rhetoric, style, rhetorical strategies, and diction – Flashcards

the art of effective communication, especially persuasive discourse; focuses on interrelationship of invention, arrangement, and style to create appropriate discourse. Use of language to persuade or the art of persuasion

the sum of choices an author makes in blending diction, syntax, figurative language, and other literary devices; evaluation allows some authors' style to be easily recognized due to idiosyncrasies.

specific choices made by a writer, designed to produce specific effects; range from diction to imagery to syntax to structure to organization

a major rhetorical strategy in which a writer chooses words carefully for distinct effects

a diction-based rhetorical strategy used to denote ideas and qualities rather than observable, things, people, or places. It is often necessary to express ideas, but can be vague unless it is supported by the observable or physical, which is usually described in concrete language. E.g. The phrase "The speaker was overcome with emotion" could mean almost anything, because there's no context for what overcame her. Until the writer adds the concrete phrase, "She clenched her fist and shook it at the crowd," the reader cannot interpret the emotion as anger.

a diction-based rhetorical strategy in which a writer briefly refers to an event, book, myth, place, or work of art that the reader is expected to recognize so the writer can evoke a vivid impression. They can be historical (such as Jonathan Swift evoking the Frenchman Psalmanazar, who masqueraded as if he was Taiwanese, in A Modest Proposal), literary (such as Alice Walker referencing female authors Virginia Woolf and Phillis Wheatley in In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens), religious (such as Moses and the Bullrushes in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn), or mythical (such as the comparison to the River Styx in Cold Mountain).

a diction-based rhetorical strategy in which a writer draws a similarity or comparison between two different things to show the relationship between them, often designed to explain an unfamiliar element by comparing it to another that is more familiar. Often analogies are used to explain abstract or technical information in simpler, concrete terms. The comparison suggests that if two things are alike in certain respects, they will be alike in other ways. Analogies can make writing more vivid, imaginative, engaging, and persuasive, but logically prove nothing.

a diction-based rhetorical strategy in which a writer offers a brief recounting of a relevant episode, frequently personal or biographical and often to inject humor into writing.

a diction-based rhetorical strategy in which a writer chooses a word opposite in meaning to another word; Synonym is viewed as the antonym to antonym, but we will discuss how synonyms are actually myths, though antonyms do exist.

a diction-based rhetorical strategy in which a writer uses a terse statement of known authorship that expresses a general truth or moral principle (when the authorship is unknown, the statement is generally considered a folk proverb) either to create a memorable summation of a point or as a focusing device at the beginning of an essay.

a weak, diction-based rhetorical strategy that is an overused expression, which should be avoided in writing.

a diction-based rhetorical strategy that employs expressions generally appropriate for conversation and informal writing, but usually unacceptable for formal writing; includes contractions, clipped forms (dorm instead of dormitory), slang, vernacular of certain locations, vague expressions (kind of or sort of), conversation fillers (like, um, or you know), and other informal expressions such as (kids for children or get across for communicate).

a diction-based rhetorical strategy used to denote objects or qualities that the senses can perceive.

Using an adjective (often habitually) to characterize a person or thing. The epithet often becomes a nickname of sorts. The descriptive expression, word, or phrase expresses some quality or attribute. (often disparaging)

a diction-based rhetorical strategy in which an author replaces a more agreeable or polite substitute for a generally unpleasant concept; from the Greek phrase for good speech.

a diction-based rhetorical strategy in which a comparison is developed at length and occurring frequently throughout a work.

a diction-based rhetorical strategy in which a writer deliberately exaggerates or overstates for emphasis or humorous effect; antonym of meiosis/understatement.

a diction-based rhetorical strategy in which a writer employs the specialized vocabulary of a profession or academic field; though it may be clear to an audience of those in the field associated with that jargon, may not be meaningful to outsiders, so it could lead to ambiguity.

a diction-based rhetorical strategy that ironically minimizes a fact for humor or emphasis; antonym of hyperbole.

A section of purple prose or writing that is too ornate for the surrounding plain material

there are four major sentence moods: 1) Declarative: makes a statement (e.g. The king is sick.); 2) Imperative: gives a command (e.g. Cure the king.); 3) Interrogative: asks a question (e.g. Is the king sick?); 4) Exclamatory: expresses strong emotion (e.g. The king is such a hypochondriac!); strong writers do not just confine themselves to one.

a diction-based rhetorical strategy that stereotypes people according to sex; writers often use plural constructions to avoid sexist language.

a diction-based rhetorical strategy employing informal words that have meanings that vary from locale to locale or change as time passes; frequently associated with a particular group of people such as bikers, musicians, or urban youth

a poorly applied diction-based rhetorical strategy that is actually unreal. Some suggest a synonym is a word with the same basic meaning as another, but no two words have identical meanings. If that were the case, there would be no need for the second. There are always nuanced differences between them, and understanding those nuances is the key to diction and therefore this course.