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AP Language and Composition Exam Set Flashcards

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6737176580EnglishEnglish0
6737176581adagea proverb or wise saying commonly used (ex: Things are not always as they seem.)1
6737176582allegorya story in which people, things and happenings have a hidden or symbolic meaning.(fables, parables, apologue have meanings on two or more levels.)2
6737176583alliterationwords used in quick succession and begin with letters belonging to the same sound group; a repetition of similar sounds/letters in the sentence. (Wicked witch of the west went her own way.)3
6737176584allusiona passing reference to a commonly-known historical, cultural, religious, literary, or mythical person, place, event, or work of art, whereby the reader must make the connection within the current text.4
6737176585ambiguitymultiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, passage or sentence; can lead reader toward uncertainty of meaning5
6737176586analogyestablishing a relationship based on similarities between two concepts or ideas; helps convey meaning of a new idea6
6737176587anaphorathe deliberate repetition of the first part of the sentence in order to achieve an artistic effect; most commonly found in the Bible (O Lord,.for I am weak.O Lord, heal me. O Lord, have mercy on me.)7
6737176588anecdoteshort and interesting story or an amusing event often proposed to support or demonstrate some point and make readers and listeners laugh; Anecdotes can include an extensive range of tales and stories8
6737176589antecedentword, phrase, or clause that is replaced by a pronoun9
6737176590antimetabolerepetition of words in reverse grammatical order; Ex: "Fair is foul and foul is fair."10
6737176591antithesisparallel structures of the contrasted phrases or clauses, i.e. the structures of phrases and clauses are similar in order to draw the attention of the listeners or readers; Ex: "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."11
6737176592apostrophespeaker talks to someone or something that is obviously not present12
6737176593appositivea renaming of a noun or noun phrase immediately after first stating the noun13
6737176594archetypeA detail, image, or character type that occurs frequently in literature and myth and is thought to appeal in a universal way to the unconscious and to evoke a response14
6737176595argumenta statement put forth and supported by evidence15
6737176596asyndetonauthor purposely leaves out conjunctions in the sentence, while maintaining the grammatical accuracy of the phrase; shortening the statement for greater impact; "Reduce, reuse, recycle."16
6737176597audiencethose to whom a piece of literary work is being presented17
6737176598cacophonyTremendous noise, disharmonious sound18
6737176599characterizationActions, dialogue, and narrative description that reveal a sense of a character's personality to the reader.19
6737176600circumlocutionan indirect or wordy way of expressing an idea which leaves the reader perplexed; exaggeratedly long and complex sentences in order to convey a meaning that could have otherwise been conveyed through a shorter, much simpler sentence20
6737176601climaxthat point in a plot that creates the greatest intensity, suspense, or interest. Also called "turning point"21
6737176602colloquialCharacteristic of ordinary conversation rather than formal speech or writing22
6737176603concessionAn argumentative strategy by which a speaker or writer acknowledges the validity of an opponent's point.23
6737176604conceitA fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects; unusual and unlikely comparisons between two things24
6737176605connotationassociations people make with words that go beyond the literal or dictionary definition25
6737176606contextThe parts before or after a word or statement that influence its meaning26
6737176607counter argumentan argument or set of reasons put forward to oppose an idea or theory developed in another argument.27
6737176608cumulative sentencea sentence in which the main independent clause is elaborated by the successive addition of modifying clauses or phrases28
6737176609denotationDictionary definition of a word; literal meaning29
6737176610denouementan outcome or solution; the unraveling of a plot30
6737176611detailThe facts revealed by the author or speaker that support the attitude or tone in a piece of poetry or prose.31
6737176612dictionA writer's or speaker's choice of words32
6737176613elegya mournful, melancholy, or plaintive poem, especially a funeral song or a lament for the dead.33
6737176614ellipsisin a sentence, the omission of a word or words replaced by three periods ...34
6737176615epicA long narrative poem, written in heightened language, which recounts the deeds of a heroic character who embodies the values of a particular society35
6737176616ethosOne of the fundamental strategies of argumentation identified by Aristotle. Ethos is basically an appeal to credibility. The writer is seeking to convince you that he or she has the background, history, skills, and/or expertise to speak on the issue.36
6737176617euphemismFrom the Greek for "good speech," euphemisms are a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept - POLITICALLY CORRECT37
6737176618expositionBackground information presented in a literary work.38
6737176619foreshadowingForeshadowing is used to suggest an upcoming outcome to the story; builds suspense/anxiety39
6737176620genreA category of artistic composition, as in music or literature, characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject matter.40
6737176621horative sentenceSentence that exhorts, urges, retreats, implores, or calls to action;41
6737176622hyperboleA figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement. (The literal Greek meaning is "overshoot.") Hyperboles often have a comic effect; however, a serious effect is also possible. Often, hyperbole produces irony.42
6737176623imageryuse of words and phrases to create "mental images" for the reader; helps the reader visualize more realistically the author's writings through the usage of metaphors, allusions, descriptive words and similes43
6737176624imperative sentencesgives a command or request; often subject is understood and sentence ends with !44
6737176625inversionA sentence in which the verb precedes the subject.45
6737176626verbal ironySarcasm; what is said is the opposite of what is meant46
6737176627juxtapositionplacing an idea next to its opposite to emphasize contrast and comparison47
6737176628Litotesan understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by negating its opposite. Ex: "Not bad" looking48
6737176629logosAn appeal to reason. Logos is one of the fundamental strategies of argumentation identified by Aristotle. It occurs when a writer tries to convince you of the logic of his argument. writers may use inductive argumentation or deductive argumentation, but they clearly have examples and generally rational tome to their language. The problem with logos is that is can appear reasonable until you dissect the argument and then find fallacies that defeat the viability of the argument on the reader's eyes. Of course, that presupposes that the readers is able to identify the fallacies.49
