The Top 20 Figures of Speech

The Top 20 Figures of Speech A figure of speech is a rhetorical device that achieves a special effect by using words in a distinctive way. Though there are hundreds of figures of speech,  here well focus on 20 top examples. Youll probably remember many of these terms from your English classes. Figurative language is often associated with literature and with poetry in particular. Whether were conscious of it or not, we use figures of speech every day in our own writing and conversations. For example, common expressions such as falling in love, racking our brains, and climbing the ladder of success are all metaphors- the most pervasive figure of all. Likewise, we rely on similes when making explicit comparisons (light as a feather) and hyperbole to emphasize a point (Im starving!). Did You Know? Figures of speech are  also known as  figures of rhetoric, figures of style, rhetorical figures,  figurative language,  and  schemes. 1:15 Watch Now: Common Figures of Speech Explained Top 20 Figures of Speech Using original figures of speech in our writing is a way to convey meanings in fresh, unexpected ways. They can help our readers understand and stay interested in what we have to say.   1.  Alliteration: The repetition of an initial consonant sound. Example: She sells seashells by the seashore. 2. Anaphora: The repetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or verses. Example: Unfortunately, I was in the wrong place at the wrong time on the wrong day.   3. Antithesis: The juxtaposition of contrasting ideas in balanced phrases. Example: As Abraham Lincoln said, Folks who have no vices have very few virtues. 4.  Apostrophe: Directly addressing a nonexistent person or an inanimate object as though it were a living being. Example: Oh, you stupid car, you never work when I need you to, Bert sighed. 5. Assonance: Identity or similarity in sound between internal vowels in neighboring words. Example: How now, brown cow? 6. Chiasmus: A verbal pattern in which the second half of an expression is balanced against the first but with the parts reversed. Example: The famous chef said people should live to eat, not eat to live. 7. Euphemism: The substitution of an inoffensive term for one considered offensively explicit.  Example: Were teaching our toddler how to go potty, Bob said. 8.  Hyperbole: An extravagant statement; the use of exaggerated terms for the purpose of emphasis or heightened effect. Example: I have a ton of things to do when I get home. 9.  Irony: The use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning. Also, a  statement or situation where the meaning is contradicted by the appearance or presentation of the idea. Example: Oh, I love spending big bucks, said my dad, a notorious penny pincher. 10.  Litotes: A figure of speech consisting of an understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by negating its opposite. Example: A million dollars is no small chunk of change. 11.  Metaphor: An implied comparison between two dissimilar things that have something in common. Example: All the worlds a stage. 12.  Metonymy: A figure of speech in a word or phrase is substituted for another with which its closely associated; also, the rhetorical strategy of describing something indirectly by referring to things around it. Example: That stuffed suit with the briefcase is a poor excuse for a salesman, the manager said angrily. 13.  Onomatopoeia: The use of words that imitate the sounds associated with the objects or actions they refer to. Example: The clap of thunder went bang and scared my poor dog. 14.  Oxymoron: A figure of speech in which incongruous or contradictory terms appear side by side. Example:  He popped the jumbo shrimp in his mouth. 15.  Paradox: A statement that appears to contradict itself. Example: This is the beginning of the end, said Eeyore, always the pessimist. 16. Personification: A figure of speech in which an inanimate object or abstraction is endowed with human qualities or abilities. Example: That kitchen knife will take a bite out of your hand if you dont handle it safely. 17.  Pun: ​A play on words, sometimes on different senses of the same word and sometimes on the similar sense or sound of different words. Example: Jessie looked up from her breakfast and said, A boiled egg every morning is hard to beat. 18.  Simile: A stated comparison (usually formed with like or as) between two fundamentally dissimilar things that have certain qualities in common. Example: Roberto was white as a sheet after he walked out of the horror movie. 19.  Synecdoche: A figure of speech in which a part is used to represent the whole. Example: Tina is learning her ABCs in preschool. 20. Understatement: A figure of speech in which a writer or speaker deliberately makes a situation seem less important or serious than it is. Example: You could say Babe Ruth was a decent ballplayer, the reporter said with a wink.

