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AP English Flashcards

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9221951000alliterationThe repetition of the same sound or letter at the beginning of consecutive words or syllables0
9221951001allusionAn indirect reference, often to another text or a historic event1
9221951002analogyAn extended comparison between two seemingly dissimilar things2
9221951003anaphoraThe repetition of words at the beginning of successive clauses3
9221951004ancedoteA short account of an interesting event4
9221951005annotationExplanatory or critical notes added to the text5
9221951006antecedentThe noun to which a later pronoun refers6
9221951007antimetaboleThe repetition of words in an inverted order to sharpen a contrast7
9221951008antithesisParallel structure that juxtaposes contrasting ideas8
9221951009aphorismA short, astute statement of a general truth9
9221951010appositiveA word or phrase that renames a nearby noun or pronoun10
9221951011archaic dictionThe use of words common to an earlier time period; antiquated language11
9221951012argumentA statement put forth and supported by evidence12
9221951013Aristotelian triangleA diagram that represents a rhetorical situation as the relationship among the speaker, the subject, and the audience (see rhetorical triangle)13
9221951014assertionAn emphatic statement; declaration. An assertion supported by evidence becomes argument14
9221951015assumptionA belief or statement taken for granted without proof15
9221951016asyndetonLeaving out conjunctions between words, phrases, clauses16
9221951017attitudeThe speaker's position on a subject as revealed through his or her tone17
9221951018audienceOne's listener or readership' those to whom a speech or piece of writing is addressed18
9221951019authorityA reliable, respected source - someone with knowledge19
9221951020biasPrejudice or predisposition toward one side of a subject or issue20
9221951021citeIdentifying a part of a piece of writing as being derived from a source21
9221951022claimAn assertion, usually supported by evidence22
9221951023close readingA careful reading that is attentive to organization, figurative language, sentence structure, vocabulary, and other literary and structural elements of a text23
9221951024colloquial/ismAn informal or conversational use of language24
9221951025common groundShared beliefs, values, or positions25
9221951026complex sentenceA sentence that includes one independent clause and at least one dependent clause26
9221951027concessionA reluctant acknowledgement or yielding27
9221951028connotationThat which is implied by a word, as opposed to the word's literal meaning (see denotation)28
9221951029contextWords, events, or circumstances that help determine meaning29
9221951030coordinationGrammatical equivalence between parts of a sentence, often through a coordinating conjunction such as and, or but30
9221951031counterargumentA challenge to a position; an opposing argument31
9221951032credibleWorthy of belief; trustworthy32
9221951033cumulative sentenceAn independent clause followed by subordinate clauses or phrases that supply additional detail33
9221951034declarative sentenceA sentence that makes a statement34
9221951035deductionReasoning from general to specific35
9221951036denotationThe literal meaning of a word; its dictionary definition36
9221951037dialectal journalA double-column journal in which one writes a quotation in one column and reflections on that quotation in the other column37
9221951038dictionWord choice38
9221951039documentationBibliographic information about the sources used in a piece of writing39
9221951040elegiacMournful over what has passed or been lost; often used to describe tone40
9221951041epigramA brief witty statement41
9221951042ethosA Greek term referring to the character of a person on of Aristotle's three rhetorical appeals (see logos and pathos)42
9221951043explication 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
9221951044factsInformation that is true or demonstrable44
9221951045figurative languageThe use of tropes or figures of speech; going beyond literal meaning to achieve literary effect45
9221951046figure of speechAn expression that strives for literary effect rather than conveying a literal meaning46
9221951047fragmentA word, phrase, or clause that does not form a full sentence47
9221951048hortatoryUrging, or strongly encouraging48
9221951049hyperboleExaggeration for the purpose of emphasis49
9221951050imageryVivid use of language that evokes a reader's senses (sight, smell, taste, touch, hearing)50
9221951051imperative sentencesA sentence that requests or commands51
9221951052inductionReasoning from specific to general52
9221951053inversionA sentence in which the verb precedes the subject53
9221951054ironyA contradiction between what is said and what is meant; incongruity between action and result54
9221951055juxtapositionPlacement of two things side by side for emphasis55
9221951056logosA Greek term that means "word"; an appeal to logic; one of Aristotle's three rhetorical appeals (see ethos and pathos)56
