Rhetoric - the art of effective communication

Question 1

rhetorical triangle - definition

Answer 1

The relationships in a piece of writing or a speech among the speaker/writer, the event(s) or experiences that inspired the subject (exigence), the audience, the message, the author’s purpose, and the appeals, tools, and techniques used to achieve that purpose. Context (history, environment, background information, culture) surround and influence every part of the triangle.

All analysis of writing is essentially an analysis of the relationships between the points on the triangle.

Question 2

rhetorical question - definition

Answer 2

Question not asked for information but for effect.

Question 3

rhetorical question - example

Answer 3

“The angry parent asked the child, ‘Are you finished interrupting me?’”

Question 4

rhetorical question - impact on text

Answer 4

A rhetorical question is a device used to persuade or subtly influence the audience.

Question 5

romanticism - definition

Answer 5

Art or literature characterized by an idealistic, perhaps unrealistic view of people and the world, and an emphasis on nature. Does not rely on traditional themes and structures

Question 6

romanticism - example

Answer 6

One iconic example of concern with the past and nostalgia in romantic painting is Wanderer above the Sea of Fog by Caspar David Friedrich, where the lone figure looks out over the misty landscape, evoking a sense of awe and melancholy as if longing for a past era of unity with nature.

Question 7

romanticism - impact on text

Answer 7

In literature, Romanticism found recurrent themes in the evocation or criticism of the past, the cult of “sensibility” with its emphasis on women and children, the isolation of the artist or narrator, and respect for nature.

Question 8

sarcasm - definition

Answer 8

A generally bitter comment that is ironically or satirically worded. However, not all satire and irony are sarcastic. It is the bitter, mocking tone that separates sarcasm from mere verbal irony or satire.

Question 9

sarcasm - example

Answer 9

“wow you look SO good today”

Question 10

sarcasm - impact on text

Answer 10

Sarcasm is mainly used to say the opposite of what’s true, and often to make the other person feel off-guard or foolish.

Question 11

satire - definition

Answer 11

A work that reveals a critical attitude toward some element of life to a humorous effect. It targets human vices and follies, or social institutions and conventions. Good satire usually has three layers: serious on the surface; humorous when you discover that it is satire instead of reality; and serious when you discern the underlying point of the author.

Question 12

satire - example

Answer 12

The TV shows South Park, The Simpsons, and Family Guy are modern examples of satire, although there are numerous other examples. Each of these examples uses humor, irony, and exaggeration to expose flaws in modern society.

Question 13

satire - impact on text

Answer 13

One of the key effects of satires is comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable.

Question 14

sentence - defintion

Answer 14

A sentence is group of words (including subject and verb) that expresses a complete thought.

Question 15

appositive - definition

Answer 15

A word or group of words placed beside a noun or noun substitute to supplement its meaning.

Question 16

appositive - example

Answer 16

“Bob, the lumber yard worker, spoke with Judy, an accountant from the city.”

Question 17

appositive - impact on text

Answer 17

Appositives serve as invaluable tools in sentence construction, allowing writers to add descriptive clarity without overly complicating their writing.

Question 18

clause - definition

Answer 18

A grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb. An independent clause expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence. A dependent, or subordinate clause cannot stand alone as a sentence and must be accompanied by an independent clause.

Question 19

balanced sentence - definiton

Answer 19

A sentence in which two parallel elements are set off against each other like equal weights on a scale. Both parts are parallel grammatically.

Question 20

balanced sentence - example

Answer 20

“If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.” Also called parallelism.

Question 21

balanced sentence - impact on text

Answer 21

Balanced sentences enhance clarity and emphasize connections between ideas by creating a symmetrical structure.

Question 22

compound sentence - definition

Answer 22

Contains at least two independent clauses but no dependent clauses.

Question 23

compound sentence - example

Answer 23

A compound sentence is a sentence that has at least two independent clauses joined by a comma, semicolon or conjunction. An independent clause is a clause that has a subject and verb and forms a complete thought. An example of a compound sentence is, ‘This house is too expensive, and that house is too small.

Question 24

complex sentence - definition

Answer 24

Contains only one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.

Question 25

complex sentence - example

Answer 25

Complex Sentence - He studied hard because he wanted to go to medical school as he suffered from arthritis.