Demonstrative speech Essays

Demonstrative speech Essays Demonstrative speech Paper Demonstrative speech Paper Attention grabber : *Good morning to our beloved English lecturer and my lovely classmates* (do my opening with sign languages without talking to create suspense). Guess by now all of you might already have a clue of what my topic is. Thats right , its sign language. Purpose : Today, I will be demonstrating how to do American sign language. Relation to audience : It is possible to have at least one deaf person In the school or maybe when were already working In the future. Therefore, learning sign language Is very helpful for us to communicate with them easily and have a closer bond compared to those who cant use sign language. Plus, learning sign language gives you edge in looking for jobs. Credential : My church has a pastor who loves teaching sign languages through songs, so ever since I was in elementary school, I have learned a few songs with sign languages. Lets start off with the word please. ) 2 Manners Signs Please Take your hand, have it flat on your chest and move it in a circle. Thank you Bring one hand up to your chin and bring it away. Like youre almost kissing someone goodbye. Your response would be You are welcome. The easiest one to do is to do the same sign as thank you. Excuse me Take one hand in a plate position, while the other hand with the all the fingers bent over and thumb tucked in. The hand with the fingers bent over touch the palm of the other hand and slide the hand through the fingers. You can do it two to three times. Sorry Make a fist, put it over your heart, make it go in circle Again, make sure your face matches. (Transition : Now that Eve shown you the basic languages, lets go through what you have learned today. CONCLUSION Review (Go through the basic conversations and manners sign with sign languages) Restate purpose The purpose of my demonstration is for all of you to learn how to use American sign language. You never know when you will come across someone who is suffering from hearing loss. You can use the sign languages that I taught anytime and anywhere because they are all the basic words and phrases in our daily life. Memorable ending As I end my speech, allow me to sing a song using sign language. (Twinkle twinkle little star). I hope you enjoyed my speech. Thank you. *sign language*

Website Analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Website Analysis - Assignment Example The other link takes the viewer to a game. There are also links of different dinosaurs and one on a bicycle. There is also a link that takes one to a quiz of a show. The website is single page site whose entire links are on the homepage. Some of the content in the website are lapsing each other whereas some are can be seen to appear upside down. Everything in the website seems to be in a random place. All the links in the website are seen to be separate from their pictures. The page is also seen to have a lot of different content on it. The website can be said to be just a big miss concerning all the links found in it. In the website page, there is only one thing on the content and a link in the website that is moving, and it is not in a single spot. It can be said that the intention of the website appearance was meant to be bad the way it is. The website is not appealing at all, and several things have been placed wrongly. For the starters, it lacks a banner. I suggest the creating of one in the website. Another thing is that the website should be more organized than it is. The website designer can organize the links in the website so that it can take the viewers to a similar site putting them all together. The designer should also create more than one page in the website. In this case, the website designer will use three main pages and sub-pages. The other websites can be put into categories like† I like website†, â€Å"videos† and â€Å"games†. The content in the home page should have information that details the reasons why the website was made and display interesting things and fun that an individual can find in the site. Links from the web site and subcategories can be put together. The video page can be used to show all the videos and each genre can be created for the videos as well as page for

Ethics and the Conceptual Framework Paper Essay

Ethics and the Conceptual Framework Paper - Essay Example This paper describes, analyzes and compares three areas which are: FASB conceptual framework, judgment & decision making in accounting and principle based accounting vs. rules based accounting. The conceptual framework of accounting was developed by the Financial Accounting Standards Board. The conceptual framework provides a value resource for the accounting profession, but the framework itself does not affect the day to day activities of a person working in the accounting field. It does not affect the practice of accounting directly since concepts statements do not require changes in generally accepted accounting principles, amend, modify or interpret existing accounting disclosure standards or require changes in accounting procedures or require disclosure of practices that might be in conflict with the concepts (Foster & Johnson, 2001). The primordial purpose of the existence of the conceptual framework is to serve as a base for the FASB in order to facilitate the process of standards setting for the profession. The organization is benefited since the framework provides a solid reasoning methodology which sets a reliable basis that can be utilized by the members of the organization regardless of who are the people working in any particular time period. The framework is a tool that brings consistency to the standard setting process. It helps eliminate personal bias from the standard setting process since the members of FASB are obligated to follow the conceptual framework. Another contribution of the conceptual framework to the accounting profession is that it helps create financial statements and other financial reports that are prepared in a consistent manner that result in reports which all users can understand and interpret in a similar manner. There has always been a dilemma in the accounting profession on the liberties that its professionals should have concerning the judgment and decision making criteria. Back in 1964 the organization that

