| Term | Definition |
|---|
| repetition | the duplication, either exact or approximate, or any element of language, such as sound, word, phrase, clause, sentence, or grammatical pattern |
| parody | a work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule |
| understatement | the opposite of exaggeration. it is a technique for developing irony and/or humor where one writes or says less than intended |
| homily | this term literally means "sermon," but more informally, it can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice |
| colloquialism | the use of slang or informalities in speech or writing. not generally acceptable in formal writing; may include local or regional dialects |
| denotation | the literal or dictionary meaning of a word |
| antecedent | the word, phrase, or clause to which a pronoun refers |
| satire | a work that targets human vices and follies or social institutions and convention for reform or ridicule. regardless of whether or not the work aims to reform humans or their society, _____ is best seen as a style of writing rather than a purpose for writing. the effect of ____, often humorous, is thought provoking and insightful about the human condition |
| figuative language | writing or speech that is not intended to carry literal meaning and is usually meant to be imaginative and vivid |
| invective | an emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language |
| periodic sentence | a sentence that presents its central meaning in a main clause at the end. the independent clause is precended by a phrase or clause that cannot stand alone. the effect is to add emphasis and structural variety |
| logos | an appeal based on logic or reason |
| synecdoche | a figure of speech that utilizes a part as representative of the whole. "All hands on deck" is an example |
| parallelism | refers to the grammatical or rhetorical framing of words, phrases, sentences, or paragraphs to give structural similarity |
| verbal irony | in this type of irony, the words literally state the opposite of the writer's true meaning |
| pathos | and appeal based on emotion |
| anaphora | repetition of a word, phrase, or clause at the beginning of two or more sentences in a row. this is a deliberate form of repetition and helps make the writer's point more coherent |
| diction | the author's choice of words that creates tone, attitude, and style, as well as meaning |
| balance | a situation in which all parts of the presentation are equal, whether in sentences or paragraphs or sections of a longer work |
| authority | arguments that draw on recognized experts or persons with highly relevent experience |
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