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14003577760Loose 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
14003577761Periodic Sentencea sentence that, by leaving the completion of its main clause to the end, produces an effect of suspense.1
14003577762Litotes/Understatementa figure of speech in which a negative statement is used to affirm a positive statement.2
14003577763Warrantexpresses the assumption necessarily shared by the speaker and the audience.3
14003577764Ethosan appeal to ethics and it is a means of convincing someone of the character or credibility of the persuader.4
14003577765Pathosan appeal to emotion, and is a way of convincing an audience of an argument by creating an emotional response.5
14003577766Logosan appeal to logic, and is a way of persuading an audience by reason.6
14003577767Concessionan acknowledgement that an opposing argument may be true or reasonable.7
14003577768SyllogismA logical structure that uses the major premise and minor premise to reach a necessary conclusion.8
14003577769Major premisecontains the term that is the predicate of the conclusion.9
14003577770Minor premisecontains the term that is the subject of the conclusion.10
14003577771Inductiona 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
14003577772Deductiona logical process wherein you reach a conclusion by starting with a general principle or universal truth (a major premise).12
14003577773Equivocationa fallacy of argument in which a lie is given the appearance of truth, or in which the truth is misrepresented in deceptive language.13
14003577774Refutationa denial of the validity of an opposing argument.14
14003577775Dictiona speaker's choice of words. Analysis of diction looks at these choices and what they add to the speaker's message.15
14003577776Similea 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
14003577777Metaphorfigure of speech that compares two unlike things without using like or as.17
14003577778Anaphorathe intentional repetition of beginning clauses in order to create an artistic effect.18
14003577779Rhetoricit is the art of finding ways of persuading an audience.19
14003577780Allusionbrief reference to a person, event, or place (real or fictitious) to to a work of art.20
14003577781Hyperboledeliberate exaggeration used for emphasis or to produce a comic or ironic effect; an overstatement to make a point.21
14003577782Personificationattribution of a lifelike quality to an inanimate object or an idea.22
14003577783Asyndetonomission of conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses, or words.23
14003577784Polysyndetonthe deliberate use of multiple conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses or words.24
14003577785Parallelismsimilarity of structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases, or clauses.25
14003577786Antithesisopposition, or contrast or ideas or words in a parallel construction.26
14003577787Enumerationto mention separately as if in counting; name one by one; specify, as in list27
14003577788Chiasmusthe reversal in the order of words in two otherwise parallel phrases. Ex.) He went to the country, the country went to him.28
14003577789RebuttalIn the Toulon model, a rebuttal gives voice to possible objections.29
14003577790Fallacy of Argumenta flaw in the structure of an argument that renders its conclusion invalid or suspect.30
14003577791Bandwagon Appeala fallacy of argument in which a course of action is recommended on the grounds that everyone else is following it.31
14003577792Begging the Questiona fallacy of argument in which a claim is based on the very grounds that are in doubt or dispute.32
14003577793Modes of DiscourseExposition- illustrates a point Narration- tells a story Description- creates a sensory image Argumentation- takes a position on an issue and defends it.33
14003577794Examplea specific event, person, or detail of an idea cited and/or developed to support or illustrate a thesis or topic.34
14003577795Contrast/ 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 Combination35
14003577796Cause and Effectestablishes a relationship: B is the result of A.36
14003577797Classificationseparates items into major categories and details the characteristics of each group is placed within the category.37
14003577798Processsimply "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.38
14003577799Definitionidentifies the class to which a specific term belongs and those characteristics which make it different from all the other items in that class.39
14003577800Narrationis nothing more than storytelling. There is a beginning, a middle, and an end.40
14003577801Descriptionwriting 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.41
14003577802False 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.42
14003577803Hasty generalizationa fallacy of argument in which an inference is drawn from insufficient data.43
14003577804Non sequitora fallacy of argument in which claims, reasons, or warrants fail to connect logically; one point doesn't follow from another.44
14003577816AllegoryThe 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.45
14003577817AlliterationThe repetition of sounds, especially initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words (as in "she sells sea shells").46
14003577818AmbiguityThe multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage.47
14003577819AnalogyA similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them.48
14003577820AntecedentThe word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.49
14003577821AphorismA 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.)50
14003577822ApostropheA 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.51
14003577823AtmosphereThe 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.52
14003577824Caricaturea verbal description, the purpose of which is to exaggerate or distort, for comic effect, a person's distinctive physical features or other characteristics.53
14003577825ClauseA grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb.54
14003577826Colloquial/ColloquialismThe use of slang or informalities in speech or writing.55
14003577827Literary 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 sense56
14003577828ConnotationThe non-literal, associative meaning of a word; the implied, suggested meaning.57
14003577829DenotationThe strict, literal, dictionary definition of a word, devoid of any emotion, attitude, or color.58
