AP Notes, Outlines, Study Guides, Vocabulary, Practice Exams and more!

AP Language and Composition Rhetorical Terms Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
2937981802Allusion- brief reference to a person, event, or place, real or fictitious, or to a work of art0
2937981803Analogy- A similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them. Can explain something unfamiliar by associating it with or pointing out its similarities; more extensive and elaborate than a simile or metaphor1
2937981804Anaphora- repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, or lines.2
2937981805Anecdote- a short entertaining account of some happening, frequently personal or biographical use to bring humor or to illustrate a particular characteristic or trait.3
2937981806Antithesis- figure of balance in which two contrasting ideas are intentionally juxtaposed, usually through parallel construction; a contrasting of opposing ideas in adjacent phrases, clauses, or sentences.4
2937981807Apostrophe- a strategy in which an absent person, inanimate object ( the sun, for example) or abstract being (Death) is addressed directly5
2937981808Archaic Diction- the use of words common to an older time period; old-fashioned or outdated choice of words6
2937981809Asyndeton- omission of conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses, or words.7
2937981810Cumulative Sentence- sentence that completes the main idea at the beginning of the sentence, and then builds and adds on.8
2937981811Epistrophe- a close relative to anaphora; It is the repetition of a group of words at the end of successive clauses or sentences.9
2937981812Hortative Sentence- sentence that exhorts, advises, calls to action.10
2937981813Imperative Sentence- sentence used to command, enjoin, implore, or entreat.11
2937981814Periodic Sentence- a sentence that presents its central meaning in a main clause at the end of the sentence; the main clause is preceded by a phrase or clause that cannot stand alone12
2937981815Inversion- inverted order of words in a sentence (variation of the subject-verb-object order) ; usually the verb precedes the subject.13
2937981816Metonymy- figure of speech that consists of the use of the name of one object or concept for that of another to which it is related, or of which it is part of.14
2937981817Oxymoron- phrase with words that seem to contradict one another.15
2937981818Parallelism- recurrent syntactical similarity. Several parts of a sentence or several sentences are expressed similarly to show that the ideas in the parts or sentences are equal in importance. Also adds balance and rhythm and, most importantly, clarity to the sentence16
2937981819Paradox- a statement which seems self-contradictory, but which may reveal some truth; forces the reader to pause and seek clarity.17
2937981820Description- the picturing in words of something or someone through detailed observation of color, motion, sound, taste, smell, and touch ( sensory details)18
2937981821Narration- The act of telling a story, usually based on personal experience; it usually incorporates descriptive elements--senses, metaphors, and similes. Narration is used to get the reader to "identify" with the writer on some level, and thereby ultimately agree with the writer.19
2937981822Classification- takes individual examples and groups them based on common traits. Important because it organizes a large amount of material for the reader.20
2937981823Definition- The process of explaining a word, object, or idea in such a way that the reader knows precisely what the writer means. Focuses on the special qualities of a word or phrase that set it apart. It gives the reader and writer a mutual starting point.21
2937981824Cause/effect- presents the causes and/or effects of a situation or phenomenon; this can be used as an author's main organizational strategy, or it can be one paragraph used to support a point in an essay developed through another pattern.22
2937981825Process Analysis- A method of paragraph or essay development by which a writer explains step by step how something is done or how to do something.23
2937981826Exposition- designed to convey information or explain through the use of facts, reasons, or examples.24

Need Help?

We hope your visit has been a productive one. If you're having any problems, or would like to give some feedback, we'd love to hear from you.

For general help, questions, and suggestions, try our dedicated support forums.

If you need to contact the Course-Notes.Org web experience team, please use our contact form.

Need Notes?

While we strive to provide the most comprehensive notes for as many high school textbooks as possible, there are certainly going to be some that we miss. Drop us a note and let us know which textbooks you need. Be sure to include which edition of the textbook you are using! If we see enough demand, we'll do whatever we can to get those notes up on the site for you!