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6584247836EnglishEnglish0
6584247837adagea proverb or wise saying commonly used (ex: Things are not always as they seem.)1
6584247838allegorya story in which people, things and happenings have a hidden or symbolic meaning.(fables, parables, apologue have meanings on two or more levels.)2
6584247839alliterationwords 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
6584247840allusiona 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
6584247841ambiguitymultiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, passage or sentence; can lead reader toward uncertainty of meaning5
6584247842analogyestablishing a relationship based on similarities between two concepts or ideas; helps convey meaning of a new idea6
6584247843anaphorathe 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
6584247844anecdoteshort and interesting story or an amusing event often proposed to support or demonstrate some point and make readers and listeners laugh; they can include an extensive range of tales and stories8
6584247845antecedentword, phrase, or clause that is replaced by a pronoun9
6584247846antimetabolerepetition of words in reverse grammatical order; Ex: "Fair is foul and foul is fair."10
6584247847antithesisparallel 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
6584247848apostrophespeaker talks to someone or something that is obviously not present12
6584247849appositivea renaming of a noun or noun phrase immediately after first stating the noun13
6584247850archetypeA 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
6584247851argumenta statement put forth and supported by evidence15
6584247852asyndetonauthor 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
6584247853audiencethose to whom a piece of literary work is being presented17
6584247854cacophonyTremendous noise, disharmonious sound18
6584247855characterizationActions, dialogue, and narrative description that reveal a sense of a character's personality to the reader.19
6584247856circumlocutionan 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
6584247857climaxthat point in a plot that creates the greatest intensity, suspense, or interest. Also called "turning point"21
6584247858colloquialCharacteristic of ordinary conversation rather than formal speech or writing22
6584247859concessionAn argumentative strategy by which a speaker or writer acknowledges the validity of an opponent's point.23
6584247860conceitA fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects; unusual and unlikely comparisons between two things24
6584247861connotationassociations people make with words that go beyond the literal or dictionary definition25
6584247862contextThe parts before or after a word or statement that influence its meaning26
6584247863counter argumentan argument or set of reasons put forward to oppose an idea or theory developed in another argument.27
6584247864cumulative sentencea sentence in which the main independent clause is elaborated by the successive addition of modifying clauses or phrases28
6584247865denotationDictionary definition of a word; literal meaning29
6584247866denouementan outcome or solution; the unraveling of a plot30
6584247867detailThe facts revealed by the author or speaker that support the attitude or tone in a piece of poetry or prose.31
6584247868dictionA writer's or speaker's choice of words32
6584247869elegya mournful, melancholy, or plaintive poem, especially a funeral song or a lament for the dead.33
6584247870ellipsisin a sentence, the omission of a word or words replaced by three periods ...34
6584247871epicA long narrative poem, written in heightened language, which recounts the deeds of a heroic character who embodies the values of a particular society35
6584247872ethosOne of the fundamental strategies of argumentation identified by Aristotle. it 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
6584247873euphemismFrom the Greek for "good speech," they are a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept - POLITICALLY CORRECT37
6584247874expositionBackground information presented in a literary work.38
6584247875hyperboleA figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement. (The literal Greek meaning is "overshoot.") they often have a comic effect; however, a serious effect is also possible. Often, they produce irony.39
6584247876imageryuse 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
6584247877imperative sentencesgives a command or request; often subject is understood and sentence ends with !41
6584247878inversionA sentence in which the verb precedes the subject.42
6584247879verbal ironySarcasm; what is said is the opposite of what is meant43
6584247880juxtapositionplacing an idea next to its opposite to emphasize contrast and comparison44
6584247881logosAn appeal to reason. it 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 it is that it 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
6584247882metaphorA figurative comparison of two unlike things without using the word like or as46
6584247883metonymyA term from the Greek meaning "changed label" or "substitute name," ____ 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 _____; 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
6584247884moodFeeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader; using specific diction, description, setting, and characterization to create the atmosphere48
6584247885motifA recurring theme, subject or idea49
6584247886narrativea fiction, nonfiction, poetic, or dramatic story, actual or fictional, expressed orally or in text.50
6584247887non sequiturA statement that does not follow logically from evidence51
6584247888occasionthe time and place a speech is given or a piece is written52
