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AP English Flashcards

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6658508765alliterationThe repetition of the same sound or letter at the beginning of consecutive words or syllables0
6658508766allusionAn indirect reference, often to another text or a historic event1
6658508767analogyAn extended comparison between two seemingly dissimilar things2
6658508768anaphoraThe repetition of words at the beginning of successive clauses3
6658508769ancedoteA short account of an interesting event4
6658508770annotationExplanatory or critical notes added to the text5
6658508771antecedentThe noun to which a later pronoun refers6
6658508772antimetaboleThe repetition of words in an inverted order to sharpen a contrast7
6658508773antithesisParallel structure that juxtaposes contrasting ideas8
6658508774aphorismA short, astute statement of a general truth9
6658508775appositiveA word or phrase that renames a nearby noun or pronoun10
6658508776archaic dictionThe use of words common to an earlier time period; antiquated language11
6658508777argumentA statement put forth and supported by evidence12
6658508778Aristotelian triangleA diagram that represents a rhetorical situation as the relationship among the speaker, the subject, and the audience (see rhetorical triangle)13
6658508779assertionAn emphatic statement; declaration. An assertion supported by evidence becomes argument14
6658508780assumptionA belief or statement taken for granted without proof15
6658508781asyndetonLeaving out conjunctions between words, phrases, clauses16
6658508782attitudeThe speaker's position on a subject as revealed through his or her tone17
6658508783audienceOne's listener or readership' those to whom a speech or piece of writing is addressed18
6658508784authorityA reliable, respected source - someone with knowledge19
6658508785biasPrejudice or predisposition toward one side of a subject or issue20
6658508786citeIdentifying a part of a piece of writing as being derived from a source21
6658508787claimAn assertion, usually supported by evidence22
6658508788close readingA careful reading that is attentive to organization, figurative language, sentence structure, vocabulary, and other literary and structural elements of a text23
6658508789colloquial/ismAn informal or conversational use of language24
6658508790common groundShared beliefs, values, or positions25
6658508791complex sentenceA sentence that includes one independent clause and at least one dependent clause26
6658508792concessionA reluctant acknowledgement or yielding27
6658508793connotationThat which is implied by a word, as opposed to the word's literal meaning (see denotation)28
6658508794contextWords, events, or circumstances that help determine meaning29
6658508795coordinationGrammatical equivalence between parts of a sentence, often through a coordinating conjunction such as and, or but30
6658508796counterargumentA challenge to a position; an opposing argument31
6658508797credibleWorthy of belief; trustworthy32
6658508798cumulative sentenceAn independent clause followed by subordinate clauses or phrases that supply additional detail33
6658508799declarative sentenceA sentence that makes a statement34
6658508800deductionReasoning from general to specific35
6658508801denotationThe literal meaning of a word; its dictionary definition36
6658508802dialectal journalA double-column journal in which one writes a quotation in one column and reflections on that quotation in the other column37
6658508803dictionWord choice38
6658508804documentationBibliographic information about the sources used in a piece of writing39
6658508805elegiacMournful over what has passed or been lost; often used to describe tone40
6658508806epigramA brief witty statement41
6658508807ethosA Greek term referring to the character of a person on of Aristotle's three rhetorical appeals (see logos and pathos)42
6658508808explication 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
6658508809factsInformation that is true or demonstrable44
6658508810figurative languageThe use of tropes or figures of speech; going beyond literal meaning to achieve literary effect45
6658508811figure of speechAn expression that strives for literary effect rather than conveying a literal meaning46
6658508812fragmentA word, phrase, or clause that does not form a full sentence47
6658508813hortatoryUrging, or strongly encouraging48
6658508814hyperboleExaggeration for the purpose of emphasis49
6658508815imageryVivid use of language that evokes a reader's senses (sight, smell, taste, touch, hearing)50
6658508816imperative sentencesA sentence that requests or commands51
6658508817inductionReasoning from specific to general52
6658508818inversionA sentence in which the verb precedes the subject53
6658508819ironyA contradiction between what is said and what is meant; incongruity between action and result54
6658508820juxtapositionPlacement of two things side by side for emphasis55
6658508821logosA Greek term that means "word"; an appeal to logic; one of Aristotle's three rhetorical appeals (see ethos and pathos)56
