toe Term Definition Active Voice Method of Organization/ Development Rhetorical Strategy Rhetorical Device Rhetorical Purpose the subject of the sentence is performing the action (verb) Syntax gives the subject autonomy and control Alliteration the repetition of the same sound at the beginning of words in close proximity Syntax/Diction creates rhythm; makes repeated words more memorable Allusion a reference, direct or indirect, to something the speaker expects the audience to know Comparison establish credibility; make a connection/comparison Analogy a comparison between two things based on similarities Comparison make a connection between something the audience knows and something the speaker is trying to explain Anaphora repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of two or more clauses or sentences Syntax/Diction stresses the importance of the word or phrase Anecdote brief telling of an incident or event of relevance Syntax/Diction makes a connection between one incident/event and the speaker's argument Antithesis 1. direct opposite (followed by of or to); 2. placing a clause or part of it against another to form a contrast Syntax/Diction highlight the differences Asyndeton intentional omission of conjunctions example Audience the person/people the speaker is addressing Cause and effect relationship in which one event created a result X x show that one thing could not have happened if something else didn't happen first Classification and division putting terms into categories and breaking up a whole into parts x x creates order and shows relationship between whole and parts Cliché an overused word, phrase, or clause that has lost meaning due to overuse Compare and contrast identify similarities and/or differences between two or more things Concede to acknowledge an opposition's validity Connotation emotional or cultural associations of a word Counterargument an opposing view to an argument Deductive reasoning reasoning from a generalization to specific examples that support it makes a list sound longer and more arduous Syntax/Diction to make a connection with the audience OR highlight overuse or lack of meaning x x to build connections or establish division x to show audience/opposition that the speaker can compromise; helps establish ethos x creates tone and style; highlights an emotional association with a word x noting a counterargument shows the speaker is aware that not everyone holds the same view; after defining the counterargument, the speaker should either concede to or dispute its validity x x shows how examples give validity to the speaker's claim Definition tells what a term means and how it compares to others x x by controlling the definition of a term, the speaker controls the limits of the argument Denotation the dictionary definition of a word Description identifies the physical characteristics of a noun Diction word choice Ellipsis three periods (…) used to show omission Epigram a short, witty, insightful statement that can be sarcastic Ethos character and credibility the speaker may be highlighting the difference between a word's meaning and impact on audience x x utilizes imagery to help the audience build a positive or negative emotional connection to the thing being described when discussing a speaker's diction, you must describe it using a tone adjective (harsh diction, gentle diction, formal diction, etc.) Syntax allows a writer to omit what is believed to be irrelevant to put the focus on what is relevant often indicates a paradox or universal truth x shows why the audience should trust the speaker and thus the message Example in a Sentence Eulogy a work that highly praises someone or something that has died x may be literal or metaphorical; praise may be sarcastic Euphemism a word or expression used in place of one that may be too harsh or blunt Exemplification using one or more examples to explain a point that may be abstract Exigence that which causes or prompts someone to write or speak on a topic Fallacy a mistaken belief based on faulty logic Hyperbole an obvious and often extreme exaggeration x Hypophora when the writer identifies a question and then immediately answers it x Idiom expression not meant to be taken literally x often used for imagery Imagery description that appeals to any or all of the audience's 5 senses x makes the audience feel like they are emotionally immersed through the connotation of the diction used Inductive reasoning reasoning from specific examples to a generalization supported by those examples Irony contrast between expectation and reality Juxtaposition placing two things close together to show a contrast Kairos the appropriate time and/or place to say or do something part of the rhetorical situation; think about why the moment the speaker chose to speak is the right time to do so Logos appeal to the audience's sense of logic and reasoning provides evidence in the form of facts, examples, anecdotes, etc. Message what the speaker wants the audience to accept distinct from purpose (ex. Purpose: convince audience to vote for candidate Y; Message: X candidate will ruin the economy if elected Metaphor comparison between two things that is not literally true to highlight a common feature via the use of a linking verb Narration telling a story in a logical order Occasion the time in which a speaker relays a message to the audience Onomatopoeia words that imitate the sounds they make x often used to in description and imagery Oxymoron two words that seem to contradict one another x often used to show confusion or highlight irony Paradox statement that seems to contradict itself x bring attention to something or to make the audience think of something in a different way than normal Parallelism repetition of a syntactical pattern utilizing repeated select diction x emphasis on the connection between the parallel ideas Passive Voice subject of the sentence receives action instead of performing action x intentionally omits responsibility of the actor of the verb Pathos appeal to the audience's emotions to provoke an emotional reaction Personification applying human characteristics to nonhuman things x used to create imagery; shows autonomy (or lack thereof) of the thing Polysyndeton use of multiple conjunctions in succession x impacts rhythm and can show excitement or depth Premise statement that is intended to justify a conclusion Diction x x the use of one impacts tone look for the use of deductive or inductive reasoning to connect the example(s) to a claim part of the rhetorical situation; could be an issue, problem or situation that made to speaker decide to say something x x x x x a speaker may take advantage of the audience's ignorance using a fallacy that seems logical but is not x creates a more significant effect on the audience than the simple truth to overly stress a point lets the speaker direct the audience to a preferred answer shows how a claim is supported by evidence x x x x often highlights the significance of the difference between two things identifies and emphasizes a characteristic both items share may be all or part of an essay; utilizes anecdotes and imagery; can be personal which may establish ethos or as an example to support a claim (logos) part of the rhetorical situation; encompasses Kairos and exigence x x creates an emotional connection between the audience and the message and/or speaker Problem and Solution method of organization in which the speaker identifies an issue and methods to control said issue x x used when the speaker is trying to solve or explain how something was solved Process the steps gone through in order to achieve a desired end x x told in chronological order using steps from beginning to end Purpose why the speaker is speaking; what the speaker is trying to accomplish part of the rhetorical situation; not to be confused with message Rhetorical Device any tool a speaker uses when applying a rhetorical strategy in terms of building a house, devices would be akin to the hammers, drills, nails, etc. used to build the house Rhetorical Strategy the plan or organization a speaker uses to convey a message and accomplish a purpose in terms of building a house, strategies would be the blue prints or plans Rhetorical Triangle consists of the speaker, audience, and message to show how they connect to one another used to illustrate the connection between the aspects of an argument Satire use of irony, hyperbole, or humor to criticize someone or something Simile comparison between two things using like or as Speaker the one who is attempting to convey a message with a specific purpose Style how a speaker expresses a message through the use of syntactical patterns and specific diction Symbolism the use of something concrete to represent something abstract Syllogysm A use of deductive reasoning. Syntax the way words are organized to form a sentence or thought Theme a speaker's opinion expressed as the central idea in a work of literature Tone the speaker's attitude as expressed through the connotation of the speaker's diction Understatement showing something to be smaller and less significant than it actually is x highlights someone/thing's stupidity and ridiculousness to evoke change; frequently used in the context of politics or social issues x highlights a connection between two seemingly different things creates tone x makes a connection between the object and the idea it represents to facilitate a better understanding of the abstract idea typically used in discussing fiction; cannot be expressed in one word x opposite of hyperbole; minimizes; may create humor or be ironic
