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AP Language: 55 Terms Flashcards

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7827151139AlliterationThe repetition of sounds, especially initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words (as in "she sells seashells").0
7827335556AllusionA direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly known, such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art.1
7827345670AnalogyA similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them.2
7827345671AnaphoraA sub-type of parallelism, when the exact repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of successive lines or sentences.3
7827348864AntithesisOpposition or contrast of ideas through parallelism.4
7827368935AphorismA terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or a moral principle.5
7827371886ApostropheA figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love.6
7827374005Appositivea noun or pronoun placed beside another noun or pronoun to identify or describe it. "Our community has a new organization, (a writers' club called Writers, Inc.)"7
7827374006Bandwagonpersuasive technique and a type of propaganda through which a writer persuades his readers, so that the majority could agree with the argument of the writer.8
7827377731Begging the Questiona fallacy of argument in which a claim is based on the very grounds that are in doubt or dispute.9
7827377732Cause and EffectArgumentation by cause and effect means that particular event is caused or affected by another event10
7827382030Connotationthe suggestion or associations that surround most words and extend beyond their literal meaning, creating associational effects.11
7827386036Cumulative/ Loose SentenceA sentence in which the subject and verb come at the front of the sentence.12
7827388894Declarative Sentencestates a fact or an argument and ends with a full stop13
7827392739Deductive Reasoninga logical process in which a conclusion is based on the concordance of multiple premises that are generally assumed to be true.14
7827394881Denotationdefined as literal or dictionary meanings of a word in contrast to its connotative or associated meanings.15
7827394882Dialecta particular form of a language that is peculiar to a specific region or social group16
7827397996Dictionstyle of speaking or writing determined by the choice of words by a speaker or a writer.17
7827397997Ellipsisthe omission of a word or several words necessary for a complete construction that is still understandable.18
7827401857Ethosthe self-image a writer creates to define a relationship with readers. In arguments, most writers try to establish an ethos that suggests authority and credibility.19
7827401858Euphemisma more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept.20
7827406325Exclamatory Sentencea type of main clause that expresses strong feelings by making an exclamation.21
7827406326FallacyAn incorrect belief or supposition based on faulty data, defective evidence, or false information.22
7827408800HomilyThis term literally means "sermon," but more informally, it can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice.23
7827408801Hyperboleuse of overstatement for special effect.24
7827411582Imageryto use figurative language to represent objects, actions, and ideas in such a way that it appeals to our physical senses.25
7827415286Imperative Sentencea type of sentence that gives instructions or advice, and expresses a command, an order, a direction, or a request.26
7827419768Inductive ReasoningA method of reasoning in which a number of specific facts or examples are used to make a generalization.27
7827424154Interrogative Sentencea type of sentence that asks a question.28
7827424155InvectiveAn emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language.29
7827428068Ironyuse of language that suggests a meaning in contrast to the literal meaning of the words.30
7827673868JargonSpecial words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group.31
7827677318Juxtapositiontwo or more ideas, places, characters and their actions are placed side by side in a narrative or a poem for the purpose of developing comparisons and contrasts.32
7827677319Logosa statement, sentence or argument used to convince or persuade the targeted audience by employing reason or logic.33
7827684494Metaphora figure of speech that makes a comparison, as in: 'The ship was a beacon of hope'.34
7827730256Metonymya figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it.35
7827687093Onomatopoeiaa word, which imitates the natural sounds of a thing.36
7827687094Oxymorona figure of speech in which two opposite ideas are joined to create an effect.37
7827690702ParadoxA statement or idea that seems contradictory but is in fact true.38
7827693036Parallelismuse of similar grammatical structures or forms for pleasing effect: 'in the classroom, on the playground and at the mall'.39
7827693037ParodyA work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.40
7827695237PathosSee emotional appeal.41
7827698546Periodic SentenceA sentence in which the subject and verb come toward the end of the sentence.42
7827701130Personificationa figure of speech in which a thing - an idea or an animal - is given human attributes.43
7827703610Premise/ Claimstates the arguments main idea or position44
7827703611Puna play on words in which a humorous effect is produced by using a word that suggests two or more meanings or by exploiting similar sounding words having different meanings.45
7827706144Repetitiona literary device that repeats the same words or phrases a few times to make an idea clearer.46
7827709166Rhetorical ShiftA change or movement in a piece from one point or idea to another47
7827709167Similea comparison that uses like or as.48
7827713635SynecdocheA figure of speech in which a part of something is used to represent the whole.49
7827713636Synthesiveto combine two or more elements to form a new whole.50
7827716666Themea main idea or an underlying meaning of a literary work, which may be stated directly or indirectly.51
7827716667Thesisa sentence that sufficiently states a writer's main point.52
7827720326Understatement/ Litotesa figure of speech that makes a weaker statement than a situation seems to call for. It can lead to powerful or too humorous effects.53
7827725758Zeugmaa figure of speech in which a word, usually a verb or an adjective, applies to more than one noun, blending together grammatically and logically different ideas.54

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