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AP Language and Composition terms Flashcards

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5572316360AlliterationThe repetition of the same sound or letter at the beginning of consecutive words or syllables. Ex. Junior year is filled with exams, excitement, and exhaustion.0
5572316361AllusionAn indirect reference, often to another text or an historic event. Ex. Chocolate was her Achille's heal.1
5572316362AnalogyAn extended comparison between two seemingly dissimilar things.2
5572316363Analysisthe process of examining the components of a literary work3
5572316364AnaphoraThe repetition of words at the beginning of successive clauses. Ex. Exercise builds stamina in young children; exercise builds stamina in teenagers and young adults; exercise builds stamina in older adults and senior citizens.4
5572316365AnecdoteA short account of an interesting event.5
5572316366AnnotationExplanatory or critical notes added to a text.6
5572316367AntithesisParallel structure that juxtaposes contrasting ideas. Ex. When the distance runners reach the state they call the zone, they find themselves mentally engaged yet detached.7
5572316368AphorismA short, astute statement of a general truth.8
5572316369Archaic dictionThe use of words common to an earlier time period; antiquated language.9
5572316370ArgumentA statement put forth and supported by evidence.10
5572316371Rhetorical SituationA diagram that represents the relationship among the speaker, the subject, and the audience.11
5572316372AssertionAn emphatic statement; declaration. An assertion supported by evidence becomes an argument.12
5572316373AssonanceThe repeated use of a vowel sound in the stressed syllable to create rhythm in speech. Ex. A workout partner is finally a kind, reliable, right-minded helper.13
5572316374AssumptionA belief or statement taken for granted without proof.14
5572316375AsyndetonLeaving out conjunctions between words, phrases, clauses to create a dramatic, quickened effect. Ex. I skated, I shot, I scored, I cheered--what a glorious moment.15
5572316376AttitudeThe speaker's position on a subject as revealed through his or her tone.16
5572316377AudienceOne's listener or readership; those to whom a speech or piece of writing is addressed.17
5572316378Primary AudienceThe main group of people the the speaker is intending to engage.18
5572316379Secondary/Tertiary AudienceOther sub-groups of people that the speaker reaches (or hopes to reach) outside of the main group.19
5572316380AuthorityA reliable, respected source—someone with knowledge.20
5572316381Biasprejudice or predisposition toward one side of a subject or issue21
5572316382ClaimAn assertion, usually supported by evidence.22
5572316383ClimaxRepetition of words, phrases, or clauses, in order of increasing number of importance. Ex. Excellent athletes need to be respectful of themselves, their teammates, their schools, and their communities.23
5572316384ColloquialismAn informal or conversational use of language.24
5572316385Consonancethe same consonant sound in words with different vowel sounds.25
5572316386ContextWords, events, or circumstances that help determine meaning.26
5572316387CounterargumentA challenge to a position; an opposing argument. Often used27
5572316388Credibleworthy of belief; trustworthy28
5572316389DenotationThe literal meaning of a word; its dictionary definition.29
5572316390DictionWord choice.30
5572316391EthosAppeal to speaker's credibility and trustworthiness, can be automatic or built.31
5572316392Automatic EthosThe credibility and trustworthiness of the speaker due to their fame/reputation/title/credentials.32
5572316393Built EthosThe credibility and trustworthiness of the speaker that is built throughout the speech because they lack fame/reputation/title/credentials.33
5572316394EuphemismSubstitution of an inoffensive word or phrase for another that would be harsh, offensive, or embarrassing; used to make something sound better than it is but is usually more wordy than the original. Ex. "For the time being," he explains, "it had been found necessary to make a readjustment of rations."34
5572316395EpistropheRepetition of the same group of words at the end of a successive clause. Ex. To become a top-notch player, I thought like an athlete, I trained like an athlete, and I ate like an athlete.35
5572316396AnadiplosisRepetition of the last word of one clause at the beginning of the following clause. Ex. Mental preparation leads to training; training builds muscle tone and coordination.36
5572316397Figurative languageThe use of tropes or figures of speech; going beyond literal meaning to achieve literary effect.37
5572316398Flashbackinterruption of a narrative by the introduction of an earlier event or by an image of a past experience.38
5572316399HyperboleExaggeration for the purpose of emphasis. Ex. Your suitcase weighs a ton!39
5572316400ImageryVivid use of language that evokes a reader's senses (sight, smell, taste, touch, hearing).40
5572316401IronyA contradiction between what is said and what is meant, usually in the form of sarcasm or puns. Ex. What a pleasant day. (when it is raining heavily)41
5572316402JuxtapositionPlacement of two things side by side for emphasis.42
5572316403LogosAppeal to logic, reasoning, and evidence to support the speaker's agenda.43
5572316404Hard EvidenceThe use of statistics, facts, survey data, testimonies, etc. to support an argument.44
5572316405Soft EvidenceThe use of common sense scenarios to support an argument.45
5572316406MetaphorA figure of speech or trope through which one thing is spoken of as though it were something else, thus making an implicit comparison. Ex. Maybe all of the strings inside him were broken.46
5572316407Moodfeeling or atmosphere a writer creates for a reader47
5572316408OccasionThe time, date, location, and other details of the speech, also aspect of context.48
