I. Key Vocabulary Terms Study Guide for Honors Language Final 1) Allegory: a figure of speech in which abstract ideas and principles are described in terms of characters, figures and events. It can be employed in prose and poetry to tell a story with a purpose of teaching an idea and a principle or explaining an idea or a principle. The objective of its use is to preach some kind of moral or political lesson. 2) Alliteration: It is a stylistic device in which a number of words, having the same first consonant sound, occur close together in a series. EX: A big bully beats a baby boy. 3) Analogy: an extended comparison between something unfamiliar and something more familiar for the purpose of illuminating or dramatizing the unfamiliar. EX: compare nuclear fission(less familiar) to a pool players opening break(more familiar) 4) Anaphora: A Figure of speech involving repetition, particularly of the same word at the beginning of several clauses 5) Antithesis: use of parallel structures to call attention to contrasts or opposites EX: Some like it hot; some like it cold 6) Aphorism: a statement of truth or opinion expressed in a concise and witty manner. The fact that they contain a truth gives them a universal acceptance. Proverbs, maxims, adages and clichés are different forms of aphoristic statements EX: If it ain't broke, don't fix it + To err is human, to forgive divine. 7) Assonance: takes place when two or more words close to one another repeat the same vowel sound but start with different consonant sound. EX: Men sell the wedding bells 8) Asyndeton: It is a stylistic device used in literature and poetry to intentionally eliminate conjunctions between the phrases and in the sentence. This literary tool helps in reducing the indirect meaning of the phrase and presents it in a concise form EX: This man is the villain among you who deceived you, who cheated you, who meant to betray you completely 9) Chiasmus: a rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of their structures in order to produce an artistic effect aka: inverted sentence structure. EX: we are enemies in war; in peace, friends 10) Claim: a statement that asserts a belief or truth. In arguments, most claims require supporting evidence. the claim is a key component in the Toulmin argument 11) Colloquial: ordinary or informal language aka "YOLO" 12) Comparison:A rhetorical strategy in which a writer examines similarities and/or differences between two people, places, ideas, or objects
13) Concession: a literary device used in argumentative writing where one acknowledges a point made by one s opponent. It allows for different opinions and approaches toward an issue, indicating an understanding of what causes the actual debate or controversy. 14) Confirmation: The main part of a text in which logical arguments in support of a position are elaborated. 15) Connotation: The suggestions or associations that surround most words and extend beyond their literal meaning, creating associational effects. Slender and skinny have similar meanings, but different connotations, the former more positive than the latter. 16) Deduction: A method of reasoning in which a conclusion follows necessarily from the stated premises. 17) Denotation: The direct or dictionary meaning of a word, in contrast to its figurative or associated meanings. 18) Diction: The choice and use of words in speech or writing 19) Epiphora: The repetition of a word or phrase at the end of several clauses. (Also known as epistrophe.) 20) Ethos: the self image a writer creates to define a relationship with readers. In arguments, writers try to establish an ethos that suggests credibility and authority 21) Euphemism: The substitution of an inoffensive term for one considered offensively explicit 22) Extended Metaphor: A comparison between two unlike things that continues throughout a series of sentences in a paragraph or lines in a poem. 23) Hyperbole: use of over statement for special effect EX: The skyscraper was so high that it stretched up to space! 24) Imagery: Vivid descriptive language that appeals to one or more of the senses. EX: Carla could smell the tantalizing, savory steak as if it were right under her nose. 25) Induction: A method of reasoning by which a writer collects a number of instances and forms a generalization that is meant to apply to all instances. EX: Since Sally and Jemma are crazy, all girls must be crazy. 26) Invective: Denunciatory or abusive language; discourse that casts blame on somebody or something. I cannot but conclude the bulk of your characters to be the most pernicious little odious vermin that nature ever suffered to crawl upon the surface of the earth. (EPIC BURN) 27) Irony: use of language that suggests a meaning in contrast to the literal meaning of the words [personal note here, this does not match all the types of irony, but it is the only definition from the book, but along with this definition (which matches verbal
irony), there are also dramatic irony and situation irony, which are not addressed in this definition] 28) Jargon: special words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group and are difficult for others to understand. (slang/idioms) EX: I got da swag. 29) Litotes: a figure of speech which employs an understatement by using double negatives or, in other words, positive statement is expressed by negating its opposite expressions. EX: Your comments on politics are not useless. 30) Metaphor: a figure of speech that makes a direct comparison (no "like" or "as") EX: the ship was a shining beacon of hope 31) Metonymy+Synecdoche: Synecdoche examples are often misidentified as metonymy. Both may resemble each other to some extent but they are not the same. Synecdoche refers to the whole of a thing by the name of any one of its parts. For example, calling a car wheels is a synecdoche because a part of a car wheels stands for the whole car. However, in metonymy, the word we use to describe another thing is closely linked to that particular thing, but is not necessarily a part of it. For example, crown that refers to power or authority is a metonymy used to replace the word king or queen. 32) Onomatopoeia: The formation or use of words that imitate the sounds associated with the objects or actions they refer to. EX: BOOM!!! CRASH!! (think comic sound affects) 33) Oxymoron: A figure of speech in which incongruous or contradictory terms appear side by side EX: The breakup was bittersweet. 34) Paradox: A statement that appears to contradict itself but may include a latent truth. It is also used to illustrate an opinion or statement contrary to accepted traditional ideas. EX: I can resist anything but temptation. 35) Parody: A literary or artistic work that imitates the characteristic style of an author or a work for comic effect or ridicule. (basically most of youtube) 36) Pathos: A strategy in which a writer tries to generate specific emotions (such as fear envy, anger, or pity) in an audience to dispose it to accept a claim 37) Personification: A figure of speech in which an inanimate object or abstraction is endowed with human qualities or abilities. The fire leaped from tree to tree, grasping each branch with more enthusiasm (LoF reference, not direct quote though) 38) Refutation: A writer acknowledges and refutes opposing claims or evidence 39) Rhetorical question: Questions posed to raise an issue or create an effect rather than get a response EX: What's in a name? 40) Satire: A text or performance that uses irony, derision, or wit to expose or attack human corruption, vice, foolishness, or stupidity.
