 | Term | Definition |
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Anadiplosis |
Repeating a word or expression or expression while adding more detail to it |
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Analogy |
Extended comparison of seemingly unrelated objects actions or processes |
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Anaphora |
Repetition of a beginning phrase in subsequent sentences |
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Antithesis |
Presents contrasting ideas by joining them together in parallel syntax |
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Apostrophe |
An address to an inanimate object, absent person or deceased person |
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Asyndeton |
Eliminating conjunctions in a string of words, phrases or clauses to intensify the effect of multiplicity. |
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Chiasmus |
Twoparallel phrases or clauses in which the word order is reversed in the second phrase |
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Cumulation |
Adding words or phrases to another using the same structure to create a building effect |
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Enumeration |
Connecting an ordered set of points that are unified by a single purpose |
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Epistrophe |
The repetition of the last word or phrase in a series of sentences to create heavy emphasis |
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Ethos |
Speakers use ethos when they demonstrate that they are credible, good-willed and knowledgeable about their subjects. When they connect their thinking to a reader's own ethical and moral beliefs. Using ethos, a speaker convinces an audience that his/hers is a thoughtful and sincere search for truth about an issue |
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Example |
Citing an example; using an illustrative story, either true or fictitious |
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Hyperbole |
Exaggeration for emphasis |
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Hypophora |
Raising one or more questions and then proceeding to answer them, usually at some length |
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Inclusive language |
Using word choice such as "we" or "us" or neutral language such as "person" rather than he or she |
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Interrupter |
An interrupting phrase that signals importance by placing emphasis on the words that immediately follow |
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Litotes |
Understatement for emphasis |
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Metabasis |
A brief statement of what has been said and what will follow |
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Parallelism |
Parts of a sentence expressed using the same syntactical structure to emphasise their equal importance |
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Pathos |
Appeals to emotion are both powerful and immediate. These are often achieved through personal stories and observatons. Figurative language is often used to heighten the emotional connection readers make to the subject |
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Proctalepsis |
Anticipating an objection and then answering it |
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Repetition |
Repeating key words, thoughts or phrases |
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Sententia |
Quoting a wise saying or maxim to apply a general truth to a situation. Sententia is often used to sum up or conclude |
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Rhetorical questions |
Questions posed to which the speaker assumes the audience's agreement with the position of the questioner |
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Zeugma |
Using the same verb to refer to two nouns or objects. This technique is both economic and shows (or explots) the relationship between ideas and actions more clearly |
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Periodic sentence |
Places the main idea at the end of the sentence. It moves from supporting details, expressed in modifying phrases and dependant clauses, to the main idea, which is placed in the independent clause. These tend to be emphatic, and have the effect of making the reader wait for the main idea |
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Allusion |
A direct or indirect reference to another text, person or historical event, usually to appeal to the audience's shared knowledge. This technique allows the writer to layer or expand meaning |
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Amplification |
Repeating a word or expression while adding more detail to it |
