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AP English Flashcards

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6577971149alliterationThe repetition of the same sound or letter at the beginning of consecutive words or syllables0
6577971150allusionAn indirect reference, often to another text or a historic event1
6577971151analogyAn extended comparison between two seemingly dissimilar things2
6577971152anaphoraThe repetition of words at the beginning of successive clauses3
6577971153ancedoteA short account of an interesting event4
6577971154annotationExplanatory or critical notes added to the text5
6577971155antecedentThe noun to which a later pronoun refers6
6577971156antimetaboleThe repetition of words in an inverted order to sharpen a contrast7
6577971157antithesisParallel structure that juxtaposes contrasting ideas8
6577971158aphorismA short, astute statement of a general truth9
6577971159appositiveA word or phrase that renames a nearby noun or pronoun10
6577971160archaic dictionThe use of words common to an earlier time period; antiquated language11
6577971161argumentA statement put forth and supported by evidence12
6577971162Aristotelian triangleA diagram that represents a rhetorical situation as the relationship among the speaker, the subject, and the audience (see rhetorical triangle)13
6577971163assertionAn emphatic statement; declaration. An assertion supported by evidence becomes argument14
6577971164assumptionA belief or statement taken for granted without proof15
6577971165asyndetonLeaving out conjunctions between words, phrases, clauses16
6577971166attitudeThe speaker's position on a subject as revealed through his or her tone17
6577971167audienceOne's listener or readership' those to whom a speech or piece of writing is addressed18
6577971168authorityA reliable, respected source - someone with knowledge19
6577971169biasPrejudice or predisposition toward one side of a subject or issue20
6577971170citeIdentifying a part of a piece of writing as being derived from a source21
6577971171claimAn assertion, usually supported by evidence22
6577971172close readingA careful reading that is attentive to organization, figurative language, sentence structure, vocabulary, and other literary and structural elements of a text23
6577971173colloquial/ismAn informal or conversational use of language24
6577971174common groundShared beliefs, values, or positions25
6577971175complex sentenceA sentence that includes one independent clause and at least one dependent clause26
6577971176concessionA reluctant acknowledgement or yielding27
6577971177connotationThat which is implied by a word, as opposed to the word's literal meaning (see denotation)28
6577971178contextWords, events, or circumstances that help determine meaning29
6577971179coordinationGrammatical equivalence between parts of a sentence, often through a coordinating conjunction such as and, or but30
6577971180counterargumentA challenge to a position; an opposing argument31
6577971181credibleWorthy of belief; trustworthy32
6577971182cumulative sentenceAn independent clause followed by subordinate clauses or phrases that supply additional detail33
6577971183declarative sentenceA sentence that makes a statement34
6577971184deductionReasoning from general to specific35
6577971185denotationThe literal meaning of a word; its dictionary definition36
6577971186dialectal journalA double-column journal in which one writes a quotation in one column and reflections on that quotation in the other column37
6577971187dictionWord choice38
6577971188documentationBibliographic information about the sources used in a piece of writing39
6577971189elegiacMournful over what has passed or been lost; often used to describe tone40
6577971190epigramA brief witty statement41
6577971191ethosA Greek term referring to the character of a person on of Aristotle's three rhetorical appeals (see logos and pathos)42
6577971192explication of textExplanation of a text's meaning through an analysis of all of its constituent parts, including the literary devices used; also called close reading43
6577971193factsInformation that is true or demonstrable44
6577971194figurative languageThe use of tropes or figures of speech; going beyond literal meaning to achieve literary effect45
6577971195figure of speechAn expression that strives for literary effect rather than conveying a literal meaning46
6577971196fragmentA word, phrase, or clause that does not form a full sentence47
6577971197hortatoryUrging, or strongly encouraging48
6577971198hyperboleExaggeration for the purpose of emphasis49
6577971199imageryVivid use of language that evokes a reader's senses (sight, smell, taste, touch, hearing)50
6577971200imperative sentencesA sentence that requests or commands51
6577971201inductionReasoning from specific to general52
6577971202inversionA sentence in which the verb precedes the subject53
6577971203ironyA contradiction between what is said and what is meant; incongruity between action and result54
6577971204juxtapositionPlacement of two things side by side for emphasis55
6577971205logosA Greek term that means "word"; an appeal to logic; one of Aristotle's three rhetorical appeals (see ethos and pathos)56
6577971206metaphorA figure of speech or trope through which one thing is spoken of as though it were something else, thus making an implicit comparison57
6577971207metonymyUse of an aspect of something to represent the whole58
6577971208modifierA word, phrase, or clause that qualifies or describes another word, phrase, or clause59
