Arguing against the man instead of against the issue. Example: We can’t elect him mayor. He cheats on his wife! Or: He doesn’t really believe in the First Amendment. He just wants to defend his right to hold racist views.
What is ad hominem
100
An appeal to emotions, whether pity, guilt, fear, etc.
What is appeal to pathos?
100
Substitution of an agreeable or at least non-offensive expression for one whose plainer meaning might be harsh or unpleasant.
What is a euphemism?
100
A sentence arranged in order of climax; withholds important or critical information to make the end information a surprise or to give it emphasis
What is a periodic sentence?
100
Also called a proposition – answers the question “What are you trying to prove?
What is a claim?
200
The conclusion does not follow logically from the premise. Example: My teacher is pretty; I’ll learn a lot from her. Or: John McCain was a war hero; he’ll be willing to stand tough for America.
What is non sequitur
200
an appeal to reason, including opinions, statistics, and factual evidence.
What is appeal to logos?
200
An assertion seemingly opposed to common sense, such as a contradiction, but that may yet have some truth in it.
What is a paradox?
200
contains 2 independent clauses and a dependent clause
What is compound-complex sentence?
200
The nonliteral, associative meaning of a word; its implied or suggested meaning
What is connotation?
300
A generalization based on too little evidence, or on evidence that is biased. Example: All men are testosterone-driven idiots. Or: After being in New York for a week, I can tell you: all New Yorkers are rude.
What is hasty generalization
300
an appeal to the writer's credibility, his projection of his character as a wise and reasonable man of good will
What is appeal to ethos?
300
The deliberate use of ambiguity in a phrase or image--especially involving sexual or humorous meanings.
What is a double entendre?
300
a statement consisting of two parallel parts in which the second part is an inversion or is structurally reversed such as "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."
What is chiasmus?
300
“pictures in words;” often achieved through figurative language and sensory detail
What is imagery?
400
Asserting a point that has just been made. Sometimes called “begging the question.” Example: She is ignorant because she was never educated. Or: We sin because we’re sinners.
What is circular reasoning
400
a section of an argument that deals with opposing views and discounts them
What is the rebuttal or refutation?
400
A question not answered by the writer because its answer is obvious or obviously desired, and usually just a yes or no. It is used for effect, emphasis, or provocation, or for drawing a conclusionary statement from the facts at hand.
What is a rhetorical question?
400
The repetition of words at the beginning of consecutive lines or sentences. Ex:
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
What is anaphora?
400
Compares two things, which are alike in several respects, for the purpose of explaining or clarifying some unfamiliar or difficult idea or object by showing how the idea or object is similar to some familiar one; also known as an extended metaphor.
What is an analogy?
500
The mistake of assuming that, because event a is followed by event b, event a caused event b. Example: It rained today because I washed my car. Or: The stock market fell because the Japanese are considering implementing an import tax.
What is post hoc, ergo propter hoc
500
a term used for altering a claim in order to avoid absolutes like "All students cheat on exams" that are difficult to defend.
What is qualify?
500
Telling a short story or explaining an incident in order to provide an example within a larger argument.
What is an anecdote?
500
Consists of omitting conjunctions between words, phrases, or clauses. Ex: “But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground.” President Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address
What is asyndeton?
500
employs understatement to give the idea that something is less important or smaller than it
really is