Essential Rhetoric Terms
- Assertion: an opinion stated as a fact--the basis of all arguments. Assertions are always arguable.
- Claim: the main assertion of an argument; the point of an argument backed up by support.
- Generalization: a conclusion drawn from a number of particular examples; an assertion about a group or class.
- Assumption: an unspoken opinion, perspective or belief taken for granted without proof.
- Qualification: to modify, restrict or limit. A qualification of an assertion or claim means that you agree in part, or you wish to redefine or reshape the assertion.
- Refutation: the part of an argument in which the speaker anticipates objections to the points being raised and counters them. To refute is to discredit or disprove an argument.
- Counterargument: a challenge to a position; an opposing argument.
- Rebuttal: giving evidence that refutes an opposing argument.
- Hypothesis: an unproved theory; a proposed explanation that needs to be tested.
- Digression: getting off the point of an argument; sometimes done intentionally.
Terms having to do with syntactical constructions/patterns
- Syntax: the order of words in a sentence; sentence structure.
- Syntactical patterns: the repetition of ordering of words in a sentence for effect.
- Clause: a group of words containing a subject and a verb.
Subordinate Clause: a group of words containing a subject and a verb that cannot stand alone as a sentence.
Complex Sentence: sentence containing an independent clause and a subordinate clause.
Compound Sentence: sentence containing two independent clauses
Parallelism: a set of similarly structured words, phrases or clauses that appears in a sentence or paragraph.
Antithesis: the juxtaposition (placing side by side) of opposing or contrasting words or ideas, in parallel structure. "Place your virtues on a pedestal; put your vices under a rock."
Balanced (phrases, clauses, ideas): two equal words, phrases, clauses or sentences.
Oxymoron: juxtaposed words (words placed side by side) with seemingly opposite meanings. "Jumbo shrimp"
Rhetorical terms having to do with meaning of words/author's purpose
Tone: the author’s attitude, as determined by an analysis of his/her language.
Simile/Analogy: a figurative (not literal) comparison using "like" or "as."
Metaphor/Extended metaphor: a figurative comparison of two unlike objects.
Connotation: the implied meaning of a word; a word's overtones of meaning.
Imagery: language that appeals to the senses.
Apostrophe: when nature is spoken to as if human.
Allusion: an indirect reference to another text or body of knowledge (history, Bible, mythology, etc.).
Objective: without personal bias or prejudice.
Subjective: reflecting an individual's feelings, prejudice or bias.
Anecdote: a brief narrative (story) within a text to get audience's attention and/or support a claim.
Euphemism: an indirect expression of unpleasant information.
Appeal to authority: referring to the words/actions of a person in authority as a means of supporting a claim.
