Tennessee Bound
The Tennessee city the family moves to in Chapter 1
What is Memphis?
The object Richard used to accidentally set his family's curtains on fire.
What is a burning straw?
A claim that is proven with factual, logical, or empirical evidence.
What is a substantiated claim?
The rhetorical appeal that targets the reader's emotions and empathy.
What is Pathos?
The part of an argument that acknowledges the other side's point of view to remain balanced.
What is a counterclaim?
The "loaded" word Wright uses to describe the crowded, overwhelming feeling of his new neighborhood.
What is "suffocating"
The literal command Richard's father gave that led to the death of a small animal.
What is "Kill that d-mn kitten!"?
An error in reasoning where an author attacks a person's character rather than their argument.
What is an Ad Hominem?
The rhetorical appeal based on facts, data, and logical sequences.
What is Logos?
A take-a-stand sentence that establishes a clear perspective for an entire essay.
What is a defensible thesis?
This represents the larger "Big Idea" of uncertainty or instability in Richard's new life.
What is symbolism?
Richard’s primary internal motivation for killing the kitten, which went beyond just being obedient.
What is rebellion/resentment of his father?
The fallacy that claims one small event will inevitably lead to a total disaster.
What is a Slippery Slope?
The rhetorical appeal based on the speaker's credibility or moral character.
What is Ethos?
The type of meaning that is stated directly and clearly in the text.
What is explicit meaning?
The type of evidence based on personal stories, like the stories neighbors might tell about Richard.
What is anecdotal evidence?
The physical sensation Wright describes as a "presence" in his house that shaped his childhood.
What is hunger?
Judging an entire group based on one small experience.
What is a Hasty Generalization?
Words like "sacrificed" or "treacherous" that have high emotional weight to influence a reader.
What is loaded language?
The practice of using different sentence lengths and structures to create clarity.
What is sentence variety?
An author's personal prejudice or viewpoint revealed through their choice of words.
What is bias?
The term used to describe the "implied" meaning behind Richard's violent actions in Chapter 1.
What is implicit meaning?
The term for whether an author’s argument is logically sound and supported by evidence.
What is validity?
An author's specific and intentional choice of words to establish a tone.
What is diction?
Evidence based on observable, scientific, or factual data.
What is empirical evidence?