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6151673749Ad Hominem argumentA fallacy of argument in which a writer's claim is answered by irrelevant attacks on his or her character.0
6151678247AnaphoraA type 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 word(s) over successive phrases or clauses.1
6151689950AnalogyAn extended comparison between something unfamiliar and something more familiar for the purpose of illuminating or dramatizing the unfamiliar.2
6151702007AnecdoteA brief story used to make a point.3
6151724504AntecedentA noun, often a proper noun, that is replaced by a pronoun.4
6151729985AntithesisThe opposition or contrast of ideas.5
6151731963AphorismA short saying expressing a general truth.6
6151734258ApostropheA digression in the form of an address to someone not present, or to a personified object or idea.7
6151738379Appealspatriotic, money, safety, bandwagon, tradition, honor, science, authority, God/ religion, statistics, history, values, novelty, worst fears.8
6151745831ArgumentThe use of evidence and reason to discover some version of the truth.9
6151750888Assertion(See Claim) Claim: A controversial statement that asserts a belief or truth.10
6151757112AudienceThe person(s) to whom a written or spoken work is directed11
6151761216Bandwagon AppealA fallacy of argument in which a course of action is recommended on the grounds that everyone else is following it.12
6151765967Begging the questionA fallacy of argument in which a claim is based on the very grounds that are in doubt or dispute.13
6151772253Characterize/ CharacterizationTo attribute or mark with a certain characteristic; to describe or portray the character of a person, idea, etc. in a certain light.14
6151779681ClaimA controversial statement that asserts a belief or truth.15
6151784297ClicheA familiar word or phrase which has been used so much that it is no longer a good, effective way of saying something, as in "sharp as a tack" or "fresh as a daisy."16
6151796918Colloquial/colloquialismThe use of slang or informalities in speech or writing. Not generally acceptable for formal writing, colloquialisms give a work a conversational, familiar tone.17
6151807781ConnotationThe suggestions or associations that surround most words and extend beyond their literal meaning, creating effects of association.18
6151813087ContextThe entire situation in which a piece of writing takes place, including the writer's purpose for writing, intended audience, time, place, and influences.19
6151819688CounterargumentAn opposing argument.20
6151821959Deductive ReasoningA process of thought in which general principles are applied to particular cases.21
6151828267DenotationThe strict, literal, dictionary definition of a word, devoid of any emotion, attitude, or color.22
6151832724DictionThe author's word choice.23
6151835524DogmatismA fallacy of argument in which a claim is supported on the grounds that it's the only conclusion acceptable within a given community.24
6151841207Either-or choiceA 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.25
6151849748EmpiricalEmpirical evidence or data is information acquired by observation or experimentation.26
6151854131EquivocationA fallacy of argument in which a lie is given the appearance of truth, or in which the truth is misrepresented in deceptive language.27
6151862780Ethos, appeal based onAn attempt by the writer or speaker to prove themselves a credible authority on the subject to the reader or listener in order to convince an audience to accept a claim.28
6151867453EuphemismThe substitution of a mild, indirect, or vague expression for one thought to be offensive, harsh, or blunt.29
6151873206ExhortationLanguage intended to incite and encourage.30
6151876063ExposeA report of the facts about something, especially a journalistic report that reveals something scandalous.31
6151881436Extended metaphorA metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout a work.32
6151887007Fallacy of argumentA flaw in the structure of an argument that renders its conclusion invalid or suspect.33
6151892964Faulty analogyA fallacy of argument in which a comparison between two objects or concepts is inaccurate.34
6151896115Faulty causalityA fallacy of argument making the unwarranted assumption that because one event follows another, the first event causes the other.35
6151904574Figurative languageWriting or speech that is not intended to carry literal meaning and is usually meant to be imaginative and vivid.36
6151907814Hasty generalizationA fallacy of argument in which an inference is drawn from insufficient data.37
6151911533HyperboleUse of overstatement/ exaggeration for effect on the listener or reader.38
6151915478ImageryDescriptive writing appealing to one of the five senses, such as how something looks, smells, feels, sounds, or tastes.39
