Rhetorical Devices

Question 1

epithet

Answer 1

a characterizing word or phrase accompanying or occurring in place of the name; a disparaging or abusive word or phrase

Question 2

symbol

Answer 2

object used to represent an idea/theme

Question 3

extended metaphor

Answer 3

a comparison between two unlike things that continues throughout a series of sentences

Question 4

juxtaposition

Answer 4

placements of two things closely together to emphasize differences

Question 5

oxymoron

Answer 5

using two contradictory words next to each other

Question 6

euphemism

Answer 6

the substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive expression for one that may offend

Question 7

ellipsis

Answer 7

omitting some parts of a sentence to give the reader a chance to… fill the gaps

Question 8

compound-complex

Answer 8

more than one sentence joined by a conjunction, one of which is complex; a compound sentence with a dependent, or subordinate clause.

“even though I missed the train, i waited for the next and relaxed”

Question 9

antithesis

Answer 9

opposition or contrast of ideas/words in a parallel construction

Question 10

imperative sentence

Answer 10

sentence that commands or demands

Question 11

antimetabole

Answer 11

repetition of words in reverse order

Question 12

antecedent

Answer 12

a thing or event that existed before or logically precedes another; what pronouns refer to

Question 13

allusion

Answer 13

reference to another source (e.g. Bible, mythology, poem, work of art)

Question 14

archaic language

Answer 14

using language that is antiquated
“beliefs for which our forebears fought”

Question 15

hortative sentence

Answer 15

sentence that exhorts, urges, entreats, implores, or calls to action

Question 16

metaphor

Answer 16

comparison that replaces one object for another (stronger than simile)

Question 17

syndeton

Answer 17

addition of multiple conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses, words (slows down)

Question 18

cumulative sentence

Answer 18

sentence where main clause is at the beginning and then more is added on

Question 19

alliteration

Answer 19

use of words with the same consonant sound close together
“she sells sea shells by the sea shore”

Question 20

simile

Answer 20

comparison that uses “like” or “as”

Question 21

asyndeton

Answer 21

omission of conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses, words (speeds up)

Question 22

imagery

Answer 22

descriptive language appealing to all five senses - sight, sound, touch, smell, taste - words used to paint a picture

Question 23

synecdoche

Answer 23

using one part to represent a whole

Question 24

simple sentence

Answer 24

one independent clause:
“i waited for the train”

Question 25

rhetorical question

Answer 25

posing a question for effect rather than to get an answer

Question 26

colloquialism

Answer 26

using language that reflects the way people actually speak (slang) "i wasn't born yesterday"

Question 27

alliteration

Answer 27

repetition of the same sound beginning several words or syllables in sequence.

Question 28

paradox

Answer 28

a statement that seems contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true

Question 29

assonance

Answer 29

repeating vowel sounds

Question 30

parallelism

Answer 30

similarity of structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases, clauses

Question 31

anecdote

Answer 31

a usually short narrative of an interesting, amusing, or biographical incident used to explain, illustrate, or persuade

Question 32

periodic sentence

Answer 32

sentence where main clause is withheld until the end

Question 33

compound sentence

Answer 33

two independent clauses joined with a conjunction "i was waiting for the train, and it came"

Question 34

consonance

Answer 34

repetition of identical or similar consonants in neighboring words

Question 35

hyperbole

Answer 35

deliberate exaggeration

Question 36

maxim

Answer 36

a short, pithy statement expressing a general truth or rule of conduct

Question 37

metonymy

Answer 37

the substitution of the name for an attribute of the thing meant

Question 38

anaphora

Answer 38

repetition of words/phrases at beginning of successive phrases, clauses, lines

Question 39

jargon

Answer 39

using language that is specific to a place, period, position, or occupation "blue state"

Question 40

connotation

Answer 40

the implied or contextualized meaning that underlies the main meaning of a word (consider emotional or intellectual interpretation) "she's feeling blue today"

Question 41

personification

Answer 41

describing an inanimate object as if it were a person

Question 42

motif

Answer 42

repeating symbol throughout a text

Question 43

zeugma

Answer 43

using two different meanings of the same word within a sentence/line

Question 44

tone

Answer 44

author’s attitude toward a subject and/or character

Question 45

denotation

Answer 45

the literal, dictionary definition of a word

Question 46

complex sentence

Answer 46

one independent clause and one dependent clause "while i was waiting for the train, i realized i had missed it!"

Question 47

repetition

Answer 47

just as it sounds, in order to emphasize or reiterate

Question 48

open thesis

Answer 48

does not list all the points the writer intends to include, is usually inductive in its claim, and suggests a more abstract or universal claim of value

Question 49

closed thesis

Answer 49

makes a more specific, limited claim of value, includes a list of the main points to follow

Question 50

counter-argument thesis

Answer 50

usually starts with a summary of primary counterargument, is preceded by "but" or "although" and is usually followed by the writer's primary claim

Question 51

claims of fact

Answer 51

asserts that something is true or not; is arguable on basis of fact

Question 52

claims of value

Answer 52

asserts something is good or bad, right or wrong, or is a cause or effect; draws conclusions from claims of fact

Question 53

claims of policy

Answer 53

suggests a course of action as a result of the claims of fact and value

Question 54

first-hand evidence

Answer 54

based on something the writer knows from personal experience, observations, or general knowledge of events

Question 55

second-hand evidence

Answer 55

accessed through research, reading, investigation, interviews, polls

Question 56

concession

Answer 56

acknowledgment of validity of opposing argument, usually accompanied with refutation

Question 57

refutation

Answer 57

denial of validity of opposing argument in part or whole

Question 58

qualify (a claim)

Answer 58

to make a claim about qualities or what something is in orderr to gain an understanding of underlying reasons, opinions and motivations. provide insights into problem.

Question 59

quantify (a claim)

Answer 59

claims and information about quantities with numerical data or statistics. to quantify defined variables

Question 60

ad hominem | fallacy of relevance

Answer 60

attacking character of speaking instead of addressing topic

Question 61

appeal to false authority | fallacy of relevance

Answer 61

using someone as an "expert" who is not actually an expert

Question 62

faulty analogy | fallacy of relevance

Answer 62

drawing a comparison between two things that is logically irrelevant

Question 63

red herrings | fallacy of relevance

Answer 63

bringing up unrelated topics before addressing argument (distraction)

Question 64

non sequitur | fallacy of accuracy

Answer 64

claim where the reason does not connect logically

Question 65

faulty causality (post hoc) | fallacy of accuracy

Answer 65

assuming that becase one event or action follows another, the first causes the second

Question 66

false dilemma (slippery slope) | fallacy of accuracy

Answer 66

scare tactic that claims one action will lead to another, more extreme action presenting two extreme options as the only possibility

Question 67

straw man | fallacy of accuracy

Answer 67

oversimplifying an example to ridicule or refute an opponent

Question 68

bandwagon | fallacy of insufficiency

Answer 68

evidence boils down to everyone's doing it so it must be good

Question 69

circular reasoning | fallacy of insufficiency

Answer 69

presenting the claim as if it is the evidence

Question 70

hasty generalization | fallacy of insufficiency

Answer 70

using a single anecdote or example to make a larger point

Question 71

stack the deck | fallacy of insufficiency

Answer 71

argument that shows only one side of the story and refuses to even admit the existence of counterargument.