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6546842069adagea proverb or wise saying commonly used (ex: Things are not always as they seem.)0
6546842070allegorya story in which people, things and happenings have a hidden or symbolic meaning.(fables, parables, apologue have meanings on two or more levels.)1
6546842071alliterationwords 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.)2
6546842072allusiona 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.3
6546842073ambiguitymultiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, passage or sentence; can lead reader toward uncertainty of meaning4
6546842074analogyestablishing a relationship based on similarities between two concepts or ideas; helps convey meaning of a new idea5
6546842075anaphorathe 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.)6
6546842076anecdoteshort 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 stories7
6546842077antecedentword, phrase, or clause that is replaced by a pronoun8
6546842078antimetabolerepetition of words in reverse grammatical order; Ex: "Fair is foul and foul is fair."9
6546842079antithesisparallel 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."10
6546842080apostrophespeaker talks to someone or something that is obviously not present11
6546842081appositivea renaming of a noun or noun phrase immediately after first stating the noun12
6546842082archetypeA 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 response13
6546842083argumenta statement put forth and supported by evidence14
6546842084asyndetonauthor purposely leaves out conjunctions in the sentence, while maintaining the grammatical accuracy of the phrase; shortening the statement for greater impact; "Reduce, reuse, recycle."15
6546842085audiencethose to whom a piece of literary work is being presented16
6546842086cacophonyTremendous noise, disharmonious sound17
6546842087characterizationActions, dialogue, and narrative description that reveal a sense of a character's personality to the reader.18
6546842088circumlocutionan 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 sentence19
6546842089climaxthat point in a plot that creates the greatest intensity, suspense, or interest. Also called "turning point"20
6546842090colloquialCharacteristic of ordinary conversation rather than formal speech or writing21
6546842091concessionAn argumentative strategy by which a speaker or writer acknowledges the validity of an opponent's point.22
6546842092conceitA fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects; unusual and unlikely comparisons between two things23
6546842093connotationassociations people make with words that go beyond the literal or dictionary definition24
6546842094contextThe parts before or after a word or statement that influence its meaning25
6546842095counter argumentan argument or set of reasons put forward to oppose an idea or theory developed in another argument.26
6546842096cumulative sentencea sentence in which the main independent clause is elaborated by the successive addition of modifying clauses or phrases27
6546842097denotationDictionary definition of a word; literal meaning28
6546842098denouementan outcome or solution; the unraveling of a plot29
6546842099detailThe facts revealed by the author or speaker that support the attitude or tone in a piece of poetry or prose.30
6546842100dictionA writer's or speaker's choice of words31
6546842101elegya mournful, melancholy, or plaintive poem, especially a funeral song or a lament for the dead.32
6546842102ellipsisin a sentence, the omission of a word or words replaced by three periods ...33
6546842103epicA long narrative poem, written in heightened language, which recounts the deeds of a heroic character who embodies the values of a particular society34
6546842104ethosOne 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.35
6546842105euphemismFrom the Greek for "good speech," euphemisms are a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept - POLITICALLY CORRECT36
6546842106expositionBackground information presented in a literary work.37
6546842107hyperboleA 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.38
6546842108imageryuse 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 similes39
6546842109imperative sentencesgives a command or request; often subject is understood and sentence ends with !40
6546842110inversionA sentence in which the verb precedes the subject.41
6546842111verbal ironySarcasm; what is said is the opposite of what is meant42
6546842112juxtapositionplacing an idea next to its opposite to emphasize contrast and comparison43
6546842113logosAn 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.44
6546842114metaphorA figurative comparison of two unlike things without using the word like or as45
6546842115metonymy(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.46
6546842116moodFeeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader; using specific diction, description, setting, and characterization to create the atmosphere47
6546842117motifA recurring theme, subject or idea48
6546842118narrativea fiction, nonfiction, poetic, or dramatic story, actual or fictional, expressed orally or in text.49
6546842119non sequiturA statement that does not follow logically from evidence50
6546842120occasionthe time and place a speech is given or a piece is written51
6546842121onomatopoeiaA figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words. Ex: buzz, hiss, hum, crack, whinny, and murmur.52
6546842122organizationIn a composition, the arrangement of ideas, incidents, evidence, or details in a perceptible order in a paragraph or essay.53
6546842123oxymoronA 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"54
6546842124paceSpeed with which the author delivers the story controlled by language, mood, emotion played out in speech, dialogue, descriptions.55
6546842125parableA simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson56
6546842126paradoxA statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.57
6546842127parallel 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.58
6546842128parodyA humorous or satirical imitation of a serious piece of literature or writing59
6546842129pathosAn 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.60
6546842130personaAn individual's characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting.61
6546842131personificationauthor presents or describes concepts, animals, or inanimate objects by endowing them with human attributes or emotions.62
6546842132point 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."63
6546842133polemica controversial argument, esp. attacking a particular opinion64
6546842134propagandaA negative term for writing designed to sway opinion rather than present information.65
6546842135prosewritten or spoken language in its ordinary form, without metrical structure.66
6546842136purposeOne's intention or objective in a speech or piece of writing.67
6546842137refutationThe part of an argument wherein a speaker or writer anticipates and counters opposing points of view.68
6546842138repetitionRepeated use of sounds, words, or ideas for effect and emphasis69
6546842139rhetoricFrom the Greek for "orator," this term describes the principles governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively.70
6546842140rhetorical 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).71
6546842141rhetorical 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.72
6546842142rhetorical triangleA diagram that represents a rhetorical situation as the relationship among the speaker, the subject, and the audience ex:Aristotelian triangle73
6546842143satireA 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.74
6546842144simileA comparison of two things using like or as75
6546842145symbolismAn ordinary object with an extraordinary significance76
6546842146synecdocheA 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).77
6546842147syllogismA form of deductive reasoning consisting of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion.78
6546842148syntaxLanguage rules that govern how words can be combined to form meaningful phrases and sentences79
6546842149thesisFocus statement of an essay; premise statement upon which the point of view or discussion in the essay is based.80
6546842150toneA writer's attitude toward his or her subject matter revealed through diction, figurative language, and organization on the sentence and global levels.81
6546842151transitionA word or phrase that links one idea to the next and carries the reader from sentence to sentence, paragraph to paragraph82
6546842152voiceIn 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.83

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