41) Simile: a comparison using "like" or "as" EX: Johnny was like a cheetah as he ran after the criminal who had stolen his iphone. 42) Syllogism: in formal logic, a if deductive reasoning in which correctly formed major and minor premises lead to a necessary conclusion (Think 7th grade rhetoric) EX: Major premise: All humans are mortal Minor premise: Joe is a human Conclusion:Joe is mortal 43) Tone: A writer's attitude toward the subject and audience. Tone is primarily conveyed through diction, point of view, syntax, and level of formality. 44) Understatement: a figure of speech that makes a weaker statement than a situation seems to call for. (personal note for book: sentences don't end in prepositions) It can lead to powerful or humorous effects 45) Voice: The distinctive style or manner of expression of an author or narrator. 46) Zeugma: The use of a word to modify or govern two or more words although its use may be grammatically or logically correct with only one. EX: He fished for compliments and for trout. III. Types of Fallacies 1) Scare tactic: presenting an issue in terms of exaggerated threats or dangers "If you don't believe in our specific view on the world, you will go to hell" - The Westboro Baptist Church 2) Either-or-choice: a complicated issue is misrepresented as offering only two possible alternatives, one of which is made to seem vastly preferable to the other EX: It's either cheap natural gas from the U.S. or oil from foreign countries (does not mention clean energy or a compromise) 3) Slippery slope: exaggerating the possibility that a relatively inconsequential action will have serious adverse consequences in the future EX: If you don't eat that pizza, the chef will become discouraged from his career. If he becomes discouraged from his career, he will feel no self-worth and become angry. If he becomes angry all the time, he will eventually reach a tipping point where he will go on a killing spree. If you don't eat that pizza, you will start a massacre. 4) Sentimental appeal: an appeal is based on excessive emotion EX: Buy this soda to save the penguins, as ten percent of your purchase will go to the Natural Wildlife Fund *shows picture of cute baby penguin* 5) Bandwagon appeal: A course of action is recommended on the grounds that everyone else is following it EX: It's ok if we go over the speed limit, everybody else does it. 6) Appeal to false authority: A claim is based on the expertise of someone who lacks the appropriate credentials. EX: This woman definitely "battered wife syndrome" because I talked to her for an hour on the phone, and I am totally not biased, even
though I am being paid large amounts of money just to appear in court.(shout out to the Mock Trial Club!) 7) Appeal to ignorance: claim that whatever has not been proved false must be true, and vice versa. EX: There is no compelling evidence that UFOs are not visiting the Earth; therefore, UFOs exist, and there is intelligent life elsewhere in the Universe. OR There may be billions other worlds, but not one is known to have the moral advancement of the Earth, so we're still the only intelligent life) This impatience with ambiguity can be criticized in the phrase: absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.[3] 8) Dogmatism (aka True Scotsman fallacy): a claim is supported on the grounds that it's the only conclusion acceptable within a given community EX: Now that you've seen the quality of our product, your only option as rational person is to take advantage of this amazing deal and call 1800-FAKE# right now! 9) Ad Hominem: attacks on a writers character rather than their argument EX: Johnny did drugs when he was a kid, so he should never be elected to office 10) Hasty generalization: an inference is drawn from insufficient data EX: Sarah wants to have children, so all woman want to have children. 11) Faulty causality: an unwarranted assumption that because one event follows another, the first event causes the second. (Also known as post hoc, ergo propter hoc) EX: Ice cream sales raise in the summer, and so do drowning rates; therefore ice cream increases the chance of drowning 12) Begging the question: A claim that is made on the grounds of the very issue which is being disputed EX: Rita couldn't have stolen the bicycle because she's never stolen anything 13) Equivocation: a lie is given the appearance of truth, or the truth is misrepresented in deceptive language EX: A plagiarist says "I wrote the whole paper myself" meaning it literally, but the teacher interpreting figuratively 14) Non sequitur: claims, reasons, or warrants fail to connect logically; one point doesn't follow from another EX: If you're really my friend, you'll lend me a million dollars 15) Straw man: setting up the other person's argument as more extreme so it can be easily refuted EX: "We will return science to its rightful place"-was science gone before? 16) Faulty analogy: a comparison between objects is inaccurate or inconsequential EX: Brittany Spears isn't Madonna (and this explains what?) 17) Circular Argument: just another name for begging the question fallacy 18) False dilemma: just another name for the either-or fallacy