Intermediate Class

1. Rhetorical Devices

2. DEFINITION Rhetorical device - a use of language that creates a literary effect (but often without regard for literal significance)

3. BALANCE Parallelism Parallelism is the presentation of several ideas of equal importance by putting each of them into the same kind of grammatical structure. Each of the ideas is phrased similarly, making for a flowing continuous sentence.Example:To think carefully and to write precisely are interrelated goals.

4. BALANCE Chiasmus Chiasmus is a type of parallelism in which the balanced elements are presented in reverse order rather than in the same order. It's useful for creating a different style of balance from that offered by regular parallelism since chiasmus reverses the order.

5. Example:Parallelism: What is learned unwillingly is forgotten gladly. Chiasmus: What is learned unwillingly is gladly forgotten.

6. BALANCE Antithesis Antithesis contrasts two ideas by placing them next to each other, almost always in a parallel structure. It's an effective way to clarify an idea since it shows how the idea differs from another.Example: To err is human; to forgive, divine. -Alexander PopeThat's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. -Neil Armstrong

7. EMPHASIS Climax Climax is the presentation of ideas in the order of increasing importance. When used for an entire essay, climax can be used to arrange the points presented to produce increasing strength and importance. The same effect can be achieved when climax is used in a sentence.

8. Example: Random order: When the bucket fell off the ladder, the paint splashed onto the small rug, the drop cloth, the Rembrandt painting, and the sofa. Climactic order: When the bucket fell off the ladder, thee paint splashed onto the drop cloth, the small rug, the sofa, and the Rembrandt painting.

9. EMPHASIS Asyndeton Asyndeton consists of omitting conjunctions between words, phrases, or clauses in a list. A list of items without conjunctions gives the effect of a spontaneous account. Example:With conjunction: The fruit market displayed apples, peaches, pears, and nectarines. Asyndeton: The fruit market displayed apples, peaches, pears, nectarines.

10. EMPHASIS Polysyndeton Polysyndeton is the use of a conjunction between each word, phrase, or clause and is the opposite of Asyndeton. Using it produces the feeling of deliberate piling up and multiplicity.Example: They read and studied and wrote and drilled. I laughed and played and talked and flunked.

11. TRANSITION Metabasis Metabasis consists of a brief statement of what has been said and what will follow. It functions as a transitional summary that links sections of writing together. It provides clarity by keeping topics ordered and focused in the reader's mind.Example: In the previous paragraphs, I have offered my analysis of the causes of this growing discontent. At this point, I would like to take up the subject of what might be done to remedy it.

12. EMPHASIS Procatalepsis Procatalepsis anticipates an objection that might be raised by a reader and responds to it, thus permitting an argument to continue moving forward while taking into account opposing points.Example: But someone might say that this battle really had no effect on the outcome of the war. Such a statement could arise only from ignoring the effect the battle had on the career of General Mars, who later became a principal figure in the decisive final conflict.

13. EMPHASIS Hypophora Hypophora involves asking one or more questions and then proceeding to answer them, usually at some length. A common usage is to ask a question at the beginning of a paragraph and then use the rest of the parahraph to answer it.Example: Where else can a growing region look to augment its water supply? One possibility is the deep aquifer beneath the southwestern corner...

14. CLARITY Distinctio Distinctio is the presentation of a specific meaning for a word in order to prevent ambiguity and confusion. Using it calls the reader's attention to the need for clarity much more deliberately than other methods of definition.Example:Ambiguous: It is impossible to make methanol for twenty-five cents a gallon.Clarified with Distinctio: To make methanol for twenty-five cents a gallon is impossible; by impossible I mean currently beyond our technological capabilities.

15. CLARITY Exemplum Exemplum provides a specific example to an idea. These examples often include the visual, concrete, specific details that a reader can see in the mind's eye. Example: Snow cone flavors, such as bubblegumand mango, are often named after candy or fruit.

16. CLARITY Amplification Amplification consists of restating a word or idea and adding more detail. This device allows a writer to call attention to an expression that may otherwise be passed over. The effect is also one of slowing down the process of thought, then picking it up again after the word is restated. Example: In my hunger after ten days of overly rigorous dieting, I saw visions of ice cream - mountains of creamy, luscious ice cream, dripping with gooey syrup and calories.

17. FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE Simile A simile compares two very different things that have at least one quality in common. While similes are used in poetry principally for artistic effect, in formal writing they serve not only to increase interest but also to clarify an idea in an imaginative way.Example: Even after the avalanche, the climbers remained constantly attentive to their goal, as a sunflower continues to stay focused on the sun.

18. FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE Analogy An analogy, like a simile, compares two different things by identifying points of similarity. The difference is that an analogy usually identifies several points of similarity and is created for the purpose of conceptual clarity.Example: Flash memory chips work like a chalkboard, in that, when information is written on it, the information remains present even when the power is turned off. Only when the information is deliberately erased will it disappear. And like the chalkboard, flash memory can be written on and erased many times.

19. FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE Metaphor A metaphor, like a simile and analogy, compares two different things. The significant difference, though, is that a metaphor identifies the subject with the image. That is, instead of saying that the subject is like the image, a metaphor asserts that the subject is the image in some sense.Example:Simile: A good book is like a friend.Metaphor: A good book is a friend.

20. SYNTAX Zeugma Zeugma and its related forms (see the following rhetorical devices) all involve linking together two or more words, phrases, or clauses by another word that is stated in one place and only implied in the rest of the sentence.Example: She grabbed her purse from the alcove, her gloves from the table near the door, and her car keys from the punchbowl.

21. SYNTAX Diazeugma Diazeugma consists of a single subject linking multiple verbs or verb phrases. The phrases are usually put into parallel form to make the sentence easier to follow and to give it a balanced feel.Example: The book reveals the extent of counterintelligence operations, discusses the options for improving security, and argues for an increase in human intelligence measures.

22. SYNTAX Prozeugma In prozeugma, the linking word is presented once and then omitted from the subsequent sets of words or phrases linked together.Example: The freshman excelled in calculus; the sophomore, in music; the senior, in drama.

23. RESTATEMENT Anaphora Anaphora involves the repetition of the same word or words at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, or sentences, often using climax and parallelism to highlight the repetition.Example: Slowly and grimly they advanced, not knowing what lat ahead, not knowing what they would find at the top of the hill, not knowing that they were so near to the outpost.

24. RESTATEMENT Epistrophe Epistrophe forms the counterpart to amaphora. The repetition of words or phrases comes at the end of successive phrases, clauses, or sentences, rather than at the beginning.Example: These cars are taking market share because their engineering is superior, the quality of their materials is superior, and the workmanship of their assembly is superior.

25. RESTATEMENT Symploce Symploce combines anaphora and epistrohpe by repeating words at both the beginning and the ending of phrases, clauses, or sentences. Example: It is not enough that smoke detectors be installed in every bedroom, smoke detectors must be maintained in every bedroom.

26. SOUND Alliteration Alliteration is formed by repeating the same sound at the beginning of successive words or words related to each other in some way. The most familiar form of alliteration is the repetition of consonants in words pairs.Example: Without alliteration: The late delivery of parts resulted in an unwanted delay in production. With alliteration: The late delivery of parts resulted in a disheartening delay in production.

27. SOUND Onomatopoeia An onomatopoeia is a word that, when pronounced, imitates the sound the word names. In essence, the word sounds like its meaning. Example: Without onomatopoeia: If you like the dripping of a faucet at three o' clock in the morning, you will like this group's music.With onomatopoeia: If you like the plop, plop, plop of a faucet at three o' clock in the morning, you will like this group's music.

28. SOUND Assonance Assonance is created by repeating vowel sounds in the stressed syllables of successive words or words relatively close to each other. Example: The hoot of the owl in the cool of the moonlight warned them to head home soon.

29. DRAMA Rhetorical Question A rhetorical question differs from hypophora in that the writer does not answer it because the answer is self-evident. In other words, the expected answer is implied by the question itself, and is often just a yes or no. In the example below, the expected answer is No, because businesses cannot function by losing ever-increasing amounts of money.Example: So, then, do we want to continue a business model that guarantees we will lose more money next year than this year and more money than ever each coming year?

30. DRAMA Aporia Aporia expresses doubt about a fact, idea, or conclusion. The doubt may be real or pretended. An expression of uncertainty is useful for presenting alternatives without favoring one or the other, as in the example.Example: I cannot decide whether I approve of dress codes for middle-school children: Dress codes prevent gang clothing and conspicuous consumption, but they also produce a gray uniformity that suppresses personality and individual taste.

31. DRAMA Apophasis Apophasis brings up a subject by pretending not to bring it up. Its legitimate use is to call attention to something briefly, mentioning the existence of an idea without going into it.Example: I will not mention Houdini's books on magic, nor the tricks he invented, nor his well-known escapes, because I want to focus on the work he did exposing swindlers and cheats.

32. WORD PLAY Oxymoron An oxymoron is a condensed paradox, usually reduced to two words. Example: The Times has attacked this program as useless. If that is true, it is the most dramatically helpful useless program in the county's history.

33. WORD PLAY Pun A pun plays with the multiple meanings of a word or words. One word may be used in a way that suggests several meanings, or two words that sound alike may be used, with their different meanings. Example: By introducing a camera, we are going to take a shot at the photography business. Let's hope it will be the picture of profitability. After all, digital cameras have no negatives.

34. WORD PLAY Anthimeria Anthimeria uses one part of speech as if it were another. The most common form of anthimeria is the use of a noun as if it were a verb. Example: I can keyboard that article this afternoon.