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AP English Language Terms Flashcards

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14379961879Litotes/Understatementa figure of speech in which a negative statement is used to affirm a positive statement.0
14406323365Kairosan Ancient Greek word meaning the right, critical, or opportune moment.1
14406358654Synecdochea figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa2
14406331675Decorumproper and polite behavior3
14406340670Audiencethe assembled spectators or listeners at a public event, such as a play, movie, concert, or meeting4
14379966116Cumulative (Loose) SentenceA type of sentence in which the main idea (independent clause) comes first, followed by dependent grammatical units such as phrases and clauses.5
14379968811Periodic Sentencea sentence that, by leaving the completion of its main clause to the end, produces an effect of suspense. The opposite of loose sentence, a sentence that presents its central meaning in a main clause at the end.6
14379970678Warrantexpresses the assumption necessarily shared by the speaker and the audience.7
14379972597Ethosan appeal to ethics and it is a means of convincing someone of the character or credibility of the persuader.8
14379975566Pathosan appeal to emotion, and is a way of convincing an audience of an argument by creating an emotional response.9
14379977206Logosan appeal to logic, and is a way of persuading an audience by reason.10
14379978886Concessionan acknowledgement that an opposing argument may be true or reasonable.11
14379980054SyllogismA logical structure that uses the major premise and minor premise to reach a necessary conclusion.12
14379981308Major premisecontains the term that is the predicate of the conclusion.13
14379983467Minor premisecontains the term that is the subject of the conclusion.14
14379984521Inductiona logical process wherein you reason from particulars to universal, using specific cases in order to draw a conclusion, which is also called a generalization.15
14379985535Deductiona logical process wherein you reach a conclusion by starting with a general principle or universal truth (a major premise).16
14379986919Equivocationa fallacy of argument in which a lie is given the appearance of truth, or in which the truth is misrepresented in deceptive language.17
14379988565Refutationa denial of the validity of an opposing argument.18
14379990165Dictiona speaker's choice of words. Analysis of diction looks at these choices and what they add to the speaker's message.19
14379994136Similea figure of speech used to explain or clarify an idea by comparing it explicitly to something else, using words like, as, or as though.20
14379996107Metaphorfigure of speech that compares two unlike things without using like or as.21
14379997305Anaphorathe intentional repetition of beginning clauses in order to create an artistic effect.22
14379998468Rhetoricit is the art of finding ways of persuading an audience.23
14379999967Rhetorical Trianglespeaker-subject-audience24
14380003281Hyperboledeliberate exaggeration used for emphasis or to produce a comic or ironic effect; an overstatement to make a point.25
14380005161Personificationattribution of a lifelike quality to an inanimate object or an idea.26
14380007701Asyndetonomission of conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses, or words.27
14380010161Polysyndetonthe deliberate use of multiple conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses or words.28
14380011861Parallelismsimilarity of structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases, or clauses.29
14380013141Antithesisopposition, or contrast or ideas or words in a parallel construction; the direct opposite30
14380015040Enumerationto mention separately as if in counting; name one by one; specify, as in list31
14380016680Rhetorical QuestionFigure of speech in the form of a question posed for the rhetorical effect rather than for the purpose of getting an answer. Ex.) Are you stupid?32
14380019351Chiasmusthe reversal in the order of words in two otherwise parallel phrases. Ex.) He went to the country, the country went to him.33
14380020614RebuttalIn the Toulon model, a rebuttal gives voice to possible objections.34
14380022869Fallacy of Argumenta flaw in the structure of an argument that renders its conclusion invalid or suspect.35
14380024082Bandwagon Appeala fallacy of argument in which a course of action is recommended on the grounds that everyone else is following it.36
14380025789Begging the Questiona fallacy of argument in which a claim is based on the very grounds that are in doubt or dispute.37
14380026824Anecdotea brief story used to illustrate a point or claim.38
14380028449Modes of DisclosureExposition- illustrates a point Narration- tells a story Description- creates a sensory image Argumentation- takes a position on an issue and defends it.39
14380030342Examplea specific event, person, or detail of an idea cited and/or developed to support or illustrate a thesis or topic.40
14380031774Contrast/ Comparisona method of presenting similarities and differences between or among at least two persons, places, things, ideas, etc. may be organized by: Subject by subject Point by point Combination41
14380033665Cause and Effectestablishes a relationship: B is the result of A.42
14380035295Classificationseparates items into major categories and details the characteristics of each group is placed within the category.43
14380038406Processsimply "how to" do something is done. It can have one of two purposes. It can either give instructions or inform the reader about how something is done.44
14380039714Definitionidentifies the class to which a specific term belongs and those characteristics which make it different from all the other items in that class.45
14380040839Narrationis nothing more than storytelling. There is a beginning, a middle, and an end.46
14380041869Descriptionwriting that appeals to the senses. It can be objective, which is scientific or clinical, or it can be impressionistic, which tries to involve the reader's emotions or feelings.47
14380042834Dogmatisma fallacy of argument in which a claim is supported on the grounds that it's the only conclusion acceptable within a given community.48
14380044615False Dilemma or Dichotomya fallacy of argument in which a complicated issue is misrepresented as offering only two possible alternatives, one of which is often made to seem vastly preferable to the other.49
14380046174False authoritya fallacy of argument in which a claim is based on the expertise of someone who lacks appropriate credentials.50
14380049528Faulty causalitya fallacy of argument making the unwarranted assumption that because one event follows another, the first event causes the second. Also called post hoc, ergo propter hoc, this forms the basis of many superstitions.51