Question 26

cumulative sentence - definition

Answer 26

(also called a loose sentence) When the writer begins with an independent clause, then adds subordinate elements.

Question 27

cumulative sentence - example

Answer 27

“He doubted whether he could ever again appear before an audience, his confidence broken, his limbs shaking, his collar wet with perspiration.” The opposite construction is called a periodic sentence.

Question 28

periodic sentence - definition

Answer 28

When the main idea is not completed until the end of the sentence. The writer begins with subordinate elements and postpones the main clause.

Question 29

periodic sentence - example

Answer 29

“His confidence broken, his limbs shaking, his collar wet with perspiration, he doubted whether he could ever again appear before an audience.” The opposite construction is called a cumulative sentence.

Question 30

simple sentence - definition

Answer 30

Contains only one independent clause.

Question 31

simple sentence - example

Answer 31

Joe waited for the train. The train was late.

Question 32

declarative sentence - definition

Answer 32

States an idea. It does not give a command or request, nor does it ask a question.

Question 33

declarative sentence - example

Answer 33

“The ball is round.”

Question 34

imperative sentence - definition

Answer 34

Issues a command.

Question 35

imperative sentence - example

Answer 35

“Kick the ball.”

Question 36

interrogative sentence - definition

Answer 36

Sentences incorporating interrogative pronouns (what, which, who, whom, and whose).

Question 37

interrogative sentence - example

Answer 37

“To whom did you kick the ball?”

Question 38

style - definition

Answer 38

The choices in diction, tone, and syntax that a writer makes. Style may be conscious or unconscious.

Question 39

symbol - definition

Answer 39

Anything that represents or stands for something else. Usually a symbol is something concrete such as an object, actions, character...that represents something more abstract.

Question 40

symbol - example

Answer 40

Examples of symbols include the Whale in Moby Dick, the river and the jungle in Heart of Darkness, and the Raven in “The Raven.”

Question 41

symbol - impact on text

Answer 41

Previous studies have shown that combining symbols with text effectively enhances the comprehension of signs.

Question 42

syntax/ sentence variety - definition

Answer 42

Grammatical arrangement of words. This is perhaps one of the most difficult concepts to master. First, a reader should examine the length of sentences (short or long). How does sentence length and structure relate to tone and meaning. Are they simple, compound, compound-complex sentences? How do they relate to one another? Syntax is the grouping of words, while diction refers to the selection of individual words.

Question 43

theme - definition

Answer 43

The central idea or message of a work. The theme may be directly stated in nonfiction works, although not necessarily. It is rarely stated directly in fiction.

Question 44

theme - example

Answer 44

Some examples of themes in literature are love, redemption, forgiveness, coming of age, revenge, good vs evil, bravery and hardship.

Question 45

thesis - definition

Answer 45

The sentence or groups of sentences that directly expresses the author's opinion, purpose, meaning, or proposition. It should be short and clear. (also see argument)

Question 46

thesis - example

Answer 46

Example thesis (consequences): Recycling consumer products, packaging, and other waste is a positive behavior to encourage in local residents because it keeps waste out of the landfill, reuses manufacturing resources instead of requiring new ones, and is healthier for the environment.

Question 47

tone - definition

Answer 47

A writer's attitude toward his subject matter revealed through diction, figurative language and organization. To identify tone, consider how the piece would sound if read aloud (or how the author wanted it to sound aloud).

Question 48

tone - example

Answer 48

Tone can be: playful, serious, businesslike, sarcastic, humorous, formal, somber, etc.

Question 49

tone - impact on text

Answer 49

Tone refers to the attitude a writer conveys toward the subject matter and the reader. The tone of a document can affect how the reader perceives the writer's intentions.

Question 50

understatement - definition

Answer 50

The ironic minimizing of fact, understatement presents something as less significant than it is. The effect can frequently be humorous.

Question 51

understatement - example

Answer 51

“Our defense played valiantly, and held the other team to merely eight touchdowns in the first quarter.”

Question 52

understatement - impact on text

Answer 52

An understatement is a powerful device that can help communicate complex ideas or provoke thought and emotion by deliberately minimizing certain elements.