Cather in the Rye Analysis Essay Example for Free

Cather in the Rye Analysis Essay Holden’s childhood, teenage years and transition into adulthood might have been different if he had a parent, teacher, and mentor like Morrie in his life. Cather in the Rye book is quite different than Tuesdays with Morrie. Morrie would influence Holden’s life if Morrie teach him a great lesson about life. How life could be different in group of people if people live it different ways. People around Holden always make him think that all people are phony. Holden never got taught life lessons by any his relatives or parents. If Holden gets true tutor who will teach him how life works and how should he has to handle it? Then he might get different experience than now he is getting in his life. According to movie Tuesdays with Morrie, Morrie could be a great tutor and teacher in anyone’s life. If Holden got to spend few days with Morrie then he could change his whole life. Morrie had some great experiences while his life that also taught him a big lesson of his own life. He was a teacher and he is a fun guy to be with. He knows how an adult should treat a teenage. He is an experienced man. He was suffering from disease named ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). The disease ravages his body, but, ironically, leaves his mind as lucid as ever. He realizes that his time is running out, and that he must share his wisdom on The Meaning of Life with the world before it is too late to do so. He broadcasted his â€Å"The Meaning of Life† on ABC-TV’s nightline. Holden is teenager, who is irresponsible and immature, having been expelled for failing four out of his five classes in his school. Holden needed to get teach by any experienced tutee and who understands problems in teen’s life. Morrie can give him a big and nice lecture or explanation on how teen’s life should be, Not like Holden’s. Holden never thinks about circumstances in his life. Most teenagers eagerly jump into a more adult role, striving to be seen as independent and mature. However, in the novel Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, at these times, teenagers are so mature than back in the time. Morrie would give him a lesson that could help Holden. Holdens struggle with school is an example of how he struggles to come to terms with the adult world. He sees all the situations that adulthood has when being surrounded by the situations and people in school. He sees pure phoniness, cruelty, and lack of individuality in school life as everyone considers themselves part of a group or else they are worthless, which is the way he sees himself. Holdens lack of emotional strength and immaturity is also part of his struggle with becoming an adult. For example, whenever he feels uncomfortable with a situation or a thought, such as when he talks about his younger brother’s death, when he is feeling lonely such as when hes walking down a lonely street, or when he is surrounded by people he feels uncomfortable with, he puts on his hunting hat, to feel and look different from the rest of the world as he mentioned and maybe also to protect himself in a way from his feelings due to his lack of emotional strength. If anyone gets a mentor or teacher like Morrie, then they will see the different change in their future and their routine life that they never ever think about it. Holden always afraid from being adult or deal with adulthood. He thought that being adult is hardest thing, if you are an adult than you cannot live your life like the way you wanted to. If anyone motivates teenage in their right age where they need to get right kind of education or explanation that all teenagers should live their life like a free bird not like prisoner in prison. Morrie know the meaning of life and he made lots mistake during his teenage years. He did not want any teenager to make mistakes like he made during his teenage years. If Holden got motivate or directed by Morrie, then he would not make some decision that he made without any thinking about which led him to bad circumstance. Holden was so scared to being an adult because he did not want to deal with all situations that all adult has to deal with it. Holden being love little kid because he does not have to deal with the same problems as adult. Sometimes he thinks as an adult, which he should not think like that because he is not going to deal with same problem as an adult. In conclusion, if Morrie get any chance to change Holden’s adulthood or teenager year then he would able to change it. He changed one of his student name Mitch. Mitch was not that bad kid but he was sort of like Holden. Some teen are so afraid from being in adulthood but if they get a true or right mentor or teacher then they would see the big difference in their life.

