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7970791462Cumulative (Loose) Sentencebegins with a main clause that is followed by phrases and/or clauses that modify the main clause. These phrases or clauses add information to the main or independent clause.0
7970791463Periodic Sentencea sentence that, by leaving the completion of its main clause to the end, produces an effect of suspense.1
7970791464Litotes/Understatementa figure of speech in which a negative statement is used to affirm a positive statement.2
7970791465Warrantexpresses the assumption necessarily shared by the speaker and the audience.3
7970791466Ethosan appeal to ethics and it is a means of convincing someone of the character or credibility of the persuader.4
7970791467Pathosan appeal to emotion, and is a way of convincing an audience of an argument by creating an emotional response.5
7970791468Logosan appeal to logic, and is a way of persuading an audience by reason.6
7970791469Concessionan acknowledgement that an opposing argument may be true or reasonable.7
7970791470SyllogismA logical structure that uses the major premise and minor premise to reach a necessary conclusion.8
7970791471Major premisecontains the term that is the predicate of the conclusion.9
7970791472Minor premisecontains the term that is the subject of the conclusion.10
7970791473Inductiona logical process wherein you reason from particulars to universal, using specific cases in order to draw a conclusion, which is also called a generalization.11
7970791474Deductiona logical process wherein you reach a conclusion by starting with a general principle or universal truth (a major premise).12
7970791475Equivocationa fallacy of argument in which a lie is given the appearance of truth, or in which the truth is misrepresented in deceptive language.13
7970791476Refutationa denial of the validity of an opposing argument.14
7970791477Dictiona speaker's choice of words. Analysis of diction looks at these choices and what they add to the speaker's message.15
7970791478Similea figure of speech used to explain or clarify an idea by comparing it explicitly to something else, using words like, as, or as though.16
7970791479Metaphorfigure of speech that compares two unlike things without using like or as.17
7970791480Anaphorathe intentional repetition of beginning clauses in order to create an artistic effect.18
7970791481Rhetoricit is the art of finding ways of persuading an audience.19
7970791482Rhetorical Trianglespeaker-subject-audience20
7970791483Allusionbrief reference to a person, event, or place (real or fictitious) to to a work of art.21
7970791484Hyperboledeliberate exaggeration used for emphasis or to produce a comic or ironic effect; an overstatement to make a point.22
7970791485Personificationattribution of a lifelike quality to an inanimate object or an idea.23
7970791486Asyndetonomission of conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses, or words.24
7970791487Polysyndetonthe deliberate use of multiple conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses or words.25
7970791488Parallelismsimilarity of structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases, or clauses.26
7970791489Antithesisopposition, or contrast or ideas or words in a parallel construction.27
7970791490Enumerationto mention separately as if in counting; name one by one; specify, as in list28
7970791491Rhetorical QuestionFigure of speech in the form of a question posed for the rhetorical effect rather than for the purpose of getting an answer. Ex.) Are you stupid?29
7970791492Chiasmusthe reversal in the order of words in two otherwise parallel phrases. Ex.) He went to the country, the country went to him.30
7970791493RebuttalIn the Toulon model, a rebuttal gives voice to possible objections.31
7970791494Fallacy of Argumenta flaw in the structure of an argument that renders its conclusion invalid or suspect.32
7970791495Bandwagon Appeala fallacy of argument in which a course of action is recommended on the grounds that everyone else is following it.33
7970791496Begging the Questiona fallacy of argument in which a claim is based on the very grounds that are in doubt or dispute.34
7970791497Anecdotea brief story used to illustrate a point or claim.35
7970791498Modes of DisclosureExposition- illustrates a point Narration- tells a story Description- creates a sensory image Argumentation- takes a position on an issue and defends it.36
7970791499Examplea specific event, person, or detail of an idea cited and/or developed to support or illustrate a thesis or topic.37
7970791500Contrast/ Comparisona method of presenting similarities and differences between or among at least two persons, places, things, ideas, etc. may be organized by: Subject by subject Point by point Combination38
7970791501Cause and Effectestablishes a relationship: B is the result of A.39
7970791502Classificationseparates items into major categories and details the characteristics of each group is placed within the category.40
