Rhetoric 101
The art of effective speaking and writing
rhetoric
Comparison of two things without using “like” or “as”
metaphor
The main/central argument that is a statement of opinion
major claim/main claim or thesis
The author’s attitude toward a subject
tone
The person or group of people who receive the communication/text directly, and usually are the rhetor’s intended audience
emotional appeal
pathos
A question asked to produce an effect rather than an answer
rhetorical question
support for the claim
evidence
The author’s vocabulary/word choice
diction
The person or group of people who may indirectly receive a communication/text, and may not be the rhetor’s intended audience
secondary audience
The 3 parts of the rhetorical triangle
ethos, pathos, logos
Frequent use of words, places, characters, or objects that mean something beyond what they are on a literal level
symbolism
An explanation of what the evidence means or how it proves the thesis
commentary/justification/analysis
An idea or feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning
connotation
The literal or primary meaning of a word, in contrast to the feelings or ideas that the word suggests
denotation
The identity the speaker takes on
persona
A comparison between two unlike items that is developed at great length
extended metaphor
A statement of opinion acknowledging the other side of an issue
counterargument/counterclaim
A writer's style of writing that makes it unique
voice
The arrangement, order, or location of words in a sentence
syntax
Exposing problems with society through the use of fictional characters and events that parallel real people and events
satire
the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses or lines. *We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end.
anaphora
The speech act of proving a counterargument false
refutation/ rebuttal
The feeling or atmosphere the text creates within the reader
mood
Errors in reasoning that invalidate arguments
logical fallacies