colloquial
characteristic of informal spoken language or conversation
formal diction
dignified, impersonal, and elevated use of language
academic diction
use of scholarly words or terms
Rhetoric
the art of using language effectively and persuasively
audience
the listener, viewer, or reader of a text
Aristotle
Greek philosopher. A pupil of Plato, the tutor of Alexander the Great, and the author of works on logic, metaphysics, ethics, natural sciences, politics, and poetics, he profoundly influenced Western thought. In his philosophical system, which led him to
Persuasion
A kind of speaking or writing that is intended to influence people's actions.
viewpoints
point of view, a way of looking at or thinking
text
While this term generally means the written word, in the humanities it has come to mean any cultural product that can be "read" - meaning not just consumed and comprehended, but investigated. This includes fiction, nonfiction, poetry, political cartoons,
consume
to use up; devour
comprehend
Understand; find meaning
investigated
to observe or study by examining closely and questioning systematically
informed citizen
a person committed to democratic values and decision-making and knowledgeable and informed about how our government works
democracy
A political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them
consent
permission for something to happen or agreement to do something.
novel
new and different
engage
attract; employ; hire; pledge oneself; confront; fight; enter into confliction; interlock; lock together; participate; N. engagement: agreement to marry; arrangement to meet someone or to do something; battle
civil discourse
Consists of courteous, reasoned discussion as opposed to impolite or emotional argument
just
lawful; fair
manipulation
An indirect, dishonest way to control or influence others
deceit
the action or practice of deceiving someone by concealing or misrepresenting the truth; trickery
civil communication
The choice we make to communicate on the basis of respect, restraint, and responsibility
Propaganda
information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view.
critique
An analysis or assessment of a thing or situation for the purpose of determining its nature, limitations, and conformity to a set of standards.
ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)
degeneration of motor neurons in both upper and lower motor neuron systems
hijab
a headscarf worn by Muslim women
Niqab
a veil worn by some Muslim women in public, covering all of the face apart from the eyes.
burka
a loose garment covering the entire body and having a veiled opening for the eyes, worn by Muslim women
Frida Kahlo
Mexican painter; international popularity with self-portraits; was married to Diego Rivera; influenced by Rivera, shared his Communist views
Oregon Trail
Trail from independence Missouri to Oregon used by many pioneers during the 1840s
King George VI
Queen's Father, brother of Edward VIII
Nuance
(n.) a subtle or slight variation (as in color, meaning, quality), delicate gradation or shade of difference
imperative
extremely necessary; vitally important
Tone
A writer's attitude toward his or her subject matter revealed through diction, figurative language, and organization on the sentence and global levels.
underscore
(v) emphasize (or, literally, to underline text)
provincial
limited in knowledge of the world; narrow-minded
esoteric
intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest
bombastic
(adj.) pompous or overblown in language; full of high-sounding words intended to conceal a lack of ideas
Psychology
the scientific study of behavior and mental processes
debate
a discussion in which reasons are advanced for and against some proposition or proposal
Rhetorical Analysis
an essay that breaks a work of non-fiction into parts and then explains how the parts work together to create a certain effect�whether to persuade, entertain or inform
explict
definite, clearly stated
Contemporary Issues
Issues that affect today's society.
context
The circumstances, atmosphere, attitudes, and events surrounding a text.
intention
the aim or objective of a course of action
genre
a major category or type of literature
purpose
One's intention or objective in a speech or piece of writing.
situational
An outcome that varies due to circumstances
apparent
open to view; easy to understand; seeming to be true or real
urgency
importance requiring swift action
rhetorical situation
The convergence in a situation of exigency (the need to write), audience, and purpose.
rhetorical triangle (Aristotelian triangle)
a diagram that illustrates the inter-relationship among the speaker, audience, and subject in determining a text
speaker
A term used for the author, speaker, or the person whose perspective (real or imagined) is being advanced in a speech or piece of writing
persona
Greek for "mask." The face or character that a speaker shows to his or her audience.
primary
First or most significant
secondary
coming after, less important than, or resulting from someone or something else that is primary.
subject
The topic of a text. What the text is about.
exigence
a decisive point at which a response is invited or required
kairos
Building a sense of urgency for your cause
succinct
briefly and clearly expressed
penultimate
just before the final; next to last
presumptuous
assuming too much; arrogant
irrefutable
impossible to disprove; beyond argument
Thesis
Focus statement of an essay; premise statement upon which the point of view or discussion in the essay is based.
