1. Persuasion Terms

2. Logos- The process of reasoning that uses logic, numbers facts and data. Pathos- When the writer appeals to the reader’s emotions Ethos- The writer tries to persuade the audience to respect and believe him; shows credibility and gives ethical appeal: Kairos- The writer or speaker builds a sense of urgency trying to persuade the audience to act now.

3. Argumentation- Writer attempts to prove the validity of a point of view or an idea by presenting reasoned arguments. Persuasion- An attempt to convince someone through appeals to reason and emotion: Rhetoric- The art of speaking or writing as a means of communication or persuasion; the art of using language to persuade:

4. Syntax- The arrangement of words in a sentence. Thesis- The main idea of a piece of writing; Subject + Opinion = _____________: Generalization (stereotype)- When a writer bases a claim upon an isolated example or asserts that a claim is certain rather than probable.

5. Diction- Word choice of a writer or speaker. Denotation- The dictionary and literal meaning of a word: Connotation- Emotional, contextual, or cultural meaning attached to a word, the implied meaning: Euphemism- A more acceptable and usually more pleasant way of saying something that might be inappropriate or uncomfortable.

6. Deductive- Arguments that go from general to specific. Inductive- Arguments that go from specific to general. Syllogism- An argument that consists of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion.

7. Understatement- Used when a speaker wants to make a situation seem less strong or important than it really is. Red Herring- A distracter that draws attention away from the real issue. Refutation- The act of determining that something is false Concession- Admitting that a point in an argument is right

8. Antithesis- A figure of speech in which words and phrases with opposite meanings are balanced against each other. Anaphora- The repetition of the same word or words at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, sentences or lines. Parallelism- A balance of two or more similar words, phrases, or clauses. Hyperbole- An exaggeration.