14003577830DidacticFrom the Greek, didactic literally means "teaching."59
14003577831EuphemismFrom the Greek for "good speech," euphemisms are a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept - POLITICALLY CORRECT60
14003577832Extended MetaphorA metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout a work.61
14003577833Figurative LanguageWriting or speech that is not intended to carry literal meaning and is usually meant to be imaginative and vivid62
14003577834Figure 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 understatement63
14003577835GenreThe major category into which a literary work fits. The basic divisions of literature are prose, poetry, and drama.64
14003577836HomilyThis term literally means "sermon," but more informally, it can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice.65
14003577837ImageryThe sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or represent abstractions.66
14003577838Inference/inferTo draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented.67
14003577839Invectivean emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language.68
14003577840Irony/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.69
14003577841Loose 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.70
14003577842MetaphorA figure of speech using implied comparison of seemingly unlike things or the substitution of one for the other, suggesting some similarity.71
14003577843MetonymyA figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it.72
14003577844MoodThe prevailing atmosphere or emotional aura of a work.73
14003577845NarrativeThe telling of a story or an account of an event or series of events.74
14003577846OnomatopoeiaA figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words.75
14003577847OxymoronOxymoron is a figure of speech wherein the author groups apparently contradictory terms to suggest a paradox.76
14003577848ParadoxA statement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense but upon closer inspection contains some degree of truth or validity.77
14003577849ParodyA work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.78
14003577850PedanticAn 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).79
14003577851Periodic sentenceThe opposite of loose sentence, a sentence that presents its central meaning in a main clause at the end.80
14003577852PersonificationA figure of speech in which the author presents or describes concepts, animals, or inanimate objects by endowing them with human attributes or emotions.81
14003577853Point of viewIn literature, the perspective from which a story is told.82
14003577854Prosewritten or spoken language in its ordinary form, without metrical structure.83
14003577855RepetitionThe duplication, either exact or approximate, of any element of language, such as a sound, word, phrase, clause, sentence, or grammatical pattern.84
14003577856SarcasmInvolves bitter, caustic language that is meant to hurt or ridicule someone or something.85
14003577857SatireA work that targets human vices and follies or social institutions and conventions for reform or ridicule.86
14003577858Subordinate 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.87
14003577859SyllogismA 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.88
14003577860Symbol/symbolismGenerally, anything that represents itself and stands for something else.89
14003577861SyntaxThe way an author chooses to join words into phrases, clauses, and sentences.90
14003577862ThemeThe central idea or message of a work, the insight it offers into life.91
14003577863ThesisThe sentence or group of sentences that directly expresses the author's opinion, purpose, meaning, or position.92
14003577864ToneDescribes the author's attitude toward his material, the audience, or both.93
14003577865TransitionA 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.94
14003577866Understatementthe ironic minimalizing of fact; presents something as less significant than it is.95
14003577867Witin modern usage, intellectually amusing language that surprises and delights.96
14003577868Slippery SlopeThis is the failure to provide evidence to support a claim that one event will lead to a catastrophic chain of events.97
14003577869Straw manWhen a writer argues against a claim that nobody actually holds or is universally considered weak.98
14003577870JuxtapositionMaking on idea more dramatic by placing it next to its opposite.99
14003577871Rhetorical QuestionA question whose answer is assumed.100
14003577872rhetorical 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.101
14003577873descriptive detailWhen an essay uses this phrase, look for the writer's sensory description.102
14003577874AnecdoteA brief story that illustrates or makes a point103
14003577875Appeal 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.104
14003577876Argumentationone 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.105
14003577877AssonanceRepetition of a vowel sound within two or more words in close proximity106
14003577878toneA speaker's, author's, or character's disposition toward or opinion of a subject.107
14003577879audienceOne's listener or readership; those to whom a speech or piece of writing is addressed.108
14003577880Begging the questionOften called circular reasoning, __ occurs when the believability of the evidence depends on the believability of the claim.109
14003577805understatement"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 Rye110
14003577806allusionThe rise in poverty will unlock the Pandora's box of crimes.111
14003577807hyperbole"I'll love you, dear, I'll love you/Till China and Africa meet,/And the river jumps over the mountain"112
14003577808invective"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 Travels113
14003577809antithesis"To err is human; to forgive divine." Alexander Pope "An Essay on Criticism"114
14003577810euphemism"I am one, sir, that comes to tell you your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs." William Shakespeare Othello115
14003577811paradox"Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it." -Gandhi116
14003577812alliteration"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."117
14003577813oxymoron"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."118
14003577814personification"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."119

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