6577971209narrationRetelling an event or series of events60
6577971210nominalizationTurning a verb or adjective into a noun61
6577971211occasionAn aspect of context; the cause or reason for writing62
6577971212omniscient narratorAn all-knowing, usually third-person narrator63
6577971213oxymoronA figure of speech that combines two contradictory terms64
6577971214pacingThe relative speed or slowness with which a story is told or an idea is presented65
6577971215paradoxA statement that seems contradictory but is actually true66
6577971216parallelismThe repetition of similar grammatical or syntactical patterns67
6577971217parodyA piece that imitates and exaggerates the prominent features of another; used for comic effect or ridcule68
6577971218pathosA Greek term that refers to suffering but has come to be associated with broader appeals to emotion; one of Aristotle's three rhetorical appeals (see ethos and logos)69
6577971219periodic sentenceA sentence that builds toward and ends with the main clause70
6577971220personaThe speaker, voice, or character assumed by the author of a piece of writing71
6577971221personificationAssigning lifelike characteristics to inanimate objects72
6577971222polemicAn argument against an idea, usually regarding philosophy, politics, or religion73
6577971223polysyndetonThe deliberate use of a series of conjunctions74
6577971224premise; major, minorTwo parts of a syllogism. The concluding sentence of a syllogism takes its predicate from the major premise and its subject from the minor premise Major premise: All mammals are warm-blooded Minor premise: All horses are mammals Conclusion: All horses are warm blooded (see syllogism)75
6577971225pronounA word used to replace a noun or noun phrase76
6577971226propagandaA negative term for writing designed to sway opinion rather than present information77
6577971227purposeOne's intention or objective in a speech or piece of writing78
6577971228refuteTo discredit an argument, particularly a counterargument79
6577971229rhetoricThe study of effective, persuasive language use; according to Aristotle, use of the "available means of persuasion"80
6577971230rhetorical modesPatterns of organization developed to achieve a specific purpose; modes include but are not limited to narration, description, comparison and contrast, cause and effect, definition, exemplification, classification and division, process analysis, and argumentation81
6577971231rhetorical questionA question asked more to produce an effect than to summon an answer82
6577971232rhetorical triangleA diagram that represents a rhetorical situation as the relationship among the speaker, the subject, and the audience (see Aristotelian triangle)83
6577971233satireAn ironic, sarcastic, or witty composition that claims to argue for something, but actually argues against it84
6577971234schemeA pattern of words or sentence construction used for rhetorical effect85
6577971235sentence patternsThe arrangement of independent and dependent clauses into known sentence constructions -- such as simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex86
6577971236sentence varietyUsing a variety of sentence patterns to create a desired effect87
6577971237simileA figure of speech that uses "like" or "as" to compare two things88
6577971238simple sentenceA statement containing a subject and predicate; an independent clause89
6577971239sourceA book, article, person, or other resource consulted for information90
6577971240speakerA term used for the author, speaker, or the person whose perspective (real or imagined) is being advanced in a speech or piece of writing91
6577971241straw manA logical fallacy that involves the creation of an easily refutable position; misrepresenting, then attacking an opponent's position92
6577971242styleThe distinctive quality of speech or writing created by the selection and arrangement of words and figures of speech93
6577971243subjectIn rhetoric, the topic addressed in a piece of writing94
6577971244subordinate clauseCreated by a subordinating conjunction, a clause that modifies an independent clause95
6577971245subordinationThe dependence of one syntactical element on another in a sentence96
6577971246syllogismA form of deductive reasoning in which the conclusion is supported by a major and minor premise (see premise; major, and minor)97
6577971247syntaxSentence structure98
6577971248synthesizeCombining or bringing together two or more elements to produce something more complex99
6577971249thesisThe central idea in a work to which all parts of the work refer100
6577971250thesis statementA statement of the central idea in a work, may be explicit or implicit101
6577971251toneThe speaker's attitude toward the subject or audience102
6577971252topic sentenceA sentence, most often appearing at the beginning of a paragraph, that announces the paragraphs's idea and often unites it with the work's thesis103
6577971253tropeArtful diction; the use of language in a non-literal way also called a figure of speech104
6577971254understatementLack of emphasis in a statement or point; restraint in language often used for ironic effect105
6577971255voiceIn grammar, a term for the relationship between a verb and a noun (active or passive voice). In rhetoric, a distinctive quality in the style and tone of writing106
6577971256zeugmaA construction in which one word (usually a verb) modifies or governs-- often in different, sometimes incongruent ways-- two or more words in a sentence107

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