Diction

1. Diction • The choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing or the overall enunciation of one’s speech. • “His perfect diction never failed to be commented on.”

2. Pedantic v. Simple • Pedantic: Over-the-top with correcting someone’s errors and concerned with anything learning. • Simple: Not as concerned- taking a calm, pure, easy route to learning. • Pedantic example: Man: How are you? Boy: Doing good Man: It’s “Well”! Boy: That was very pedantic of you. • Simple example: Teacher: 2+2=4 Boy: Awesome, that was simple.

3. Semi-Colon • Definition A punctuation mark which connects two independent parts of a sentence • Example: I went to the store; I bought milk.

4. Allegory • Definition A form of extended metaphor in which objects and persons in a narrative, either in prose or verse, are equated with meanings that lie outside the narrative itself E.G. Animal Farm, George Orwell

5. Chronicle • Definition An extended account of historical events without interpretation or comment • Example: The Congressional Records of the United States

6. Deductive Reasoning • Reasoning that utilizes elements of persuasion by asserting a claim; consists of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion • Example: Lollipops are sweet, sugar causes sweetness, therefore lollipops are made of sugar

7. Inductive Reasoning • Reasoning that begins by citing a number of specific instances or examples and then shows how they constitute a general principle. • Over 100,000 pounds of ice cream are bought each day, therefore people like ice cream.

8. Evidence / Data • Support from a claim or assertion. • More trees have been planted this year than last year according to the National Agriculture Organization

9. Warrant • An assumption that there is a connection between evidence and claim • Without food to eat,people would get very hungry

10. Ad hominem argument • An attack on another person rather than their point of view • All ducks are mean because one of them stole my sandwich..

11. Expository • Informs, instructs or presents ideas and general truths • An essay on how to repair a car

12. Classification • Identifies the subject as part of a larger group with shared features • A biography is placed into a group of non-fiction books (

13. Definition • Places the subject in a group and then differentiates the subject from other sections of the group • While still considered a non-fiction book, biographies have a category of their own in the local library

14. Analysis • The discussion of a subject based on content and style • A paper based on the writing style used by Mark Twain

15. Description • Depicts images verbally in space and time arranges those images in a logical pattern • “It was a bright and sunny day, until the storm cloud rolled in.”

16. Narration • Organizes the events or actions in time or relates them in space. Tells what happened, when it happened, and where it happened • An essay about your daily activities • Morgan Freeman, Pro narrator, reads many narrations.

17. Persuasion/Argument • Convinces an audience by proving or refuting a point of view using induction or deduction • A persuasive paper written to change a school policy

18. Didactic Writing • Writing whose purpose is to instruct or to teach. The work is usually formal and focuses on moral or ethical concerns • A pamphlet on why cheating is wrong

19. Argument • A way of reasoning where a subject is proved correct or incorrect • The kids got into a heated argument about who was right.

20. Ethos • A rhetorical appeal to an audience based on the speaker/ writers credibility.

21. Pathos • The emotional appeal to an audience based on the writer’s credibility

22. Logos • Rhetorical appeals based on logic or reasoning

23. Claim • To state something is true or to make an assertion • Everybody should buy a T.V.

24. Simile • Definition: A comparison of two unlike things using the words like or as • Example: His mind is as powerful as a supercomputer

25. Synaesthesia • Definition: A condition in which one type of stimulation evokes the sensation of another, as when the hearing of a sound produces the visualization of a color. A sensation felt in one part of the body as a result of stimulus applied to another, as in referred pain. The descriptions of one kind of sense impression by using words that normally describe another. • Example: it smelled so good I could taste it.

26. Synecdoche • Definition: A figure of speech in which a part of something stands for the whole or the whole for a part • Example: The ship was lost with all of its hands (Sailors)

27. Understatement • Definition: Expressing an idea with less emphasis or in a lesser degree than is the actual case. The opposite of hyperbole. Understatement is employed for ironic emphasis. • Example: Deserts are sometimes hot, dry and sandy

28. Argument • Definition: A way of reasoning where a subject is proved correct/incorrect

29. Argument • A way of reasoning where a subject is proved correct/incorrect. • Ex: The opening lines of Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” give a suitable example of argument: “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”

30. Ethos (ethical) • A rhetorical appeal to an audience in an argument. • Ex: Voting for a candidate that has established trust in their audience.