7970791503Processsimply "how to" do something is done. It can have one of two purposes. It can either give instructions or inform the reader about how something is done.41
7970791504Definitionidentifies the class to which a specific term belongs and those characteristics which make it different from all the other items in that class.42
7970791505Narrationis nothing more than storytelling. There is a beginning, a middle, and an end.43
7970791506Descriptionwriting that appeals to the senses. It can be objective, which is scientific or clinical, or it can be impressionistic, which tries to involve the reader's emotions or feelings.44
7970791507Dogmatism`a fallacy of argument in which a claim is supported on the grounds that it's the only conclusion acceptable within a given community.45
7970791508False Dilemma or Dichotomya fallacy of argument in which a complicated issue is misrepresented as offering only two possible alternatives, one of which is often made to seem vastly preferable to the other.46
7970791509False authoritya fallacy of argument in which a claim is based on the expertise of someone who lacks appropriate credentials.47
7970791510Faulty causalitya fallacy of argument making the unwarranted assumption that because one event follows another, the first event causes the second. Also called post hoc, ergo propter hoc, this forms the basis of many superstitions.48
7970791511Hasty generalizationa fallacy of argument in which an inference is drawn from insufficient data.49
7970791512Non sequitora fallacy of argument in which claims, reasons, or warrants fail to connect logically; one point doesn't follow from another.50
7970791513AllegoryThe device of using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning. A story in which each aspect of the story has a symbolic meaning outside the tale itself.51
7970791514AlliterationThe repetition of sounds, especially initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words (as in "she sells sea shells").52
7970791515AllusionA direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly known, such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art.53
7970791516AmbiguityThe multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage.54
7970791517AnalogyA similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them.55
7970791518AntecedentThe word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.56
7970791519Antithesisthe opposition or contrast of ideas; the direct opposite.57
7970791520AphorismA terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or a moral principle. (If the authorship is unknown, the statement is generally considered to be a folk proverb.)58
7970791521ApostropheA prayer like figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love. It is an address to someone or something that cannot answer.59
7970791522AtmosphereThe emotional nod created by the entirety of a literary work, established partly by the setting and partly by the author's choice of objects that are described.60
7970791523Caricaturea verbal description, the purpose of which is to exaggerate or distort, for comic effect, a person's distinctive physical features or other characteristics.61
7970791524ClauseA grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb.62
7970791525Colloquial/ColloquialismThe use of slang or informalities in speech or writing.63
7970791526Literary ConceitA fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects; displays intellectual cleverness through unusual comparisons that make good sense64
7970791527ConnotationThe non-literal, associative meaning of a word; the implied, suggested meaning.65
7970791528DenotationThe strict, literal, dictionary definition of a word, devoid of any emotion, attitude, or color.66
7970791529DictionRelated to style, diction refers to the writer's word choices, especially with regard to their correctness, clearness, or effectiveness.67
7970791530DidacticFrom the Greek, didactic literally means "teaching."68
7970791531EuphemismFrom the Greek for "good speech," euphemisms are a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept - POLITICALLY CORRECT69
7970791532Extended MetaphorA metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout a work.70
7970791533Figurative LanguageWriting or speech that is not intended to carry literal meaning and is usually meant to be imaginative and vivid71
7970791534Figure of speechA device used to produce figurative language. Many compare dissimilar things. Figures of speech include apotrophe hyperbole irony metaphor oxymoron paradox personification simile syneddoche understatement72
7970791535GenreThe major category into which a literary work fits. The basic divisions of literature are prose, poetry, and drama.73
7970791536HomilyThis term literally means "sermon," but more informally, it can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice.74
7970791537HyperboleA figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement. (The literal Greek meaning is "overshoot.")75
7970791538ImageryThe sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or represent abstractions.76