6151920226Inductive reasoningA process of thought in which particular cases lead to general principles.40
6151924412Inference/ inferTo draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented.41
6151930325InvectiveSpeech that may be directed toward an individual, cause, idea, or system that attacks or denounces it.42
6151933592InversionA reversal in order or form.43
6151935382IronyUse of language that suggests a meaning opposite of the literal meaning of the words.44
6151938168Jargon1) The language, especially the vocabulary, specific to a particular trade, profession, or group. 2) Language characterized by uncommon or pretentious vocabulary, often vague in meaning.45
6151950793Juxtaposition/ JuxtaposeTo place close together or side by side, especially for comparison or contrast.46
6151953576Logos, appeal toLogical appeal.47
6151955355MetaphorA figure of speech that makes a comparison without using like or as.48
6151958091MoodThe prevailing atmosphere or emotional aura of a work.49
6151961532NarrativeThe telling of a story or an account of an event or series of events.50
6151964520Non sequiturA fallacy of argument in which claims, reasons, or warrants fail to connect logically.51
6151969179ObjectiveNot influenced by personal feelings or prejudice; based on facts; unbiased.52
6151973917OxymoronA paradox made up of two seemingly contradictory words.53
6151981236ParallelismFigure of balance identified by a similarity in the syntactical structure of a set of words in successive phrases, clauses, sentences; successive words, phrases, clauses with the same or very similar grammatical structure.54
6151989312Pathos, appeal toEmotional appeal.55
6151993825Personal EssayA subcategory of the essay, characterized by intimacy, the "personal element," humor, graceful style, rambling structure, unconventionality or novelty of theme, and incomplete treatment of topic.56
6152003726PersonificationA form of figurative language in which an idea or object is given human characteristics.57
6152006609PremiseA statement or position regarded as true and upon which other claims are based.58
6152011720PropagandaAn argument advancing a point of view without regard to reason, fairness, or truth.59
6152019022Purpose, Author'sThe goal of an argument.60
6152023386Qualitative argumentAn argument of evaluation that relies on non numeric criteria supported by reason, tradition, precedent, or logic.61
6152027389Quantitative argumentAn argument of evaluation that relies on criteria that can be measured, counted, or demonstrated objectively.62
6152032957RebuttalAn answer that challenges or refutes a specific claim or charge.63
6152038762Red herringA fallacy of argument in which a writer abruptly changes the topic in order to distract readers from potentially objectionable claims.64
6152044767RepetitionThe repeating of a word or phrase to add rhythm or to emphasize an idea.65
6152049001RhetoricThe art of persuasion.66
6152052594Rhetorical analysisAn examination of how well the components of an argument work together to persuade or move an audience.67
6152058523Rhetorical questionA question posed to raise an issue or create an effect rather than to get a response.68
6152062548SatireA work that targets human vices and follies or social institutions and conventions for reform or ridicule.69
6152066457Scare tacticA fallacy of argument presenting an issue in terms of exaggerated threats or dangers.70
6152070588Sentimental appealA fallacy of argument in which an appeal is based on excessive emotion.71
6152074193SimileA comparison using like or as.72
6152076167Slippery slopeA fallacy of argument exaggerating the possibility that a relatively inconsequential action or choice today will have serious negative consequences in the future.73
6152083773Stacking the deckA fallacy of argument in which the writer shows only one side of an argument.74
6152087056Straw manA fallacy of argument in which an opponent's position is misrepresented as being more extreme than it actually is, so that it's easier to refute.75
6152092844StyleAn evaluation of the sum of the choices an author makes in blending diction, syntax, figurative language, and other literary devices.76
6152098465SubjectiveBased on one's thoughts, opinions, feelings, moods.77
6152101632SyntaxThe way an author chooses to join words into phrases, clauses, and sentences.78
6152106970ThesisA sentence that concisely states a writer's main point.79
6152109454ToneThe narrator's attitude towards the material, the audience, or both.80
6152112793UnderstatementA figure of speech that makes a weaker statement than a situation seems to call for.81
6152115882Values, appeal toA strategy in which a writer invokes shared principles and traditions of a society as a reason for accepting a claim.82
6152121458WarrantA statement that links a claim to a supporting reason.83

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