a new idea6
8299803186anaphorathe deliberate repetition of the first part of the sentence in order to achieve an artistic effect; most commonly found in the Bible (O Lord,.for I am weak.O Lord, heal me. O Lord, have mercy on me.)7
8299803187anecdoteshort and interesting story or an amusing event often proposed to support or demonstrate some point and make readers and listeners laugh; Anecdotes can include an extensive range of tales and stories8
8299803188antecedentword, phrase, or clause that is replaced by a pronoun9
8299803189antimetabolerepetition of words in reverse grammatical order; Ex: "Fair is foul and foul is fair."10
8299803190antithesisparallel structures of the contrasted phrases or clauses, i.e. the structures of phrases and clauses are similar in order to draw the attention of the listeners or readers; Ex: "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."11
8299803191apostrophespeaker talks to someone or something that is obviously not present12
8299803192appositivea renaming of a noun or noun phrase immediately after first stating the noun13
8299803193archetypeA detail, image, or character type that occurs frequently in literature and myth and is thought to appeal in a universal way to the unconscious and to evoke a response14
8299803194argumenta statement put forth and supported by evidence15
8299803195asyndetonauthor purposely leaves out conjunctions in the sentence, while maintaining the grammatical accuracy of the phrase; shortening the statement for greater impact; "Reduce, reuse, recycle."16
8299803196audiencethose to whom a piece of literary work is being presented17
8299803197cacophonyTremendous noise, disharmonious sound18
8299803198characterizationActions, dialogue, and narrative description that reveal a sense of a character's personality to the reader.19
8299803199circumlocutionan indirect or wordy way of expressing an idea which leaves the reader perplexed; exaggeratedly long and complex sentences in order to convey a meaning that could have otherwise been conveyed through a shorter, much simpler sentence20
8299803200climaxthat point in a plot that creates the greatest intensity, suspense, or interest. Also called "turning point"21
8299803201colloquialCharacteristic of ordinary conversation rather than formal speech or writing22
8299803202concessionAn argumentative strategy by which a speaker or writer acknowledges the validity of an opponent's point.23
8299803203conceitA fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects; unusual and unlikely comparisons between two things24
8299803204connotationassociations people make with words that go beyond the literal or dictionary definition25
8299803205contextThe parts before or after a word or statement that influence its meaning26
8299803206counter argumentan argument or set of reasons put forward to oppose an idea or theory developed in another argument.27
8299803207cumulative sentencea sentence in which the main independent clause is elaborated by the successive addition of modifying clauses or phrases28
8299803208denotationDictionary definition of a word; literal meaning29
8299803209denouementan outcome or solution; the unraveling of a plot30
8299803210detailThe facts revealed by the author or speaker that support the attitude or tone in a piece of poetry or prose.31
8299803211dictionA writer's or speaker's choice of words32
8299803212elegya mournful, melancholy, or plaintive poem, especially a funeral song or a lament for the dead.33
8299803213ellipsisin a sentence, the omission of a word or words replaced by three periods ...34
8299803214epicA long narrative poem, written in heightened language, which recounts the deeds of a heroic character who embodies the values of a particular society35
8299803215ethosOne of the fundamental strategies of argumentation identified by Aristotle. Ethos is basically an appeal to credibility. The writer is seeking to convince you that he or she has the background, history, skills, and/or expertise to speak on the issue.36
8299803216euphemismFrom the Greek for "good speech," euphemisms are a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept - POLITICALLY CORRECT37
8299803217expositionBackground information presented in a literary work.38
8299803218hyperboleA figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement. (The literal Greek meaning is "overshoot.") Hyperboles often have a comic effect; however, a serious effect is also possible. Often, hyperbole produces irony.39
8299803219imageryuse of words and phrases to create "mental images" for the reader; helps the reader visualize more realistically the author's writings through the usage of metaphors, allusions, descriptive words and similes40
8299803220imperative sentencesgives a command or request; often subject is understood and sentence ends with !41
8299803221inversionA sentence in which the verb precedes the subject.42
8299803222verbal ironySarcasm; what is said is the opposite of what is meant43
8299803223juxtapositionplacing an idea next to its opposite to emphasize contrast and comparison44
8299803224logosAn appeal to reason. Logos is one of the fundamental strategies of argumentation identified by Aristotle. It occurs when a writer tries to convince you of the logic of his argument. writers may use inductive argumentation or deductive argumentation, but they clearly have examples and generally rational tome to their language. The problem with logos is that is can appear reasonable until you dissect the argument and then find fallacies that defeat the viability of the argument on the reader's eyes. Of course, that presupposes that the readers is able to identify the fallacies.45
8299803225metaphorA figurative comparison of two unlike things without using the word like or as46