31. Pathos (emotion) • The emotional appeal to an audience in an argument. • Ex: Every hour animals are neglected, so make a donation to the animal shelter.

32. Logos (rational) • Rhetorical appeals based on logic or reasoning. • Ex: Since there is not enough money in the school’s budget, the quality and size of lunches will be reduced. On the bright side, the school board will save money!

33. Claim • To make an assertion; to state as true • Ex: The defendant in court can claim to be either innocent or guilty

34. Deductive Reasoning (syllogism) • Reasoning that utilizes elements of persuasion by asserting a claim; consists of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion • Ex: All apples are fruits, all fruits grow on trees; therefore, all apples grow on trees.

35. Inductive Reasoning • Reasoning that begins by citing a number of specific instances or examples and then shows how collectively they constitute a general principle. • Ex: Jill and Bob are friends. Jill likes to dance, cook and write. Bob likes to dance and cook. Therefore it can be assumed he also likes to write.

36. Evidence/Data • Support from a claim/assertion • Ex: Evidence is crucial in any argument.

37. Warrant • An assumption that there is a connection between evidence and claim • Ex: The lawyer uses warrants to help his/her client.

38. Connotation vs. Denotation • An idea or meaning suggested by or associated with a word or thing vs. the literal definition of a word • Example: The denotation of the word “blanket” is a piece of cloth that is used to warm someone, but the connotation is warm, fuzzy, and comfortable Obligatory slide pun: what do you need to provide in order to purchase a blanket? A “blanket form” !

39. Euphonious vs. Cacophonic • Pleasing or agreeable to the ear vs. discordant, unpleasant-sounding, or jarring. • Example: The sound of a good symphony is euphonious, while the ring of a cell phone in a quiet room is cacophonic. Obligatory slide pun: What do you call someone who is talking on the phone too loudly? Caco-PHONE-ic!

40. Active vs. Passive Obligatory pun: what voice do you use to yell at someone who cut you off in traffic? The PASS-ive voice! • Subject of the sentence is performing or causing the action rather than a state of being vs. subject is the object of the action or the effect of the verb • Example: The man must have eaten five hamburgers (active) vs. five hamburgers must have been eaten by the man.

41. Colloquial vs. Formal • Informal, conversational vs. formal, proper language • Example: “Yo, what’s up?” vs. “Hello, how are you?” Obligatory slide pun: What do you call someone who bounces back and forth between colloquial and formal language? A YO-HELLO (You know, like a yo-yo, but with greetings?)

42. Malopropism • The incorrect usage of a word that often leads to a comical effect • Alice said she couldn't eat crabs or any other crushed Asians.

43. Malopropism • The incorrect usage of a word that often leads to a comical effect • Alice said she couldn't eat crabs or any other crushed Asians.

44. Rhetorical Question • A question posed by a speaker that does not seek an answer. • “Does anybody even read these things?”

45. Sensory Detail • Item used to appeal to the senses. • The bakery’s rich, delicious smells permeated our noses.

46. Analogy • The comparison of two things which are alike in different ways. • The man was like a stone in the path of a river. As time passed his stubborn, edgy attitude transformed into a mellow, amicable one.

47. Apostrophe • Direct address of a person or a personified thing that is either present or absent. • Come at me death.

48. Ethos (ethical) • Definition A rhetorical appeal to an audience based on the speaker/writer's credibility. • Example I am a husband, a father, and a taxpayer. I’ve served faithfully for 20 years on the school board. I deserve your vote for city council. (Visual/ Image)

49. Pathos (emotion) • Definition The emotional appeal to an audience in an argument. • Example Bob Dole wants to hurt the elderly by cutting Medicare

50. Logos (rational) • Definition Rhetorical appeals based on logic or reasoning. • Example, if appropriate We do not have enough money to pay for improvements to our railroads. And without improvements, this transportation system will falter and thus hinder our economy. Therefore, we should raise taxes to pay for better railroads.