7970791539Inference/inferTo draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented.77
7970791540Invectivean emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language.78
7970791541Irony/ironicThe contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant, or the difference between what appears to be and what is actually true.79
7970791542Loose sentence/non-periodic sentenceA type of sentence in which the main idea (independent clause) comes first, followed by dependent grammatical units such as phrases and clauses.80
7970791543MetaphorA figure of speech using implied comparison of seemingly unlike things or the substitution of one for the other, suggesting some similarity.81
7970791544MetonymyA figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it.82
7970791545MoodThe prevailing atmosphere or emotional aura of a work.83
7970791546NarrativeThe telling of a story or an account of an event or series of events.84
7970791547onomatopoeiaA figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words.85
7970791548OxymoronOxymoron is a figure of speech wherein the author groups apparently contradictory terms to suggest a paradox.86
7970791549ParadoxA statement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense but upon closer inspection contains some degree of truth or validity.87
7970791550Parallelismthe use of successive verbal constructions in poetry or prose that correspond in grammatical structure, sound, meter, meaning, etc.88
7970791551ParodyA work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.89
7970791552PedanticAn adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish (language that might be described as "show-offy"; using big words for the sake of using big words).90
7970791553Periodic sentenceThe opposite of loose sentence, a sentence that presents its central meaning in a main clause at the end.91
7970791554PersonificationA figure of speech in which the author presents or describes concepts, animals, or inanimate objects by endowing them with human attributes or emotions.92
7970791555Point of viewIn literature, the perspective from which a story is told.93
7970791556Prosewritten or spoken language in its ordinary form, without metrical structure.94
7970791557RepetitionThe duplication, either exact or approximate, of any element of language, such as a sound, word, phrase, clause, sentence, or grammatical pattern.95
7970791558RhetoricFrom the Greek for "orator," this term describes the principles governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively.96
7970791559SarcasmInvolves bitter, caustic language that is meant to hurt or ridicule someone or something.97
7970791560SatireA work that targets human vices and follies or social institutions and conventions for reform or ridicule.98
7970791561Subordinate clauseLike all clauses, this word group contains both a subject and a verb (plus any accompanying phrases or modifiers), but unlike the independent clause, this clause cannot stand alone; it does not express a complete thought.99
7970791562SyllogismA deductive system of formal logic that presents two premises (the first one called "major" and the second called "minor") that inevitably lead to a sound conclusion.100
7970791563Symbol/symbolismGenerally, anything that represents itself and stands for something else.101
7970791564SyntaxThe way an author chooses to join words into phrases, clauses, and sentences.102
7970791565ThemeThe central idea or message of a work, the insight it offers into life.103
7970791566ThesisThe sentence or group of sentences that directly expresses the author's opinion, purpose, meaning, or position.104
7970791567ToneDescribes the author's attitude toward his material, the audience, or both.105
7970791568TransitionA word or phrase that links different ideas. Used especially, although not exclusively, in expository and argumentative writing, effectively signal a shift from one idea to another.106
7970791569Understatementthe ironic minimalizing of fact; presents something as less significant than it is.107
7970791570Witin modern usage, intellectually amusing language that surprises and delights.108
7970791571Slippery SlopeThis is the failure to provide evidence to support a claim that one event will lead to a catastrophic chain of events.109
7970791572straw manWhen a writer argues against a claim that nobody actually holds or is universally considered weak.110
7970791573EthosAn 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.111
7970791574JuxtapositionMaking on idea more dramatic by placing it next to its opposite.112
7970791575LogosAn appeal to reason.113
7970791576PathosAn appeal to emotion.114
7970791577Rhetorical QuestionA question whose answer is assumed.115
7970791578SimileA critical figure of speech in an argument when what is unknown is compared to something that is known using the word "like," "as," or "than" in order to better perceive its importance.116
7970791579rhetorical appealthe persuasive devices by which a writer tries to sway an audience's attention and response to any given work. See logos, ethos, and pathos.117