14380050789Hasty generalizationa fallacy of argument in which an inference is drawn from insufficient data.52
14380064281Non sequitura fallacy of argument in which claims, reasons, or warrants fail to connect logically; one point doesn't follow from another.53
14406170356AllegoryThe device of using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning. A story in which each aspect of the story has a symbolic meaning outside the tale itself.54
14406171615AlliterationThe repetition of sounds, especially initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words (as in "she sells sea shells").55
14406173399AllusionA direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly known, such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art.56
14406176703AmbiguityThe multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage.57
14406177612AnalogyA similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them.58
14406178889AntecedentThe word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.59
14406188640AphorismA terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or a moral principle. (If the authorship is unknown, the statement is generally considered to be a folk proverb.)60
14406190484ApostropheA prayer like figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love. It is an address to someone or something that cannot answer.61
14406198118AtmosphereThe emotional nod created by the entirety of a literary work, established partly by the setting and partly by the author's choice of objects that are described.62
14406199147Caricaturea verbal description, the purpose of which is to exaggerate or distort, for comic effect, a person's distinctive physical features or other characteristics.63
14406200570ClauseA grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb.64
14406201390Colloquial/ColloquialismThe use of slang or informalities in speech or writing.65
14406203272Literary ConceitA fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects; displays intellectual cleverness through unusual comparisons that make good sense66
14406205509ConnotationThe non-literal, associative meaning of a word; the implied, suggested meaning.67
14406207311DenotationThe strict, literal, dictionary definition of a word, devoid of any emotion, attitude, or color.68
14406210463DidacticFrom the Greek, didactic literally means "teaching."69
14406212936EuphemismFrom the Greek for "good speech," euphemisms are a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept - POLITICALLY CORRECT70
14406214329Extended MetaphorA metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout a work.71
14406215851Figurative LanguageWriting or speech that is not intended to carry literal meaning and is usually meant to be imaginative and vivid72
14406217811Figure of speechA device used to produce figurative language. Many compare dissimilar things. Figures of speech include apotrophe hyperbole irony metaphor oxymoron paradox personification simile syneddoche understatement73
14406219859GenreThe major category into which a literary work fits. The basic divisions of literature are prose, poetry, and drama.74
14406221258HomilyThis term literally means "sermon," but more informally, it can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice.75
14406222014ImageryThe sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or represent abstractions.76
14406225343Inference/inferTo draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented.77
14406226134Invectivean emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language.78
14406227199Irony/ironicThe contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant, or the difference between what appears to be and what is actually true.79
14406240849MetonymyA figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it.80
14406241838MoodThe prevailing atmosphere or emotional aura of a work.81
14406242879NarrativeThe telling of a story or an account of an event or series of events.82
14406244177OnomatopoeiaA figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words.83
14406245360Oxymorona figure of speech wherein the author groups apparently contradictory terms to suggest a paradox.84
14406247054ParadoxA statement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense but upon closer inspection contains some degree of truth or validity.85
14406249685ParodyA work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.86
14406250696PedanticAn adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish (language that might be described as "show-offy"; using big words for the sake of using big words).87
14406258877Point of viewIn literature, the perspective from which a story is told.88
14406262359Prosewritten or spoken language in its ordinary form, without metrical structure.89
14406263033RepetitionThe duplication, either exact or approximate, of any element of language, such as a sound, word, phrase, clause, sentence, or grammatical pattern.90
14406264616SarcasmInvolves bitter, caustic language that is meant to hurt or ridicule someone or something.91
14406266841SatireA work that targets human vices and follies or social institutions and conventions for reform or ridicule.92
14406268024Subordinate clauseLike all clauses, this word group contains both a subject and a verb (plus any accompanying phrases or modifiers), but unlike the independent clause, this clause cannot stand alone; it does not express a complete thought.93
14406269202Symbol/symbolismGenerally, anything that represents itself and stands for something else.94
14406272081SyntaxThe way an author chooses to join words into phrases, clauses, and sentences.95
14406273647ThemeThe central idea or message of a work, the insight it offers into life.96
14406274787ThesisThe sentence or group of sentences that directly expresses the author's opinion, purpose, meaning, or position.97
14406275571ToneDescribes the author's attitude toward his material, the audience, or both.98
14406276553TransitionA word or phrase that links different ideas. Used especially, although not exclusively, in expository and argumentative writing, effectively signal a shift from one idea to another.99
14406277291Understatementthe ironic minimalizing of fact; presents something as less significant than it is.100
14406277915Witin modern usage, intellectually amusing language that surprises and delights.101
14406279070Slippery SlopeThis is the failure to provide evidence to support a claim that one event will lead to a catastrophic chain of events.102
14406279878straw manWhen a writer argues against a claim that nobody actually holds or is universally considered weak.103
14406280944JuxtapositionMaking on idea more dramatic by placing it next to its opposite.104

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