6737176630metaphorA figurative comparison of two unlike things without using the word like or as50
6737176631metonymy(mĕtŏn′ ĭmē) A term from the Greek meaning "changed label" or "substitute name," metonymy is a figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it. For example, a news release that claims "the White House declared" rather than "the President declared" is using metonymy; Shakespeare uses it to signify the male and female sexes in As You Like It: "doublet and hose ought to show itself courageous to petticoat." The substituted term generally carries a more potent emotional impact.51
6737176632moodFeeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader; using specific diction, description, setting, and characterization to create the atmosphere52
6737176633motifA recurring theme, subject or idea53
6737176634mytha traditional story, especially one concerning the early history of a people or explaining some natural or social phenomenon, and typically involving supernatural beings or events.54
6737176635narrativea fiction, nonfiction, poetic, or dramatic story, actual or fictional, expressed orally or in text.55
6737176636non sequiturA statement that does not follow logically from evidence56
6737176637occasionthe time and place a speech is given or a piece is written57
6737176638onomatopoeiaA figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words. Ex: buzz, hiss, hum, crack, whinny, and murmur.58
6737176639organizationIn a composition, the arrangement of ideas, incidents, evidence, or details in a perceptible order in a paragraph or essay.59
6737176640oxymoronA figure of speech consisting of two apparently contradictory terms; The richest literary oxymora(paradoxes) seem to reveal a deeper truth through their contradictions. Ex: "without laws, we can have no freedom." Shakespeare's Julius Caesar also makes use of a famous oxymoron: "Cowards die many times before their deaths"60
6737176641paceSpeed with which the author delivers the story controlled by language, mood, emotion played out in speech, dialogue, descriptions.61
6737176642parableA simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson62
6737176643paradoxA statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.63
6737176644parallel structurerepetition of the same pattern of words or phrases within a sentence or passage to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance.64
6737176645parodyA humorous or satirical imitation of a serious piece of literature or writing65
6737176646pastoralA work of literature dealing with rural life66
6737176647pathosAn appeal to emotion. This is one of the fundamental strategies of argumentation identified by Aristotle. Typically, pathos arguments may use loaded words to make you feel guilty, lonely, worried, insecure, or confused.67
6737176648periodic sentenceThe opposite of loose sentence, a sentence that presents its central meaning in a main clause at the end. This independent clause is preceded by a phrase or clause that cannot stand alone. The effect of a periodic sentence is to add emphasis and structural variety. It is also a much stronger sentence than the loose sentence. (Example: After a long, bumpy flight and multiple delays, I arrived at the San Diego airport.)68
6737176649personaAn individual's characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting.69
6737176650personificationauthor presents or describes concepts, animals, or inanimate objects by endowing them with human attributes or emotions.70
6737176651point of viewPerspective from which a story is told; omniscient point of view= the person telling the story or narrator knows everything that's going on in the story; first- person point of view the narrator is a character in the story; limited third-person point of view the narrator is outside the story- like an omniscient narrator- but tells the story from the vantage point of one character."71
6737176652polemica controversial argument, esp. attacking a particular opinion72
6737176653propagandaA negative term for writing designed to sway opinion rather than present information.73
6737176654prosewritten or spoken language in its ordinary form, without metrical structure.74
6737176655purposeOne's intention or objective in a speech or piece of writing.75
6737176656refutationThe part of an argument wherein a speaker or writer anticipates and counters opposing points of view.76
6737176657repetitionRepeated use of sounds, words, or ideas for effect and emphasis77
6737176658rhetoricFrom the Greek for "orator," this term describes the principles governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively.78
6737176659rhetorical appealsRhetorical techniques used to persuade an audience by emphasizing what they find most important or compelling. The three major appeals are to ethos (character), logos (reason), and pathos (emotion).79
6737176660rhetorical questionA question whose answer is assumed; a rhetorical question is designed to force the reader to respond in a predetermined manner and to propel an argument emotionally.80
6737176661rhetorical triangleA diagram that represents a rhetorical situation as the relationship among the speaker, the subject, and the audience ex:Aristotelian triangle81
6737176662satireA work that reveals a critical attitude toward some element of human behavior by portraying it in an extreme way. It doesn't simply abuse (as in invective) or get personal (as in sarcasm). It targets groups or large concepts rather than individuals.82
6737176663simileA comparison of two things using like or as83
6737176664soliloquyA dramatic or literary form of discourse in which a character talks to himself or herself or reveals his or her thoughts without addressing a listener.84
6737176665symbolismAn ordinary object with an extraordinary significance85
6737176666synecdocheA figure of speech in which a part is used for the whole (as hand for sailor), the whole for a part (as the law for police officer), the specific for the general (as cutthroat for assassin), the general for the specific (as thief for pickpocket), or the material for the thing made from it (as steel for sword).86
6737176667syllogismA form of deductive reasoning consisting of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion.87
6737176668syntaxLanguage rules that govern how words can be combined to form meaningful phrases and sentences88
6737176669thesisFocus statement of an essay; premise statement upon which the point of view or discussion in the essay is based.89
6737176670toneA writer's attitude toward his or her subject matter revealed through diction, figurative language, and organization on the sentence and global levels.90
6737176671transitionA word or phrase that links one idea to the next and carries the reader from sentence to sentence, paragraph to paragraph91
6737176672voiceIn 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 writing.92
6737176673zeugmaArtfully using a single verb to refer to two different objects in an ungrammatical but striking way, or artfully using an adjective to refer to two separate nouns, even though the adjective would logically only be appropriate for one of the two. Ex:"If we don't hang together, we shall hang separately!"93

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