Rhetorical Appeals
SPACECAT & AP Lang Exam
Devices
Terms
Examples
100

The use of facts and data; an appeal to logic or reasoning.

What is Logos?

100

The target or group of people the writer/speaker believes they are addressing.

What is Audience?

100

The style of language used; generally tailored to be appropriate to the audience and situation; word choice

What is Diction?

100

The literal, dictionary-definition meaning of a word.

What is Denotation?

100

Otherwise, you disgrace her. Otherwise, she died for nothing. Otherwise, the bowl will remain empty forever. (Not anaphora) 

What is crescendo?

200

Gets the reader/viewer's feelings involved; an appeal to emotion.

What is Pathos?

200

An essay where you are given a set of documents and asked to construct an argument using the information within them. You use the documents as evidence.

What is Synthesis?

200

Overstating a situation for humorous or dramatic effect.

What is Hyperbole?

200

The implied meaning of a word; the associations it carries. These can be positive, negative, or neutral.

What is Connotation?

200

Could you imagine life without ice cream? 

What is a  rhetorical question.

300

Setting up a source as credible and trustworthy; an appeal to credibility

What is Ethos?

300

The author's persuasive intention.

What is Purpose?

300

Placing two very different things together for effect.

What is Juxtaposition?

300

A short amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person.

What is an Anecdote?

300

I wasn't born yesterday. 

What is colloquialism.

400

Animal shelters ads with pictures of cute sad animals and dramatic music are using this rhetorical appeal.

What is pathos?

400

The essay where you are given a "big question" and you must use your own background knowledge as evidence to support your claim and persuade your audience.

What is Argument?

400

The repetition of a chosen grammatical form within a sentence, paragraph, or short text.

What is Parallel Structure?

400

The use of stylistic devices to reveal an author's attitude toward a subject.

What is Tone?

400

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What is Paradox?

500

The use of spoken or written word (or a visual medium) to convey your ideas and convince an audience. The art of argument.

What is Rhetoric?

500

An essay where you are given a single text and must break it down to determine both the author's purpose and how they persuade their audience.

What is Rhetorical Analysis?

500

Making a brief reference to the cultural canon—e.g. the Bible, Shakespeare, classical mythology, etc.

What is Allusion?

500

The grammatical arrangement of words.

What is Syntax?

500

On a budget.

What is an Euphimism.

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