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

AP Language and Composition Vocabulary Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
6445289752Irony (Big 9)The contrast between what is stated and what it is really meant Verbal- Sarcasm Situational- The situation itself is unexpected Dramatic-Reader knows more than the character (ex: verbal-I Want a Wife- the author doesn't not actually want a wife she just wants someone to do all the household chores; ex: situational-Story of an Hour, the wife is happy her husband is dead only to find out he is alive in the end.; ex: dramatic-Romeo and Juliet-the audience knew Juliet wasn't dead, but Romeo didn't).0
6445291597Tone (Big 9)Describes the author's attitude toward his or her material, the audience, or both (ex: Ain't I a Woman-Sojourner Truth's tone is anger when she talks about racial segregation).1
6445291598AttitudeA writer's position or emotion regarding the subject of the writing (ex: The Road Not Taken, Robert Frost's attitude reveals on us that the speaker was compelled to make a choice that was very difficult for him, but now he is nostalgic about it.)2
6445294238Point of View (Big 9)The perspective from which a story is told. (Ex: Invisible Man- first person he uses the words I, and Me).3
6445294267HyperboleA figure of speech using exaggeration or overstatement (ex: Model's Proposal- the author exaggerates the actions that should be taken to reach perfection to prove his point).4
6445295966SarcasmThe use of irony to mock or convey contempt (ex: I Want a Wife-the author doesn't not actually want a wife she just wants someone to do all the household chores).5
6445295967SatireThe use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's vices and follies(ex: A Model's Proposal-the author exaggerates the actions that should be taken to reach perfection to prove his point ).6
6445297327UnderstatementIronic minimizing of fact (ex: Ain't I a woman?- Sojourner Truth tells the audience about white superiority. Whites think they are superior to blacks).7
6445297328Style (Big 9)The arrangement of words in a manner which best expresses the individuality of the author (ex: Two Views of the River- the first half is poetic symbolizing his love and interest for the river, and the second half looses its poetic feel signifying his loss of interest in the river).8
6445304563Diction (Big 9)The apt selection of words for a particular meaning to create a certain effect (ex: Snow, Alvarez uses words such as holocaust and not Holocaust as she knows the weight to the word and how to convey its meaning).9
6445305869Syntax (Big 9)The way in which words are put together to form phrases, clauses, or sentences (ex: Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare reversed the general order of English sentences by placing the verbs at the end of sentences).10
6445307249Organization (Big 9)structure, pattern (ex: Story of an Hour, is in chronological order as it has a beginning, middle, and end).11
6445309179Argument/Persuasion (Big 9)Writing designed to prove the validity of an idea, or point of view, by presenting sound reasoning, discussion, and argument that convinces the reader. (ex: Gettysburg Address- Lincoln persuades his audience to conserve the union and to pick through the war).12
6445309180AnalogyA comparison of two things (ex:A models proposal- "these persons are blemishes").13
6445310687ConnotationThe cluster of implications that words or phrases may carry with them (ex: Snow- Holocaust has a negative connotation, adding to the scary tone of the portion).14
6445310688AllegoryThe device of using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning (ex: Animal Farm uses animals on a farm to describe the overthrow of the Russian Nicholas II and the communist Revolution of Russia before WWI15
6445310689AllusionDirect or indirect reference to something which is commonly known, such as an event, myth, place, or work of art (ex: Invisible man-biblical allusion- Mary).16
6445312536Descriptive DetailHaving the quality of describing; characterized by description: a descriptive passage in an essay (ex:Two views of the river- he describes the river in very strong detail).17
6445312537Colloquial(ism)The use of slang or in-formalities in speech or writing (ex: When someone writes in the first person or uses contractions.)18
6445315156DidacticHave the primary aim of teaching or instructing (ex: Wear Sunscreen, the author teaches the audience to take care of themselves ).19
6445315157EuphemismA more agreeable or less offensive substitute for an unpleasant word or concept (ex: How Americans use the word "restroom" because it is cleaner instead of using the word "toilet")20
6445316712Inference/InferTo draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented (ex: Models Proposal, it is inferred that the author wants the audience to bleach their eyes)21
6445316713ParallelismThe grammatical or rhetorical framing of words, phrases, sentences, or paragraphs to give structural similarity (ex: A Tale of Two Cities, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times")22
6445318523RepititionThe duplication of any element of language (ex: I Want a Wife, the author repeats the words "I want a wife" to show how much the wife does for her family).23
6472321018Imagery (Big 9)Concrete representations of a sensory experience that can be known by one or more of the senses. (ex: In Great Expectations by Charles Dickens uses many images to describe a damp morning in a marsh.)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!