Literary and Rhetorical Terms

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audience

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the intended target group for a message, regardless of the medium

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author’s purpose

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the reason an author writes about a particular topic (e.g., to persuade, to entertain, to inform, to explain, to analyze, etc.); the reason an author includes particular details, features, or devices in a work

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bias

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a particular inclination, feeling, or opinion about a subject that is often preconceived or unreasoned

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citation

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a reference to the author’s name, title of work, date published, publisher, and/or page numbers of quoted or paraphrased text in a shortened in-text notation or in a longer bibliographic entry

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claim

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an assertion or position on a topic or issue

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context

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the words, sentences, or passages that precede or follow a specific word, sentence, or passage

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credibility

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the quality of having reliable and trustworthy characteristics which may be influenced by an author having expertise on a topic, using unbiased and accurate reasoning, evidence, and sources to support ideas, and providing current and up-to-date information

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diction

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word choice that may be determined by the writer or speaker’s style, purpose, and need to communicate accurately, appropriately, and understandably to a specific audience

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digital text

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An electronic text read or heard on a computer or other electronic device that may include images, sound, video, and other multimodal interactive and embedded elements

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emotional appeals/pathos

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a method of persuasion that's designed to create an emotional response in the reader/viewer by connecting to the audience’s values, needs, and sensibilities