6658508822metaphorA figure of speech or trope through which one thing is spoken of as though it were something else, thus making an implicit comparison57
6658508823metonymyUse of an aspect of something to represent the whole58
6658508824modifierA word, phrase, or clause that qualifies or describes another word, phrase, or clause59
6658508825narrationRetelling an event or series of events60
6658508826nominalizationTurning a verb or adjective into a noun61
6658508827occasionAn aspect of context; the cause or reason for writing62
6658508828omniscient narratorAn all-knowing, usually third-person narrator63
6658508829oxymoronA figure of speech that combines two contradictory terms64
6658508830pacingThe relative speed or slowness with which a story is told or an idea is presented65
6658508831paradoxA statement that seems contradictory but is actually true66
6658508832parallelismThe repetition of similar grammatical or syntactical patterns67
6658508833parodyA piece that imitates and exaggerates the prominent features of another; used for comic effect or ridcule68
6658508834pathosA 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
6658508835periodic sentenceA sentence that builds toward and ends with the main clause70
6658508836personaThe speaker, voice, or character assumed by the author of a piece of writing71
6658508837personificationAssigning lifelike characteristics to inanimate objects72
6658508838polemicAn argument against an idea, usually regarding philosophy, politics, or religion73
6658508839polysyndetonThe deliberate use of a series of conjunctions74
6658508840premise; 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
6658508841pronounA word used to replace a noun or noun phrase76
6658508842propagandaA negative term for writing designed to sway opinion rather than present information77
6658508843purposeOne's intention or objective in a speech or piece of writing78
6658508844refuteTo discredit an argument, particularly a counterargument79
6658508845rhetoricThe study of effective, persuasive language use; according to Aristotle, use of the "available means of persuasion"80
6658508846rhetorical 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
6658508847rhetorical questionA question asked more to produce an effect than to summon an answer82
6658508848rhetorical triangleA diagram that represents a rhetorical situation as the relationship among the speaker, the subject, and the audience (see Aristotelian triangle)83
6658508849satireAn ironic, sarcastic, or witty composition that claims to argue for something, but actually argues against it84
6658508850schemeA pattern of words or sentence construction used for rhetorical effect85
6658508851sentence patternsThe arrangement of independent and dependent clauses into known sentence constructions -- such as simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex86
6658508852sentence varietyUsing a variety of sentence patterns to create a desired effect87
6658508853simileA figure of speech that uses "like" or "as" to compare two things88
6658508854simple sentenceA statement containing a subject and predicate; an independent clause89
6658508855sourceA book, article, person, or other resource consulted for information90
6658508856speakerA term used for the author, speaker, or the person whose perspective (real or imagined) is being advanced in a speech or piece of writing91
6658508857straw manA logical fallacy that involves the creation of an easily refutable position; misrepresenting, then attacking an opponent's position92
6658508858styleThe distinctive quality of speech or writing created by the selection and arrangement of words and figures of speech93
6658508859subjectIn rhetoric, the topic addressed in a piece of writing94
6658508860subordinate clauseCreated by a subordinating conjunction, a clause that modifies an independent clause95
6658508861subordinationThe dependence of one syntactical element on another in a sentence96
6658508862syllogismA form of deductive reasoning in which the conclusion is supported by a major and minor premise (see premise; major, and minor)97
6658508863syntaxSentence structure98
6658508864synthesizeCombining or bringing together two or more elements to produce something more complex99
6658508865thesisThe central idea in a work to which all parts of the work refer100
6658508866thesis statementA statement of the central idea in a work, may be explicit or implicit101
6658508867toneThe speaker's attitude toward the subject or audience102
6658508868topic 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
6658508869tropeArtful diction; the use of language in a non-literal way also called a figure of speech104
6658508870understatementLack of emphasis in a statement or point; restraint in language often used for ironic effect105
6658508871voiceIn 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
6658508872zeugmaA 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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