Audience
Definition: The group of people a writer or speaker is addressing.
Example: When giving a speech at a graduation ceremony, the audience includes the graduating students, their families, and the school staff.
Context
Definition: The circumstances or background that help explain an event, idea, or text.
Example: Understanding the context of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech includes knowing about the Civil Rights Movement and the March on Washington in 1963.
Exigence
Definition: The urgent need or demand that prompts a writer or speaker to create a text.
Example: A writer might be motivated by the need to increase climate change awareness after a series of severe natural disasters.
Message
Definition: The main idea or point that the writer or speaker wants to convey to the audience.
Example: The message of Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" includes the importance of empathy and understanding in combating racial prejudice.
Purpose
Definition: The reason why a writer or speaker creates a text, often to inform, persuade, entertain, or express an idea.
Example: The purpose of a public service announcement about not texting while driving is to persuade people to drive more safely.
Rhetorical Situation
Definition: The combination of the speaker, audience, purpose, message, and context that influences how a text is created and understood.
Example: In the rhetorical situation of a political campaign speech, the candidate (speaker) addresses voters (audience) to persuade them to vote for them (purpose), with the message tailored to the issues important at that time (context).
Speaker
Definition: The person who is presenting the message, whether in a speech, written text, or other forms of communication.
Example: In a TED Talk, the speaker is the individual delivering the presentation on a particular topic.
Writer
Definition: The person who creates a written text, such as an essay, story, or article.
Example: Harper Lee is the writer of the novel "To Kill a Mockingbird."
Analogies
Definition: Comparisons between two things that are alike in some way, often used to help explain something or make it more understandable.
Example: "Life is like a box of chocolates—you never know what you're going to get" illustrates the unpredictability of life by analogizing it to a box of chocolates.
Anecdotes
Definition: Short, interesting, or amusing stories about a real incident or person.
Example: In an essay about the importance of perseverance, a student might include an anecdote about how they overcame a personal challenge.
Claims
Definition: Statements that assert something to be true, which can be supported by evidence and reasoning.
Example: A claim in an argumentative essay might be, "School uniforms improve student discipline."
Evidence
Definition: Information, facts, or data used to support a claim or argument.
Example: Research studies, statistics, and quotes from experts can all serve as evidence in an essay.
Examples
Definition: Specific instances or cases that illustrate or support a general idea or claim.
Example: If discussing the benefits of reading, one might use the example of how reading can improve vocabulary.
Experiments
Definition: Scientific tests conducted to discover something, test a hypothesis, or demonstrate a known fact.
Example: In a science fair project, a student might conduct an experiment to test the effects of different fertilizers on plant growth.
Expert Opinions
Definition: Statements or beliefs from someone who has specialized knowledge or expertise in a particular field.
Example: Citing a cardiologist’s opinion on heart health in an article about exercise benefits.
Facts
Definition: Statements that can be proven true or false through evidence.
Example: "Water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius" is a fact.
Illustrations
Definition: Visual representations or examples used to clarify or explain something.
Example: A diagram of the water cycle in a science textbook illustrates the process and helps students understand it.
Paraphrase
Definition: Restating someone else's ideas in your own words while maintaining the original meaning.
Example: Paraphrasing a quote from a book might involve summarizing the main points without using the exact words.
Personal Observations
Definition: Insights or conclusions drawn from one's own experiences or senses.
Example: Writing about how crowded the cafeteria gets during lunchtime based on what you see each day.
Position
Definition: The stance or perspective a writer or speaker takes on a particular issue.
Example: In a debate, one student might advocate for extending school hours, while another might oppose it.
Quote
Definition: The exact words taken from a text or speech and used in another context.
Example: Using a quote from Shakespeare's "Hamlet," like "To be, or not to be," in an essay about existential themes.
Reasoning
Definition: The process of thinking about something in a logical way to form a conclusion or judgment.
Example: Explaining that because exercise improves mood, regular physical activity should be part of everyone's routine.
Statistics
Definition: Numerical data or information that is collected and analyzed to support a claim.
Example: "90% of high school students have a smartphone" is a statistic that could be used in an argument about technology in education.
Summarize
Definition: To give a brief statement of the main points of something.
Example: Summarizing a chapter of a book by highlighting the key events and ideas.
Testimonies
Definition: Statements or declarations of a witness or an individual’s experience, often used to support a point or claim.
Example: Including testimonies from students who have benefited from a new teaching method in an educational report.