The Dragon Enters the War :: essays research papers

The Dragon Enters the War In June 1950, a few months after the announcement of the Beijing-Moscow alliance, the Korean crisis erupted. Early in October, shortly after the South Korean troops crossed the 38th parallel, the CCP made a final decision to enter the Korean War to fight the American-led international forces. What precipitated Beijing's decision to invade Korea? What were the CCP's motives and objectives in taking part in the Korean conflict ? What kind of role did the newly established Sino-Soviet alliance play in Beijing's decision to cross the Yalu River? This paper tries to answer those questions.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Chinese ideogram for crisis is a combination of the ideograms for danger and opportunity. To the leaders of the People’s Republic of China, the Korean War was both. As the UN forces advanced north toward the Yalu, Beijing prepared for war. Mao still found the decision to go to war a difficult one, however, despite the pressure to intervene. Following the Inchon landings, Kim Il Sung had dispatched two of his top aides to Beijing and asked Mao for emergency help, but the Chinese were not ready to make any firm commitment. Stalin, following the landings, also pleaded with the Chinese to go to the aid of the North Koreans. According to Chinese sources, the Soviet leader promised to provide air cover for the Chinese troops and to send Russian troops in the event the Chinese army faltered. Still, Mao hesitated. Most disturbing to Mao, if the Chinese armies intervened and were pushed back would Stalin really send troops as promised in order to save China? Als o of concern, if China became involved in a war with the United States, China’s dependence on Stalin would inevitably grow, an unsavory thought to Mao. Finally, all hope of conquering Taiwan would vanish indefinitely.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Despite his hesitance, step-by-step Mao moved closer to intervention. On October 1, Sdtalin telegraphed Mao and encouraged him to send â€Å"volunteer† Chinese soldiers into North Korea for the purpose of defending the area north of the 38th Parallel. On October 2, Mao directed the Chinese Politburo to pass a resolution to send these Chinese troops into North Korea, beginning on October 15. The same day, Mao cabled Stalin of China’s decision to send volunteers into Korea to â€Å"fight the United States and its lackey Syngman Rhee.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Although Chinese preparations for war accelerated, Mao refused to give the green light, perhaps held back by the reservations expressed by some of the other members of the Politburo.

Niccolò Machiavelli and Desiderius Erasmus Essay

Machiavelli and Erasmus were both humanists, but had very different points of view. Machiavelli whose writing was from the Italian humanist’s view, when Erasmus wrote from the points of view of Christian humanist in Europe may be one of reasons for huge differences in Machiavelli’s and Erasmus’ thoughts. However, these two styles of humanism provided us means to â€Å"generalize about the meaning of the Renaissance.†(303). According to Lawrence in his book Culture and Values A Survey of the Humanities, Machiavelli â€Å"sees Christianity’s role in politics as a disaster that destroys the power of the state to govern.†(302). In other words, the Church interfered deeply in everything, especially in state management. A good example of this is Henry VIII, who ruled England from 1509 to 1547 and remains one of English most famous and controversial king because of his divorce from his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. Henry VIII wanted to divorce from Catherine that followed by marriage to Anne Boleyn. But, the Church of Rome did not allow him to do what he had wanted for so long, about six years. In 1534, Henry VIII broke with the Church of Rome over his divorce, found his own church and made himself Head of the Church of England. Clearly, Henry VIII who was a king of England, had no ability of divorcing his wife without the Church of Rome’s sanction unless he cut off all the connections from Rome. That is to say that the Church had an immense large religious influence on much of the power of a state to govern, in other words, politics. From Machiavelli’s point of view, â€Å"the state needs to restrict the power of the Church, allowing it to exercise is office only in the spiritual realm.†(302). I strongly agree with Machiavelli that there are always so much conflicts between the politics and the church that these two powerful influences can not share power and influence. In the Christian’s view, Erasmus â€Å"felt that learning from the past could be wedded to the Christian tradition to create an instrument for social reform.†(303). He realized the religious corruption, and piercingly taunted the barrenness of scholarship provided by the Church and excessively superstitious manners. Erasmus’s ideal which was combining religion and politics seems to be impossible at that time, even at the present. On the other hand, Machiavelli theory does not concern about morality and is cruel. The prince, a favorite Machiavelli’s illustration, demonstrated clearly his point of view:† The prince must be as sly as the fox and as brutal as the lion.† and † cruelty or hypocrisy is permissible; judicious cruelty consolidates power and discourages revolution.†(302). These two typically statements explains why Machiavelli’s reputation is very bad toward the Catholic Church. Nevertheless, Machiavelli’s pragmatism has a strong attraction to lots of politicians such as Napoleon and Catherine the Great of Russia. In brief, although there are reverse attitudes between Machiavelli and Erasmus, both men’s views brought us glimpses towards the meaning of the Renaissance and the general understanding of the evolution of a culture. Works Cited Lawrence Cunningham and John Reich, Culture and Values A Survey of the Humanities, Thomson Wadsworth, 2002.