9221951057metaphorA figure of speech or trope through which one thing is spoken of as though it were something else, thus making an implicit comparison57
9221951058metonymyUse of an aspect of something to represent the whole58
9221951059modifierA word, phrase, or clause that qualifies or describes another word, phrase, or clause59
9221951060narrationRetelling an event or series of events60
9221951061nominalizationTurning a verb or adjective into a noun61
9221951062occasionAn aspect of context; the cause or reason for writing62
9221951063omniscient narratorAn all-knowing, usually third-person narrator63
9221951064oxymoronA figure of speech that combines two contradictory terms64
9221951065pacingThe relative speed or slowness with which a story is told or an idea is presented65
9221951066paradoxA statement that seems contradictory but is actually true66
9221951067parallelismThe repetition of similar grammatical or syntactical patterns67
9221951068parodyA piece that imitates and exaggerates the prominent features of another; used for comic effect or ridcule68
9221951069pathosA 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
9221951070periodic sentenceA sentence that builds toward and ends with the main clause70
9221951071personaThe speaker, voice, or character assumed by the author of a piece of writing71
9221951072personificationAssigning lifelike characteristics to inanimate objects72
9221951073polemicAn argument against an idea, usually regarding philosophy, politics, or religion73
9221951074polysyndetonThe deliberate use of a series of conjunctions74
9221951075premise; 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
9221951076pronounA word used to replace a noun or noun phrase76
9221951077propagandaA negative term for writing designed to sway opinion rather than present information77
9221951078purposeOne's intention or objective in a speech or piece of writing78
9221951079refuteTo discredit an argument, particularly a counterargument79
9221951080rhetoricThe study of effective, persuasive language use; according to Aristotle, use of the "available means of persuasion"80
9221951081rhetorical 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
9221951082rhetorical questionA question asked more to produce an effect than to summon an answer82
9221951083rhetorical triangleA diagram that represents a rhetorical situation as the relationship among the speaker, the subject, and the audience (see Aristotelian triangle)83
9221951084satireAn ironic, sarcastic, or witty composition that claims to argue for something, but actually argues against it84
9221951085schemeA pattern of words or sentence construction used for rhetorical effect85
9221951086sentence patternsThe arrangement of independent and dependent clauses into known sentence constructions -- such as simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex86
9221951087sentence varietyUsing a variety of sentence patterns to create a desired effect87
9221951088simileA figure of speech that uses "like" or "as" to compare two things88
9221951089simple sentenceA statement containing a subject and predicate; an independent clause89
9221951090sourceA book, article, person, or other resource consulted for information90
9221951091speakerA term used for the author, speaker, or the person whose perspective (real or imagined) is being advanced in a speech or piece of writing91
9221951092straw manA logical fallacy that involves the creation of an easily refutable position; misrepresenting, then attacking an opponent's position92
9221951093styleThe distinctive quality of speech or writing created by the selection and arrangement of words and figures of speech93
9221951094subjectIn rhetoric, the topic addressed in a piece of writing94
9221951095subordinate clauseCreated by a subordinating conjunction, a clause that modifies an independent clause95
9221951096subordinationThe dependence of one syntactical element on another in a sentence96
9221951097syllogismA form of deductive reasoning in which the conclusion is supported by a major and minor premise (see premise; major, and minor)97
9221951098syntaxSentence structure98
9221951099synthesizeCombining or bringing together two or more elements to produce something more complex99
9221951100thesisThe central idea in a work to which all parts of the work refer100
9221951101thesis statementA statement of the central idea in a work, may be explicit or implicit101
9221951102toneThe speaker's attitude toward the subject or audience102
9221951103topic 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
9221951104tropeArtful diction; the use of language in a non-literal way also called a figure of speech104
9221951105understatementLack of emphasis in a statement or point; restraint in language often used for ironic effect105
9221951106voiceIn 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
9221951107zeugmaA 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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