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AP Language and Composition Vocabulary Flashcards

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6617043987adagea proverb or wise saying commonly used (ex: Things are not always as they seem.)0
6617043988allegorya story in which people, things and happenings have a hidden or symbolic meaning.(fables, parables, apologue have meanings on two or more levels.)1
6617043989alliterationwords used in quick succession that begin with the same sound or letter; a repetition of similar sounds/letters in the sentence. (Wicked witch of the west went her own way.)2
6617043990allusionan indirect, passing reference to a commonly-known historical, cultural, religious, literary, or mythical person, place, event, or work of art (the man who throws bolts of lightning = Zeus)3
6617043991ambiguitymultiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, passage or sentence; can lead reader toward uncertainty of meaning4
6617043992analogyestablishing a relationship based on similarities between two concepts or ideas; helps convey meaning of a new idea5
6617043993anaphorathe 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.)6
6617043994anecdoteshort 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 stories7
6617043995antecedentword, phrase, or clause that is replaced by a pronoun8
6617043996antimetabolerepetition of words in reverse grammatical order; Ex: "Fair is foul and foul is fair."9
6617043997antithesisparallel structures of the contrasting phrases, 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."10
6617043998apostrophespeaker talks to someone or something that is obviously not present11
6617043999appositivea renaming of a noun or noun phrase immediately after first stating the noun12
6617044000archetypeA 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 response13
6617044001argumenta statement put forth and supported by evidence14
6617044002asyndetonauthor purposely leaves out conjunctions in the sentence, while maintaining the grammatical accuracy of the phrase; shortening the statement for greater impact; "Reduce, reuse, recycle."15
6617044003audiencethose to whom a piece of literary work is being presented16
6617044004cacophonyTremendous noise, disharmonious sound17
6617044005characterizationActions, dialogue, and narrative description that reveal a sense of a character's personality to the reader.18
6617044006circumlocutionan 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 sentence19
6617044007climaxthat point in a plot that creates the greatest intensity, suspense, or interest. Also called "turning point"20
6617044008colloquialCharacteristic of ordinary conversation rather than formal speech or writing21
6617044009concessionAn argumentative strategy by which a speaker or writer acknowledges the validity of an opponent's point.22
6617044010conceitA fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects; unusual and unlikely comparisons between two things23
6617044011connotationassociations people make with words that go beyond the literal or dictionary definition24
6617044012contextThe parts before or after a word or statement that influence its meaning25
6617044013counter argumentan argument or set of reasons put forward to oppose an idea or theory developed in another argument.26
6617044014cumulative sentencea sentence in which the main independent clause is elaborated by the successive addition of modifying clauses or phrases27
6617044015denotationDictionary definition of a word; literal meaning28
6617044016denouementan outcome or solution; the unraveling of a plot29
6617044017detailThe facts revealed by the author or speaker that support the attitude or tone in a piece of poetry or prose.30
6617044018dictionA writer's or speaker's choice of words31
6617044019elegya mournful, melancholy, or plaintive poem, especially a funeral song or a lament for the dead.32
6617044020ellipsisin a sentence, the omission of a word or words replaced by three periods ...33
6617044021epicA long narrative poem, written in heightened language, which recounts the deeds of a heroic character who embodies the values of a particular society34
6617044022ethosOne 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.35
6617044023euphemismFrom the Greek for "good speech," euphemisms are a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept - POLITICALLY CORRECT36
6617044024expositionBackground information presented in a literary work.37
6617044025hyperboleA 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.38
6617044026imageryuse 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 similes39
6617044027imperative sentencesgives a command or request; often subject is understood and sentence ends with !40
6617044028inversionA sentence in which the verb precedes the subject.41
6617044029verbal ironySarcasm; what is said is the opposite of what is meant42
6617044030juxtapositionplacing an idea next to its opposite to emphasize contrast and comparison43
6617044031logosAn 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.44
6617044032metaphorA figurative comparison of two unlike things without using the word like or as45
6617044033metonymy(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.46
6617044034moodFeeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader; using specific diction, description, setting, and characterization to create the atmosphere47
6617044035motifA recurring theme, subject or idea48
6617044036narrativea fiction, nonfiction, poetic, or dramatic story, actual or fictional, expressed orally or in text.49
6617044037non sequiturA statement that does not follow logically from evidence50
6617044038occasionthe time and place a speech is given or a piece is written51
6617044039onomatopoeiaA figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words. Ex: buzz, hiss, hum, crack, whinny, and murmur.52
6617044040organizationIn a composition, the arrangement of ideas, incidents, evidence, or details in a perceptible order in a paragraph or essay.53
6617044041oxymoronA 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"54
6617044042paceSpeed with which the author delivers the story controlled by language, mood, emotion played out in speech, dialogue, descriptions.55
6617044043parableA simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson56
6617044044paradoxA statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.57
6617044045parallel 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.58
6617044046parodyA humorous or satirical imitation of a serious piece of literature or writing59
6617044047pathosAn 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.60
6617044048personaAn individual's characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting.61
6617044049personificationauthor presents or describes concepts, animals, or inanimate objects by endowing them with human attributes or emotions.62
6617044050point 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."63
6617044051polemica controversial argument, esp. attacking a particular opinion64
6617044052propagandaA negative term for writing designed to sway opinion rather than present information.65
6617044053prosewritten or spoken language in its ordinary form, without metrical structure.66
6617044054purposeOne's intention or objective in a speech or piece of writing.67
6617044055refutationThe part of an argument wherein a speaker or writer anticipates and counters opposing points of view.68
6617044056repetitionRepeated use of sounds, words, or ideas for effect and emphasis69
6617044057rhetoricFrom the Greek for "orator," this term describes the principles governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively.70
6617044058rhetorical 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).71
6617044059rhetorical 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.72
6617044061satireA 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.73
6617044062simileA comparison of two things using like or as74
6617044063symbolismAn ordinary object with an extraordinary significance75
6617044066syntaxLanguage rules that govern how words can be combined to form meaningful phrases and sentences76
6617044068toneA writer's attitude toward his or her subject matter revealed through diction, figurative language, and organization on the sentence and global levels.77
6693882432aphorismconcise expression of wisdom by anyone (fortune cookie wisdom)78
6693889642proverbwell-known saying of wisdom (stick and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me)79
6693898330inclusive dictionforced teaming with the reader (we, us, our)80
6693913258referencedirect addition of a name (Abe Lincoln)81

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