Counterargument
an opposing argument to the one a writer is putting forward
concede
admit that something is true or valid after first denying or resisting it
concession
A reluctant acknowledgment or yielding.
refute
to prove incorrect
polemical
controversial; argumentative
argument
A statement put forth and supported by evidence
impeach
bring an accusation against
penetrate
pass into or through, often by overcoming resistance
inviolate
uncorrupted
Connotation
the implied or associative meaning of a word
Denotation
The dictionary definition of a word
rhetorical appeals
the use of emotional, ethical, and logical arguments to persuade in writing or speaking
ethos
beliefs or character of a group
logos
an appeal based on logic or reason
pathos
a quality that evokes pity or sadness
bathos
insincere or overdone sentimentality
grave
very serious
embark
to go abroad; to make a start; to invest
inextricably (adv)
in a way that is impossible to disentangle or separate.
prevalent
Commonly occurring; widely accepted or practiced
eradicate
to wipe out; to destroy
censure
to criticize harshly
brutish
savage and stupid; like a cruel, insensitive person
endowment
A natural gift, ability, or quality
calamity
an event causing great and often sudden damage or distress; a disaster
thraldom
the state of being under the control of another person
bretheren
fellow members
fruition
Fulfillment of an effort or desire
entreat
to beg, implore, ask earnestly
fortitude
courage in facing difficulties
providential
happening by good fortune
abhorrence
a feeling of repulsion; disgusted loathing
benevolence
kindness, generosity, charity
impartiality
the idea that the same ethical standards are applied to everyone
detaining
to hold back, keep in custody
imbibed
to take in, to absorb, or assimilate; to drink in
ardently
eagerly, passionately, intensely
candor
honesty, frankness
arduous
hard to do, requiring much effort
assiduous
persistent, attentive, diligent
astronomical
Enormous, Immense
ensuing
following immediately afterward
perusing
reading or examining with great care
flattery
excessive or insincere praise
patronize
to sponsor or support; to be kind or helpful in a snobbish way, as if dealing with an inferior
satire
the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.
Chernobyl
nuclear power plant in Russia that had an explosion in 1986 & released radioactive materials into the air
imminent
likely to happen; threatening
notorious
widely known because of bad conduct
tongue-in-cheek
humorous or ironic statement not meant to be taken literally
mockery
teasing and contemptuous language or behavior directed at a particular person or thing
transcends
Goes above or beyond limits; exceeds
myraid
(adj.) in very great numbers; (n.) a very great number
Horcrux
an Object in which a person has concealed part of their soul.
impeccable
faultless; without sin or blemish
reproach
to find fault with, blame
fight or flight
a reaction caused by adrenaline that prepares one to either fight the stressor or take flight and escape.
aburpt
sudden or unexpected
ephemeral
lasting a very short time
austere
severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance
vitriol
something highly caustic or severe in effect, as criticism.
keenly
intensely, sharply; acutely, quickly, perceptively
philanthropy
charity; a desire or effort to promote goodness
superfluous
unnecessary, especially through being more than enough
immured
enclose or confine (someone) against their will
impotent
powerless; lacking strength
fetters
a chain or manacle used to restrain a prisoner, typically placed around the ankles.
boon
a timely benefit; a blessing
canker
a pernicious and malign influence that is hard to get rid of
ware
small product, worthless item
Pilgrimage
A journey to a place considered sacred for religious purposes.
charity
showing kindness by giving money or gifts to organizations that need them
pensions
a fixed amount of money paid to a retired person by a government or former employer
toil
to work long and hard
querulous
(adj.) peevish, complaining, fretful
Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain)
The Mysterious Stranger, The Celebrated, Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, The Innocents Abroad, Roughing It, Life on the Mississippi, Hucklebury Finn, A Connecticut Yankee at King Arthur's Court, Puddinhead Wilson