7970791580descriptive detailWhen an essay uses this phrase, look for the writer's sensory description.118
7970791581devicesThe figures of speech, syntax, diction, and other stylistic elements that collectively produce a particular artistic effect.119
7970791582narrative devicesThis term describes the tools of the storyteller (also used in nonfiction), such as ordering events so that they build to a climactic moment or withholding information until a crucial or appropriate moment when revealing it creates a desired effect. On the essay portion of the exam, this term may also apply to biographical and autobiographical writing.120
7970791583narrative techniquesThe style of telling the "story," even if the passage is nonfiction. Concentrate on the order of events and on their detail in evaluating a writer's technique.121
7970791584Ad hominem argumentAn argument attacking an individual's character rather than his or her position on an issue122
7970791585AnaphoraFigure of repetition that occurs when the first word or set of words in one sentence, clause, or phrase is/are repeated at or very near the beginning of successive sentences, clauses, or phrases; repetition of the initial words over successive phrases or clauses123
7970791586AnecdoteA brief story that illustrates or makes a point124
7970791587Appeal to authorityA fallacy in which a speaker or writer seeks to persuade not by giving evidence but by appealing to the respect people have for a famous person or institution.125
7970791588Argumentationone of the four forms of discourse which uses logic, ethics, and emotional appeals (logos, ethos, pathos) to develop an effective means to convince the reader to think or act in a certain way.126
7970791589AssonanceRepetition of a vowel sound within two or more words in close proximity127
7970791590AsyndetonA series of words separated by commas (with no conjunction).128
7970791591toneA speaker's, author's, or character's disposition toward or opinion of a subject.129
7970791592audienceOne's listener or readership; those to whom a speech or piece of writing is addressed.130
7970791593Balanced sentenceA sentence in which words, phrases, or clauses are set off against each other to emphasize a contrast131
7970791594Begging the questionOften called circular reasoning, __ occurs when the believability of the evidence depends on the believability of the claim.132
7970791595understatement"I have to have this operation. It isn't very serious. I have this tiny little tumor on the brain." Holden Caulfield, Catcher in the Rye133
7970791596parallelism"My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." John F. Kennedy134
7970791597allusionThe rise in poverty will unlock the Pandora's box of crimes.135
7970791598hyperbole"I'll love you, dear, I'll love you/Till China and Africa meet,/And the river jumps over the mountain"136
7970791599aphorism"Having nothing, nothing can he lose."137
7970791600metonymy"Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears." Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, Act I138
7970791601invective"I cannot but conclude the bulk of your natives to be the most pernicious race of little odious vermin that nature ever suffered to crawl upon the surface of the earth." Jonathan Swift Gulliver's Travels139
7970791602antithesis"To err is human; to forgive divine." Alexander Pope "An Essay on Criticism"140
7970791603euphemism"I am one, sir, that comes to tell you your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs." William Shakespeare Othello141
7970791604periodic sentenceIn spite of heavy snow and cold temperatures, the game continued.142
7970791605paradox"Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it." -Gandhi143
7970791606alliteration"His soul swooned slowly as he heard the snow falling faintly through the universe and faintly falling, like the descent of their last end, upon all the living and the dead."144
7970791607chiasmus"he heard the snow falling faintly through the universe and faintly falling"145
7970791608oxymoron"Yet I should kill thee with much cherishing. / Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, / That I shall say good night till it be morrow."146
7970791609personification"Pearl Button swung on the little gate in front of the House of Boxes. It was the early afternoon of a sunshiny day with little winds playing hide-and-seek in it."147
7970791610onomatopoeia"He saw nothing and heard nothing but he could feel his heart pounding and then he heard the clack on stone and the leaping, dropping clicks of a small rock falling."148
7970791611inverted syntax"Patience you must have, my young padawan."149
7970791612spatial description"In my pantry, coffee, tea powder, and sugar have been kept in the top shelf. Flour, canned food, and dry pasta are on the second shelf."150
8117779930cliche (n)a worn-out idea or overused expression151
8117779931InterjectionA word thrown into a sentence or conversation152
8117779932jargon153

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