6584247889onomatopoeiaA figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words. Ex: buzz, hiss, hum, crack, whinny, and murmur.53
6584247890organizationIn a composition, the arrangement of ideas, incidents, evidence, or details in a perceptible order in a paragraph or essay.54
6584247891oxymoronA figure of speech consisting of two apparently contradictory terms; seem to reveal a deeper truth through their contradictions. Ex: "without laws, we can have no freedom." "Cowards die many times before their deaths"55
6584247892paceSpeed with which the author delivers the story controlled by language, mood, emotion played out in speech, dialogue, descriptions.56
6584247893parableA simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson57
6584247894paradoxA statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.58
6584247895parallel 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
6584247896parodyA humorous or satirical imitation of a serious piece of literature or writing60
6584247897pathosAn 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
6584247898personaAn individual's characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting.62
6584247899personificationauthor presents or describes concepts, animals, or inanimate objects by endowing them with human attributes or emotions.63
6584247900point 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
6584247901polemica controversial argument, esp. attacking a particular opinion65
6584247902propagandaA negative term for writing designed to sway opinion rather than present information.66
6584247903prosewritten or spoken language in its ordinary form, without metrical structure.67
6584247904purposeOne's intention or objective in a speech or piece of writing.68
6584247905refutationThe part of an argument wherein a speaker or writer anticipates and counters opposing points of view.69
6584247906repetitionRepeated use of sounds, words, or ideas for effect and emphasis70
6584247907rhetoricFrom the Greek for "orator," this term describes the principles governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively.71
6584247908rhetorical 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
6584247909rhetorical questionA question whose answer is assumed; it is designed to force the reader to respond in a predetermined manner and to propel an argument emotionally.73
6584247910rhetorical triangleA diagram that represents a rhetorical situation as the relationship among the speaker, the subject, and the audience ex:Aristotelian triangle74
6584247911satireA 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
6584247912simileA comparison of two things using like or as76
6584247913symbolismAn ordinary object with an extraordinary significance77
6584247914synecdocheA 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
6584247915syllogismA form of deductive reasoning consisting of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion.79
6584247916syntaxLanguage rules that govern how words can be combined to form meaningful phrases and sentences80
6584247917thesisFocus statement of an essay; premise statement upon which the point of view or discussion in the essay is based.81
6584247918toneA writer's attitude toward his or her subject matter revealed through diction, figurative language, and organization on the sentence and global levels.82
6584247919transitionA word or phrase that links one idea to the next and carries the reader from sentence to sentence, paragraph to paragraph83
6584247920voiceIn 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
6602360582maximA general truth or fundamental principle, esp. expressed as a proverb or saying85
6602360583chiasmusA statement consisting of two parallel parts in which the second part is structurally reversed ("Susan walked in, and out rushed Mary.")86
6602384957pedanticAn adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish.87
6602384958lyricalExpressing a poet's inner feelings; emotional; full of images; song-like88
6602385476terseBrief and to the point89
6602385477ludic(adj.) ridiculous, laughable, absurd90
6602385827edifyinginstructing and improving spiritually or morally91
6602387198nihilismbelief in nothing92
6602388924bombastpompous in speech and manner93
6602391205aphorismA concise statement of a truth or principle94
6602391987malapropismhumorous misuse of a word95
6602406911fallacyA false notion or belief96
6602407598ad hominemAn attack on the person rather than the issue at hand - a common fallacy - common in elections97
6602409236appeal to ignorancebased on the assumption that whatever has not been proven false must be true98
6602409729begging the questionOften called circular reasoning, __ occurs when the believability of the evidence depends on the believability of the claim.; A fallacy in which a claim is based on evidence or support that is in doubt.99
6602411162false dichotomyconsidering only two extremes when there are other possibilities100
6602411801hasty generalizationA fallacy in which a conclusion is not logically justified by sufficient or unbiased evidence.101
6602413725faulty causalitysetting up a cause-effect relationship when none exists102
6602414636straw man argumentoversimplification of an opponent's argument that makes it easier to attack103
6602415949sentimental appealsan appeal to the hearts, rather than the minds, of the audience104
6602416230bandwagon appealsencourages the audience to agree because everyone else does105
6602416236dogmatismGiving opinion without evidence.. believes his/her opinion is beyond question106
6602417863equivocationtelling part of the truth, and hiding entire truth; lying by omission107
6602419379faulty analogyan illogical, misleading comparison between two things108

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