purpose
the goal of an author in a piece of writing; ultimately, purpose goes beyond the simple wish to inform, persuade, explain support an assertion, or entertain
qualification
(or qualified argument) condition, limitation, or restraint placed on an idea or argument. A qualified argument takes a position somewhere between the two opposing sides; may use words such as usually, probably, maybe, in most cases, and most likely
qualitative evidence
evidence supported by reason, tradition, or precedent
quantitative evidence
evidence includes things that can be measured, cited, counted, or otherwise represented in numbers (surveys, polls, etc.)
question of policy
a persuasive writing strategy in which the author tries to convince the reader that some action should be taken or some policy adopted
question of value
a persuasive writing strategy in which the author seeks to convince the reader that an action or activity is right or wrong, moral or immoral, ethical or unethical, or better or worse than another action or activity
quotation
the inclusion of another's words (in quotation marks) in one's own writing
red herring
An argument that avoids the key issue by introducing a separate issue as a diversion
refrain
a frequently repeated part of a song
rebuttal
In the Toulmin model, a rebuttal gives voice to possible objections
refute
to counteract an argument or seek to disprove a claim or proposition
repetition
repeating a word or phrase, or rewording the same idea, to secure emphasis; used deliberately, repetition can add force and clarity; particularly effective in persuasive speech or writing
response
a reader's reaction to what he or she reads; responses can be critical, analytical, emotional, approving, etc., but responses come from readers' own experiences and backgrounds
revision
the stage in the process of writing after a first draft is written when writers reexamine their work and try to improve it; revision goes beyond mere editing and proofreading to include an evaluation of structure, supporting evidence and faithfulness to t
rhetoric
(rhetorical device, rhetorical strategy) the art of language�of using its resources effectively and usually with a certain goal or effect in mind. These resources include word choice, any and all figures of speech, and structure of composition. They are a
rhetoric appeals
techniques used to persuade an audience by emphasizing what they find most important or compelling.; the three major appeals are to ethos (character), logos (reason), and pathos (emotion)
rhetorical analysis
a systematic and detailed consideration of how an author uses rhetorical devices and strategies to achieve a purpose
rhetorical question
a statement constructed as a question that is not intended to be answered
rhetorical triangle
(Aristotelian triangle) a diagram that illustrates the inter-relationship among the speaker, audience and subject in determining a text
Rogerian arguments
developed by psychiatrist Carl Rogers, Rogerian arguments are based on the assumption that fully understanding an opposing position is essential to responding to it persuasively and refuting it in a way that is accommodating rather than alienating
rubric
a detailed description of what is required to earn a particular score on an essay
sarcasm
type of verbal irony, the purpose of which is to denigrate the subject
satire
a literary work in which human folly or vice is attacked through the use of irony, or wit
scansion
the process of analyzing the rhythm of a line of poetry�that is, of marking stressed and unstressed syllables, dividing the lines into feet, identifying the metrical patterns, and noting significant variations from that pattern
scheme
artful syntax (see trope); a deviation from the normal order of words; common schemes include parallelism, juxtaposition, antithesis, and antimetabole
second-hand evidence
evidence that is accessed through research, reading and investigation; includes factual and historical information, expert opinion, and quantitative data
secondary source
a source that presents information that originally appeared elsewhere or was generated by someone who was not present at or involved in the events discussed
sentence variety
an author's use of a number of different sentence lengths and types to create interest or for special emphasis
simile
a comparison or identification of one thing with another unlike it, connected by like or as ("Though I sang in my chains like the sea." Dylan Thomas)
slang
very informal or coarse language, to be avoided in formal writing
slippery slope
an argument based on the idea that if a first step is taken, then second and third step will follow inevitably, until a disaster occurs, like a person sliding on a slippery incline until he or she falls to the bottom
slice of life
an anecdote or experience presented realistically, often conveying the nature of some social or regional niche
SOAPS
a mnemonic device that stands for Subject, Occasion, Audience, Purpose, and Speaker; way to remember the various elements that make up the rhetorical situation
sonnet
a fourteen-line poem in iambic pentameter with a variable rhyme scheme. (Two traditional types are the Petrarchan sonnet with an octave and sestet and the Shakespearian sonnet with three quatrains and a rhyming couplet
spoof
a form of comic parody that tends to be light in nature
stance
a speaker's attitude toward the audience (differing from tone, the speaker's attitude toward the subject)
strategy
any technique employed by a writer to achieve the goal of persuading others
straw man
an argument that creates a 'straw man' or misrepresented version of an opponent's position, by exaggerating, overstating, or over-simplifying an opposing point of view.
style
the way a writer writes, which includes decisions made by the writer about diction, sentence length, structure, rhythm, figurative language; tone can often be discerned from style
style-analysis essay
(also called a rhetorical analysis essay) an essay that analyzes the language used in a passage to explain how the author uses rhetorical devices to achieve an effect or accomplish a purpose; a main focus of the AP Language & Comp class