Rhetorical Appeals
The appeal to logic and reasoning in an argument.
Logos
The author's choice of words.
Diction
A direct comparison between two unlike things without using "like" or "as."
Metaphor
Placing two contrasting ideas close together for effect.
Juxtaposition
The author's attitude toward the subject.
Tone
The appeal to ethics and credibility.
Ethos
The arrangement and structure of sentences.
Syntax
A figure of speech in which an object represents a larger idea.
Symbolism
A question posed without expecting an answer.
Rhetorical Question
The emotion or atmosphere created in the reader.
Mood
The appeal that targets the audience's emotions.
Pathos
The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses.
Anaphora
A statement that appears contradictory but reveals a truth.
Paradox
Omitting conjunctions between parts of a sentence.
Asyndeton
A tone that sarcastic or mocking.
Sarcasm
The use of common values or shared beliefs to build rapport.
Pathos OR Common ground
The use of deliberate use of fragments for effect.
Rhetorical questions
A brief reference to a person, place, or event-often historical or literary.
Allusion
Repeating a structure or grammatical pattern for emphasis.
Parallelism
A noticeable shift in tone or perspective.
Tonal shift
The rhetorical appeal might rely on data, statistics, or clear cause-and-effect reasoning.
Logos OR Logical Reasoning
Two or more clauses balanced against each other by reversal of structure.
Antithesis
A type of figurative language where something nonhuman is given human qualities.
Personification
When a part is used to represent the whole.
Synecdoche
The author's distinctive use of language and structure.
Style