5572316409OnomatopoeiaWords that imitate or demonstrate sounds. Ex. The sack fell into the river with a splash of disappointment.49
5572316410OxymoronA figure of speech that combines two contradictory terms. Ex. That's old news.50
5572316411ParadoxA statement that seems contradictory due to juxtaposition of seemingly contradictory phrases, but is actually true. Ex. All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.51
5572316412ParallelismThe repetition of similar grammatical or syntactical patterns.52
5572316413ParodyA piece that imitates and exaggerates the prominent features of another; used for comic effect or ridicule.53
5572316414PathosAppeal to emotions such as fear, humor, sadness, and happiness by the speaker in order to engage the audience.54
5572316415PersonaThe speaker, voice, or character assumed by the author of a piece of writing as they speak; in other words, who the author becomes as they speak. Ex. Clark Kent into Superman.55
5572316416PersonificationAssigning lifelike characteristics to inanimate objects. Ex. My heart jumped out of my chest!56
5572316417Point of viewperspective of the speaker or narrator in a literary work57
5572316418PolysyndetonThe deliberate use of a series of conjunctions to make the information sound laborious and detailed. Ex. I skated and I shot and I scored and I cheered--what a glorious moment!58
5572316419PropagandaA negative term for writing designed to sway opinion rather than present information.59
5572316420PurposeOne's intention or objective in a speech or piece of writing.60
5572316421RefuteTo discredit an argument, particularly a counterargument.61
5572316422Repetitiona word or phrase used more than once to emphasize an idea62
5572316423RhetoricThe study of effective, persuasive language use; according to Aristotle, use of the "available means of persuasion."63
5572316424Rhetorical questionA question asked more to produce an effect than to summon an answer. Ex. If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?64
5572316425SatireAn ironic, sarcastic, or witty composition that claims to argue for something, but actually argues against it.65
5572316426SchemeA pattern of words or sentence construction and word choice used for rhetorical effect.66
5572316427Sentence StructureThe arrangement of independent and dependent clauses into known sentence constructions—such as simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex.67
5572316428Sentence varietyUsing a variety of sentence patterns to create a desired effect.68
5572316429SimileA figure of speech that uses "like" or "as" to compare two things. Ex. He is as healthy as a horse.69
5572316430SourceA book, article, person, or other resource consulted for information.70
5572316431SpeakerA term used for the author, speaker, or the person whose perspective (real or imagined) is being advanced in a speech or piece of writing.71
5572316432Stream of consciousnessa form of writing which replicates the way the human mind works. Ideas are presented in random order; thoughts are often unfinished.72
5572316433Structurethe particular way in which parts of a written work are combined or function73
5572316434StyleThe distinctive quality of speech or writing created by the selection and arrangement of words and figures of speech.74
5572316435SubjectIn rhetoric, the topic and universal truth addressed in a piece of writing.75
5572316436Symbola concrete object, scene, or action which has deeper significance because it is associated with something else, often an important idea or theme in the work76
5572316437SyntaxThe sentence structure that the speaker uses throughout the text within or between paragraphs. Examples are simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex.77
5572316438SynthesizeCombining or bringing together two or more elements to produce something more complex.78
5572316439ToneThe speaker's attitude toward the subject or audience.79
5572316440TropeArtful diction through the use of imagery or figurative language.80
5572316441UnderstatementLack of emphasis in a statement or point; restraint in language often used for ironic effect.81
5572316442Active VoiceSentences that are authoritative, direct, and fast moving due to the positioning of the parts of the sentence (doer-->action-->receiver). Ex. Jessica slammed on the brakes.82
5572316443Passive VoiceSentences that are more indirect, complex, and slow-moving due to the positioning of the parts of the sentence (receiver-->action-->[by doer]). Ex. The brakes were slammed on by Jessica.83
5572316444Universal TruthThe overarching/underlying big idea that is upheld by all people everywhere. Regardless of one's opinion on the subject, this should be accepted or acknowledged.84
5572316445InterruptionHas to do with syntax. Usually are in the form of parentheses, dashes, or appositives. These break up the sentences--or ideas rather--to emphasize a certain point.85
5572316446AppositiveA subordinate clause that explains the noun mentioned right before this clause. Ex. Joe Weider, a pioneer in personal weight training, would marvel at the facilities open to today's students athletes.86
5572316447Parallel StructureBalancing the grammatical structure of sentences to emphasize the relationship between ideas. Ex. Exercise physiologists argue that body-pump aerobics sessions benefit a person's heart and lungs, muscle and nerves, and joints and cartilage.87
5572316448LitotesIronic understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of its contrary (in other words, an extreme downplay of the significance of something). Ex. It wasn't a terrible trip.88
5572316449ClicheA word or phrase that is not meant to be taken literally and has changed meaning over time. Ex. The test was a piece of cake.89
5572316450PunA joke/play on words. Ex. Denial is not just a river in Egypt.90
5572316451AllegoryA story, poem, or picture, that has a meaning that is hidden from what is superficially given to you (a moral of the story).91

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