1.
ad hominem argument: an argument which appeals to emotion rather than to reason, to feeling rather than to intellect.
2.
allegory: device of using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning. ex: Irving's "The Devil and Tom Walker"
3.
ambiguity: multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage
4.
analogy: a similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them. ex: "I don't think there's anything certainly more unseemly than the sight of a rock star in academic robes. It's a bit like when people put their King Charles spaniels in little tartan sweats and hats. It's not natural, and it doesn't make the dog any smarter." -- Bono 2010 Commencement Address at the University of Pennsylvania
5.
antecedent: the word, phrase, or clause to which a pronoun refers.
6.
aphorism: a terse statement of known authorship that expresses a general truth or moral principle. ex: "Your children need your presence more than your presents." (Jesse Jackson)
7.
archetype: an original model on which somethiing is patterned; universal character or detail used in much literature. ex: Prometheus -- the titan who gave fire to Man and is punished for eternity for disobeying Zeus.
8.
argument: a statement put forth and supported by evidence
9.
assumption: a belief or statement taken for granted without proof. ex: Every driver in the United States understands road signs.
10.
caricature: a representation, especially pictorial or literary, in which the subject's distinctive features or peculiarites are deliberately exaggerated to produce a comic or grotesque effect. ex: Democratic donkey, Republican elephant, Uncle Sam
11.
chiasmus: a figure of speech based on inverted parallelisms, usually in successvie clauses. ex: He labors without complaining and without bragging rests.
12.
claim: an assertion, usually supported by evidence.
13.
conceit: a fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects. ex: Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate . . . (Shakespeare, Sonnet 18)
14.
deduction: reasoning from general to specific
15.
didactic: literally means "instructive" -- didactic works have the primary aim of teaching or instructing, especially the teaching of moral or ethical principles. ex.: Hawthorne's THE SCARLET LETTER
16.
facts: information that is demonstrable.
17.
hyperbole: extravagant exaggeration. ex: I said "rare," not "raw." I've seen cows hurt worse than this get up and get well.
18.
induction: reasoning from specific to general
19.
litote: a figure of speech that emphasizes its subject by conscious understatement. ex: Hitting that telephone pole certainly didn't do your car any good.
20.
polemic: an argument against an idea, usually regarding philosophy, politics, or religion.
21.
polysyndeton: using several conjunctions in close succession, especially where some might be omitted. ex: "We lived and laughed and loved and left." (James Joyce, FINNEGANS WAKE)
22.
propaganda: a negative term for writing designed to sway opinion rather than present information.
23.
refute: to discredit an argument, particularly in a counterargument.
24.
straw man: a logical fallacy that involves the creation of an easily refutable position; misrepresenting, then attacking an opponent's position.
25.
synecdoche: a figure of speech in which a part is used for the whole or the whole for a part. ex: Put Beethoven on the turntable and turn up the volume.