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12180968970EnglishEnglish0
12180968971adagea proverb or wise saying commonly used (ex: Things are not always as they seem.)1
12180968972allegorya story in which people, things and happenings have a hidden or symbolic meaning.(fables, parables, apologue have meanings on two or more levels.)2
12180968973alliterationwords 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
12180968974allusiona 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
12180968975ambiguitymultiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, passage or sentence; can lead reader toward uncertainty of meaning5
12180968976analogyestablishing a relationship based on similarities between two concepts or ideas; helps convey meaning of a new idea6
12180968977anaphorathe 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
12180968978anecdoteshort 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
12180968979antecedentword, phrase, or clause that is replaced by a pronoun9
12180968980antimetabolerepetition of words in reverse grammatical order; Ex: "Fair is foul and foul is fair."10
12180968981antithesisparallel 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
12180968982apostrophespeaker talks to someone or something that is obviously not present12
12180968983appositivea renaming of a noun or noun phrase immediately after first stating the noun13
12180968984archetypeA 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
12180968985argumenta statement put forth and supported by evidence15
12180968986asyndetonauthor 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
12180968987audiencethose to whom a piece of literary work is being presented17
12180968988cacophonyTremendous noise, disharmonious sound18
12180968989characterizationActions, dialogue, and narrative description that reveal a sense of a character's personality to the reader.19
12180968990circumlocutionan 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
12180968991climaxthat point in a plot that creates the greatest intensity, suspense, or interest. Also called "turning point"21
12180968992colloquialCharacteristic of ordinary conversation rather than formal speech or writing22
12180968993concessionAn argumentative strategy by which a speaker or writer acknowledges the validity of an opponent's point.23
12180968994conceitA fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects; unusual and unlikely comparisons between two things24
12180968995connotationassociations people make with words that go beyond the literal or dictionary definition25
12180968996contextThe parts before or after a word or statement that influence its meaning26
12180968997counter argumentan argument or set of reasons put forward to oppose an idea or theory developed in another argument.27
12180968998cumulative sentencea sentence in which the main independent clause is elaborated by the successive addition of modifying clauses or phrases28
12180968999denotationDictionary definition of a word; literal meaning29
12180969000denouementan outcome or solution; the unraveling of a plot30
12180969001detailThe facts revealed by the author or speaker that support the attitude or tone in a piece of poetry or prose.31
12180969002dictionA writer's or speaker's choice of words32
12180969003elegya mournful, melancholy, or plaintive poem, especially a funeral song or a lament for the dead.33
12180969004ellipsisin a sentence, the omission of a word or words replaced by three periods ...34
12180969005epicA long narrative poem, written in heightened language, which recounts the deeds of a heroic character who embodies the values of a particular society35
12180969006ethosOne 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
12180969007euphemismFrom the Greek for "good speech," euphemisms are a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept - POLITICALLY CORRECT37
12180969008expositionBackground information presented in a literary work.38
12180969009hyperboleA 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
12180969010imageryuse 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
12180969011imperative sentencesgives a command or request; often subject is understood and sentence ends with !41
12180969012inversionA sentence in which the verb precedes the subject.42
12180969013verbal ironySarcasm; what is said is the opposite of what is meant43
12180969014juxtapositionplacing an idea next to its opposite to emphasize contrast and comparison44
12180969015logosAn 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
12180969016metaphorA figurative comparison of two unlike things without using the word like or as46
12180969017metonymy(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
12180969018moodFeeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader; using specific diction, description, setting, and characterization to create the atmosphere48
12180969019motifA recurring theme, subject or idea49
12180969020narrativea fiction, nonfiction, poetic, or dramatic story, actual or fictional, expressed orally or in text.50
12180969021non sequiturA statement that does not follow logically from evidence51
12180969022occasionthe time and place a speech is given or a piece is written52
12180969023onomatopoeiaA figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words. Ex: buzz, hiss, hum, crack, whinny, and murmur.53
12180969024organizationIn a composition, the arrangement of ideas, incidents, evidence, or details in a perceptible order in a paragraph or essay.54
12180969025oxymoronA 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
12180969026paceSpeed with which the author delivers the story controlled by language, mood, emotion played out in speech, dialogue, descriptions.56
12180969027parableA simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson57
12180969028paradoxA statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.58
12180969029parallel 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
12180969030parodyA humorous or satirical imitation of a serious piece of literature or writing60
12180969031pathosAn 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
12180969032personaAn individual's characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting.62
12180969033personificationauthor presents or describes concepts, animals, or inanimate objects by endowing them with human attributes or emotions.63
12180969034point 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
12180969035polemica controversial argument, esp. attacking a particular opinion65
12180969036propagandaA negative term for writing designed to sway opinion rather than present information.66
12180969037prosewritten or spoken language in its ordinary form, without metrical structure.67
12180969038purposeOne's intention or objective in a speech or piece of writing.68
12180969039refutationThe part of an argument wherein a speaker or writer anticipates and counters opposing points of view.69
12180969040repetitionRepeated use of sounds, words, or ideas for effect and emphasis70
12180969041rhetoricFrom the Greek for "orator," this term describes the principles governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively.71
12180969042rhetorical 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
12180969043rhetorical 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
12180969044rhetorical triangleA diagram that represents a rhetorical situation as the relationship among the speaker, the subject, and the audience ex:Aristotelian triangle74
12180969045satireA 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
12180969046simileA comparison of two things using like or as76
12180969047symbolismAn ordinary object with an extraordinary significance77
12180969048synecdocheA 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
12180969049syllogismA form of deductive reasoning consisting of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion.79
12180969050syntaxLanguage rules that govern how words can be combined to form meaningful phrases and sentences80
12180969051thesisFocus statement of an essay; premise statement upon which the point of view or discussion in the essay is based.81
12180969052toneA writer's attitude toward his or her subject matter revealed through diction, figurative language, and organization on the sentence and global levels.82
12180969053transitionA word or phrase that links one idea to the next and carries the reader from sentence to sentence, paragraph to paragraph83
12180969054voiceIn 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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