Rhetorical Features Flashcards
Part-to-whole
Whole is assumed to be like individual parts only larger
Extrapolation
Areas beyond the area of focus are assumed to be like the focused-on area
Prediction
Future is assumed to be like the past
Syllogism
Form of deductive reasoning with a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion
Ex: All the players on the soccer team are “A” students. Patrick is a player on the soccer team. Patrick is an “A” student.
Simple Sentence
Independent clause containing subject and verb
Compound Sentence
Sentence formed by joining two independent clauses using a coordinating conjunction, a semicolon, or a conjunctive verb
Complex Sentence
Sentence made up of an independent clause and one or more dependent clauses joined by subordinating conjunction
Compound-Complex Sentence
Sentence formed from two to more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses joined by one of a variety of conjunctions and punctuation marks.
Coordinating Conjunction
(And, but, or, nor, for, yet, so) joins two simple sentences or independent clauses. If the clauses are closely related, they may be joined with a semicolon.
Ex: I took a chemistry class last summer but I hated it.
Conjunctive Adverb
(Indeed, moreover, consequently, however, therefore, nonetheless) join independent clauses
Ex: I hope to have a career as a chemist someday, therefore I will need to study.
Subordinating Conjunction
(As, as if, before, because, although, if, since, when, whenever, unless, until, while) join an independent and a dependent clause
Ex: Before I went downstairs, I brushed my teeth.
Clausal Modifier
Acts like an adjective or adverb in the structure of a sentence
Ex:
Adjective clause: No one could identify the man who shouted from the opposite rooftop.
Adverb clause: After the game went into extra innings, the crowd began to buzz with anticipation.
Phrasal Modifier
Also functions as adjectives or adverbs in a sentence
Ex:
Prepositional phrase as adjective: Hailstones began falling, threatening the windshield of her new truck .
Appositive
Noun or noun phrase that renames another noun nearby
Ex: Patrick, the Staples employee, is sad.
Participle
Two of the principal parts that every verb has (past, present)
Ex:
Participle as an adjective: A sighing wind added to the chastened mood of the afternoon.
Gerund
Present participle employed as a noun
Ex: Winning requires dedication.
Our family loves camping in the summertime.
Verbal Phrase
composed of a verbal (a verb that also functions as another part of speech) and all of its modifiers and objects
Can be a participle phrase, a gerund phrase, or an infinitive phrase
Absolute Phrase
A word group that modifies an entire sentence and consists of a noun + at least one other word
Concrete Subjects
Specific individuals or objects as opposed to generalized people or things
Expletives
Two indefinite pronouns (it and there) that often are used as subjects in a vague or weakly constructed sentence.
Transitional Words or Phrases
Transitions between ideas
Similarity of Addition Transitions
Comparatively, coupled with, correspondingly, identically, likewise, moreover, similarly, in the same way, together with
Contrast Transitions
Conversely, instead, on the contrary, rather, yet, but, however, still, nevertheless, in contrast
Consequence
As a result, consequently, for this reason, hence, so then, subsequently, therefore, thus, thereupon, wherefore
