Rhetoric Alive! Ch. 8 Review

Style, Pt. 1

100

What is the definition of style?

though put into words

200

What is the main virtue of good writing?

clarity

300

Which type of style did Aristotle claim to be the most appropriate for speeches?

the mean between common/flat style and elevated/ poetic/academic style

in other words, middle style

400

What is one thing you can do to keep your sentences lean but still strong?

make sure that your verbs are robust, and that your nouns are substantial

Style, Pt. 2

100

What are figures of speech (definition)?

Figures of speech are rhetorical tools that use deviations in word order and deviations in word meaning in order to make the language of your speech more interesting and exhilarating.

200

What are the three characteristics of "appropriate style?"

1. Expresses emotion (pathos)

2. Expresses character (ethos)

3. Corresponds to the subject (logos)

300

Why is it important to know the denotation and connotation of the words you are using in a speech?

• You need to know what comes to your audience's minds when they hear the words you are using. Even if the definition of the word helps you, its connotation could distract your audience or prohibit them from being persuaded.
  • Denotation is simply the definition of the word
  • Connotation is the unstated impression that the word brings to people’s minds when they hear it or see it. 

400

How is style really about "judgment?" In other words, why is wise judgment required for selecting the right style for a speech?

you have to judge the audience and the occasion to know how to deliver the speech

Schemes

100

the juxtaposition of contrasting ideas

antithesis

200

deliberate omission of words implied by the context

ellipsis

300

the repetition of a word or words at the beginning of successive phrases

anaphora

400

the omission of conjunctions

asyndeton

Tropes

100

an implied comparison without using "like" or "as"

metaphor

200

exaggeration used for emphasis (over-exaggeration)

hyperbole

300

the use of language to convey a meaning opposite to its literal meaning

irony

400

understatement used for emphasis

litotes

More Schemes & Tropes

100

an explicit comparison using "like" or "as"

simile

200

a seemingly contradictory statement that may indeed be true

paradox

300

the asking of a question for the purpose of making a point rather than receiving an answer

rhetorical question

400

a similar grammatical structure in successive words, phrases, and clauses

parallelism