11th ELA

Glossary of Key Terms

Key Term

Defnition

APHORISM

A pithy observation that contains a general truth, such as, “if it ain't broke, don't fx it.”.

AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT

An intellectual and scientifc movement of 18th century Europe which was characterized by a rational and scientifc approach to religious, social, political, and economic issues.

AGE OF REASON An era in which rationalism prevails, especially the period of the Enlightenment in England, France, and the United States. An age at which a person is considered capable of making reasoned judgments.

ARGUMENTATION A type of discourse in speech or writing that debates or simply develops a topic in a logical way.

BIAS

Prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair.

CLAIMS

An assertion of the truth of something

DICTION

In writing, the careful choice of words based on their correctness, clarity, or effectiveness.

ETHOS, PATHOS, LOGOS

In Aristotle’s Rhetoric , a speaker appeals to any of these three in order to persuade the audience: emotion (pathos), logic and language (logos), credibility or authority (ethos). Each of these terms has broader meanings in other contexts.

EVIDENCE/DATA

Facts, fgures, details, quotations, or other sources of data and information that provide support for claims or an analysis and that can be evaluated by others. It should be in a form and be derived from a source accepted as appropriate to a particular discipline.

REFUTATION

To argue against someone by showing that their argument is wrong or untrue using evidence to support.

RHETORIC

The art of using language effectively, especially for persuasion, in speaking or writing, especially in oratory.

RHETORICAL DEVICE Rhetoric is the art of effective expression and the persuasive use of language; rhetorical devices are specifc, effective uses of language that may infuence or persuade an audience (e.g., rhetorical questions, repetition, and extended analogies).

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