8299803226metonymy(mĕtŏn′ ĭmē) A term from the Greek meaning "changed label" or "substitute name," metonymy is a figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it. For example, a news release that claims "the White House declared" rather than "the President declared" is using metonymy; Shakespeare uses it to signify the male and female sexes in As You Like It: "doublet and hose ought to show itself courageous to petticoat." The substituted term generally carries a more potent emotional impact.47
8299803227moodFeeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader; using specific diction, description, setting, and characterization to create the atmosphere48
8299803228motifA recurring theme, subject or idea49
8299803229narrativea fiction, nonfiction, poetic, or dramatic story, actual or fictional, expressed orally or in text.50
8299803230non sequiturA statement that does not follow logically from evidence51
8299803231occasionthe time and place a speech is given or a piece is written52
8299803232onomatopoeiaA figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words. Ex: buzz, hiss, hum, crack, whinny, and murmur.53
8299803233organizationIn a composition, the arrangement of ideas, incidents, evidence, or details in a perceptible order in a paragraph or essay.54
8299803234oxymoronA figure of speech consisting of two apparently contradictory terms; The richest literary oxymora(paradoxes) seem to reveal a deeper truth through their contradictions. Ex: "without laws, we can have no freedom." Shakespeare's Julius Caesar also makes use of a famous oxymoron: "Cowards die many times before their deaths"55
8299803235paceSpeed with which the author delivers the story controlled by language, mood, emotion played out in speech, dialogue, descriptions.56
8299803236parableA simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson57
8299803237paradoxA statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.58
8299803238parallel structurerepetition of the same pattern of words or phrases within a sentence or passage to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance.59
8299803239parodyA humorous or satirical imitation of a serious piece of literature or writing60
8299803240pathosAn appeal to emotion. This is one of the fundamental strategies of argumentation identified by Aristotle. Typically, pathos arguments may use loaded words to make you feel guilty, lonely, worried, insecure, or confused.61
8299803241personaAn individual's characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting.62
8299803242personificationauthor presents or describes concepts, animals, or inanimate objects by endowing them with human attributes or emotions.63
8299803243point of viewPerspective from which a story is told; omniscient point of view= the person telling the story or narrator knows everything that's going on in the story; first- person point of view the narrator is a character in the story; limited third-person point of view the narrator is outside the story- like an omniscient narrator- but tells the story from the vantage point of one character."64
8299803244polemica controversial argument, esp. attacking a particular opinion65
8299803245propagandaA negative term for writing designed to sway opinion rather than present information.66
8299803246prosewritten or spoken language in its ordinary form, without metrical structure.67
8299803247purposeOne's intention or objective in a speech or piece of writing.68
8299803248refutationThe part of an argument wherein a speaker or writer anticipates and counters opposing points of view.69
8299803249repetitionRepeated use of sounds, words, or ideas for effect and emphasis70
8299803250rhetoricFrom the Greek for "orator," this term describes the principles governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively.71
8299803251rhetorical appealsRhetorical techniques used to persuade an audience by emphasizing what they find most important or compelling. The three major appeals are to ethos (character), logos (reason), and pathos (emotion).72
8299803252rhetorical questionA question whose answer is assumed; a rhetorical question is designed to force the reader to respond in a predetermined manner and to propel an argument emotionally.73
8299803253rhetorical triangleA diagram that represents a rhetorical situation as the relationship among the speaker, the subject, and the audience ex:Aristotelian triangle74
8299803254satireA work that reveals a critical attitude toward some element of human behavior by portraying it in an extreme way. It doesn't simply abuse (as in invective) or get personal (as in sarcasm). It targets groups or large concepts rather than individuals.75
8299803255simileA comparison of two things using like or as76
8299803256symbolismAn ordinary object with an extraordinary significance77
8299803257synecdocheA figure of speech in which a part is used for the whole (as hand for sailor), the whole for a part (as the law for police officer), the specific for the general (as cutthroat for assassin), the general for the specific (as thief for pickpocket), or the material for the thing made from it (as steel for sword).78
8299803258syllogismA form of deductive reasoning consisting of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion.79
8299803259syntaxLanguage rules that govern how words can be combined to form meaningful phrases and sentences80
8299803260thesisFocus statement of an essay; premise statement upon which the point of view or discussion in the essay is based.81
8299803261toneA writer's attitude toward his or her subject matter revealed through diction, figurative language, and organization on the sentence and global levels.82
8299803262transitionA word or phrase that links one idea to the next and carries the reader from sentence to sentence, paragraph to paragraph83
8299803263voiceIn grammar, a term for the relationship between a verb and a noun (active or passive voice). In rhetoric, a distinctive quality in the style and tone of writing.84

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