Vocab

enthymeme-(noun) Rhetoric's version of the syllogism. Stakes a claim and then bases it on commonly accepted opinion. A little packet of logic, it can provide protein to an argument filled with emotion. syncrisis-(noun) A figure that reframes an argument by redefining it. eristic-(noun) A competitive argument for the sake of argument. hypophora-(noun) A figure that asks a rhetorical question and then immediately answers it. logos-(noun) Argument by logic. ethos-(noun) Argument by emotion. pathos-(noun) Argument by character. epideictic-(noun) Aristotle's name for demonstrative rhetoric, speech that deals with values. sympathy-(noun) Sharing your listeners' mood concession- (verb) Using the opponents argument to your own advantage. decorum-(noun) Character-based agreeability. dialysis-(noun) The this not that figure. receptive-(adj) Having the quality of receiving or taking in. attentive-(adj) Characterized by or giving attention; observant. litotes-(noun) The figure of ironic understatement, usually negative. virtue- (noun) Good sportsmanship, respect for values, and all-around nobility. bragging-(verb) To use boastful language. character reference- (noun) Get others to do your bragging for you. tactical flaw- (noun) Reveal some defect that shows your dedication to the audience's values. opinion switch- (noun) When an argument is doomed to go against you, heartily support the other side.

the eddie haskell ploy- (noun) Make an inevitable decision against you look like a willing sacrifice on your part. phronesis- (noun) Practical wisdom; street savvy. libertas- (noun) Freedom and frankness. dubitatio- (noun) Feigned doubt about your ability to speak well. experience- (noun) What the audiences believes happened. expectation- (noun) What the audience believes will take place. patriotism- (noun) Strong sense of loyalty towards something. emulation- (noun) Provide only the kind of role model your audience already admires. the passive voice- (noun) The voice used to indicate that the grammatical subject of the verb is the recipient (not the source) of the action denoted by the verb. humor- (noun) A comic, absurd, or incongruous quality causing amusement. urbane humor- (noun) Depends on an educated audience; relies on word play. wit- (noun) Dry humor that plays off of the situation. facetious humor- (noun) Humor who's sole purpose is to make you laugh. banter- (noun) A form of attack and defense consisting of clever insults and snappy comebacks. backfire- (verb) Calm an individual's emotion in advance by overplaying it yourself. babbling- (verb) An arguer's tendency to repeat himself over and over. the commonplace- (noun) A viewpoint your audience holds in common. You can use it as your arguments jumping-of point. anadiplosis- (noun) A figure that builds one thought on top of another by taking the last word of a clause and using it to begin the next clause. stance- (noun) Designed for defense, but works for offense. Before you begin to argue, or when you find yourself under attack, take your stance. metastasis- (noun) A figure of thought that skips over an awkward matter.

peraphrasis- (noun) The speak-around figure. It uses description as a name. framing- (verb) Defining an issue. Find the persuadable audience's commonplaces. hyperbole- (noun) Great exaggeration. syllogism- (noun) A type of valid argument that states if the first two claims are true, then the conclusion is true. deductive logic- (noun) Reasoning which constructs or evaluates attempts to show that a conclusion necessarily follows from a set of premises. premise- (noun) A fact or commonplace. inductive logic- (noun) Takes specific cases and uses them to prove a premise or conclusion. paralipsis- (noun) A figure in which you mention something by saying you're not going to mention it. It makes you sound fairer than you are. paradigm- (noun) A rule that arises from examples. ambiguity- (noun) Doubtfulness or uncertain of meaning or intention. all natural fallacy- (noun) Assumes that members of the same family share all the same traits. appeal to popularity- (noun) Legitimizes your choice by claiming that others have chosen it. reductio ad absurdium- (noun) Taking an opponent's argument to its illogical conclusion. the fallacy of antecedent- (noun) Logical error. It never happened so it never will or It happened once so it will happen again. false analogy- (noun) I can do this well, so I can do that unrelated thing just as well. unit fallacy- (noun) One apple plus one orange equals two apples. misinterpreting the evidence- (noun) The examples don't support the conclusion. hasty generalization- (noun) Reaches vast conclusions with scanty data. fallacy of ignorance- (noun) What we cannot prove, cannot exist. tautology- (noun) The redundancy. many questions fallacy- (noun) Two or more issues get merged into one.

false dilemma fallacy- (noun) You're given two choices when you actually have many choices. complex cause- (noun) More than one cause is to blame, but only one gets the rap. chewbacca defense/red herring- (noun) The fallacy of distraction. the straw man fallacy- (noun) Instead of dealing with the actual issue, it attacks a weaker version of the argument. slippery slope fallacy- (noun) The fallacy of dire consequences. It assumes that one choice will necessarily lead to a cascading series of bad choices. the chanticleer fallacy dialectic- (noun) The purely logical debate of philosophers. Its purpose is to discover the truth through dialogue. the fallacy of power- (noun) The person on top wants it, so it must be good. ramification- (noun) To extend in subdivisions. yogism- (noun) The idiot savant figure. On the surface it's illogical, but it makes an odd sort of sense. paraprosdokian- (noun) This figure attaches a surprise ending to a thought. inneundo- (noun) The technique of planting negative ideas in the audience's head. state of character- (noun) Rhetorical virtue. phronesis- (noun) Practical wisdom; street savvy. One of Aristotle's three traits of ethos. the identity strategy- (noun) Get your audience to identify with your decision. code grooming- (verb) Using insider language to get an audience to identify with you and your idea. polysyndeton- (noun) A figure that links clauses with a repeated conjunction. reverse words- (noun) Repeating the words that mean the opposite of what hurts your case. irony- (noun) The use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning. schemata- (noun) a representation of a plan or theory in the form of an outline or model. coyness- (noun) The oh-you-shouldn't-have figure.

dialogue- (noun) Repeats a conversation for rhetorical effect. speak-around- (noun) Substitutes a description for the proper name. anaphora- (noun) A figure that repeats the first word in succeeding phrases or clauses. Works best in an emotional address before a crowd. diazeugma- (noun) The play-by-play figure. Uses a single subject to govern a succession of verbs. Multiple yoking. idiom- (noun) Inseparable words with a single meaning. hypophora- (noun) A figure that asks a rhetorical question then immediately answers it. metonymy- (noun) A figure of swap. It makes a part stand for the whole, or vice versa. synecdoche- (noun) The scale-changing figure. It swaps a genus for a species, or a species for a genus. chiasmus- (noun) The crisscross figure. antithesis- (noun) The figure of contrasting ideas. epergesis- (noun) The correction figure. verbing- (noun) is the creation of a verb from a noun, adjective or other word. kairos- (noun) The rhetorical art of seizing the occasion. It covers both timing and the appropriate medium. inventio- (noun) Discovery. Invention in the modern sense. exordium- (noun) Wins you the interest and the good will of the audience. reluctant conclusion- (noun) When the audience seems against you, pretend that you came to your decision reluctantly. proper language- (noun) Words that suit the occasion and audience. clarity- (noun) Clearness as to perception or understanding. vividness- (noun) The speakers ability to create a rhetorical reality before the audience's eyes. ornament- (noun) The rhythm of your voice and the cleverness of your words.

volume- (noun) The ability to project stability- (noun) Endurance. flexibility- (noun) Varying tone. metanoia- (noun) The self-editing figure. You stop to correct yourself with a stronger point.