Rhetorical Analysis Terms

Front

Diction

Back

The author's word choice, which influences the tone, mood, and meaning of the text. Diction can be formal, informal, colloquial, or technical depending on the audience and purpose.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

Front

Tone

Back

The author’s attitude toward the subject or audience, conveyed through word choice, sentence structure, and style. Tone can be serious, sarcastic, joyful, critical, etc.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

Front

The deliberate use of the same word or phrase multiple times to emphasize a point or make an idea more memorable

Back

Repetition

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

Front

 A brief story or personal experience shared by the writer to illustrate a point or engage the audience emotionally.

Back

Anecdote

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.8

CCSS.RI.11-12.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.5

CCSS.RI. 9-10.8

CCSS.RI.8.8

Front

 Asking a question not to receive an answer but to make a point or lead the audience to a particular conclusion.

Back

Questioning (Rhetorical Questions)

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.2.6

Front

Exemplification

Back

The use of examples to illustrate or clarify a point. These examples can be real, hypothetical, or anecdotal.

Tags

CCSS.RI.9-10.5

CCSS.RI.11-12.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

Front

Parallelism

Back

The repetition of similar grammatical structures in successive phrases, clauses, or sentences. This creates balance and rhythm in writing

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.2.6

Front

Metaphor (Comparing and Contrasting)

Back

A direct comparison between two unlike things by stating one is the other, used to highlight similarities in a powerful way.

Tags

CCSS.W.11-12.2D

CCSS.L.5.5A

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.L.4.5A

Front

 A comparison between two unlike things using "like" or "as" to highlight their similarities

Back

Simile (Comparing and Contrasting)

Tags

CCSS.W.11-12.2D

CCSS.L.5.5A

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.L.4.5A

Front

An extended comparison between two things, often to explain something unfamiliar by relating it to something more familiar.

Back

Analogy (Comparing and Contrasting)

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

CCSS.RL.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.6.3