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| 7708820429 | Allegory | The device of using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning. In some allegories, for example, an author may intend the characters to personify an abstraction like hope or freedom. The allegorical meaning usually deals with moral truth or a generalization about human existence. | 0 | |
| 7708820430 | Alliteration | Using words with the same first letter repeatedly close together in a phrase or sentence. | 1 | |
| 7708820431 | Allusion | Making a brief reference to the cultural canon—e.g. the Bible, Shakespeare, classical mythology, etc. | 2 | |
| 7708820432 | Ambiguity | The multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage. | 3 | |
| 7708820433 | Analogy | Explaining something complex by comparing it to something more simple. | 4 | |
| 7708820434 | Anaphora | A sub-type of parallelism, when the exact repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of successive lines or sentences. | 5 | |
| 7708820435 | Anecdote | Offering a brief narrative episode. This device can serve many functions in a text—for example, introducing an issue, serving as evidence, to illustrate a point, and so on. | 6 | |
| 7708820436 | Antecedent | The word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun. The AP language exam occasionally asks for the antecedent of a given pronoun in a long, complex sentence or in a group of sentences. | 7 | |
| 7708820437 | Antithesis | The opposition or contrast of ideas; the direct opposite. | 8 | |
| 7708820438 | Aphorism | A terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or a moral principle. (If the authorship is unknown, the statement is generally considered to be a folk proverb.) An aphorism can be a memorable summation of the author's point. | 9 | |
| 7708820439 | Apostrophe | A figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love. It is an address to someone or something that cannot answer. The effect may add familiarity or emotional intensity. | 10 | |
| 7708820440 | Argument | The combination of reasons, evidence, etc that an author uses to convince an audience of their position. | 11 | |
| 7708820441 | Aristotelian Appeals | Three different methods of appealing to an audience to convince them—ethos, logos, and pathos. | 12 | |
| 7708820442 | Atmosphere | The emotional nod created by the entirety of a literary work, established partly by the setting and partly by the author's choice of objects that are described. Even such elements as a description of the weather can contribute to the atmosphere. Frequently atmosphere foreshadows events. Perhaps it can create a mood. | 13 | |
| 7708820443 | Attitude | The writer's personal views or feelings about the subject at hand. | 14 | |
| 7708820444 | Audience | Who the author is directing his or her message towards | 15 | |
| 7708820445 | Caricature | A verbal description, the purpose of which is to exaggerate or distort, for comic effect, a person's distinctive physical features or other characteristics. | 16 | |
| 7708820446 | Clause | A grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb. An independent, or main, clause expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence. A dependent, or subordinate clause, cannot stand alone as a sentence and must be accompanied by an independent clause. The point that you want to consider is the question of what or why the author subordinates one element should also become aware of making effective use of subordination in your own writing. | 17 | |
| 7708820447 | Colloquial/Colloquialism | The use of slang or informalities in speech or writing. Not generally acceptable for formal writing, colloquialisms give a work a conversational, familiar tone. Colloquial expressions in writing include local or regional dialects. | 18 | |
| 7708820448 | Compare & Contrast | Discussing the similarities and differences between two things to some persuasive or illustrative purpose. | 19 | |
| 7708820449 | Conceit | A fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects. A conceit displays intellectual cleverness as a result of the unusual comparison being made. | 20 | |
| 7708820450 | Concession | Agreeing with the opposing viewpoint on a certain smaller point (but not in the larger argument). | 21 | |
| 7708820451 | Connotation | The implied meaning of a word; words can broadly have positive, negative, or neutral connotations. | 22 | |
| 7708820452 | Context | The extra-textual environment in which the text is being delivered. | 23 | |
| 7708820453 | Counterargument | The argument(s) against the author's position. | 24 | |
| 7708820454 | Deductive Reasoning | A form of logical reasoning wherein a general principle is applied to a specific case. | 25 | |
| 7708820455 | Denotation | The literal, dictionary-definition meaning of a word. | 26 | |
| 7708820456 | Didactic | A text with an instructive purpose, often moral. | 27 | |
| 7708820457 | Diction | The style of language used; generally tailored to be appropriate to the audience and situation. | 28 | |
| 7708820458 | Ethos | Setting up a source as credible and trustworthy. | 29 | |
| 7708820459 | Euphemism | Referring to something with a veiled phrase instead of saying it directly | 30 | |
| 7708820460 | Evidence | The information presented meant to persuade the audience of the author's position. | 31 | |
| 7708820461 | Exemplification | Providing examples in service of a point. | 32 | |
| 7708820462 | Figurative Language | The use of language in a non-literal way; i.e. metaphor, simile, etc. | 33 | |
| 7708820463 | Generic Conventions | This term describes traditions for each genre. These conventions help to define each genre; for example, they differentiate an essay and journalistic writing or an autobiography and political writing. On the AP language exam, try to distinguish the unique features of a writer's work from those dictated by convention. | 34 | |
| 7708820464 | Genre | The specific type of work being presented. | 35 | |
| 7708820465 | Homily | This term literally means "sermon," but more informally, it can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice. | 36 | |
| 7708820466 | Hyperbole | Overstating a situation for humorous or dramatic effect. | 37 | |
| 7708820467 | Idiom | A commonly used phrase that signifies something very different than its literal meaning. | 38 | |
| 7708820468 | Imagery | Any descriptive language used to evoke a vivid sense or image of something; includes figurative language. | 39 | |
| 7708820469 | Implication | When something is suggested without being concretely stated. | 40 | |
| 7708820470 | Inductive Reasoning | Making a generalization based on specific evidence at hand. | 41 | |
| 7708820471 | Invective | An emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language. | 42 | |
| 7708820472 | Irony | At the most basic sense, saying the opposite of what you mean; also used to describe situations in which the results of an action are dramatically different than intended. | 43 | |
| 7708820473 | Juxtaposition | Placing two very different things together for effect. | 44 | |
| 7708820474 | Litotes | A form of understatement that involves making an affirmative point by denying its opposite. Litote is the opposite of hyperbole | 45 | |
| 7708820475 | Logos | Appealing to someone's sense of concrete facts and logic. | 46 | |
| 7708820476 | Loose Sentence/Non-Periodic Sentence | A type of sentence in which the main idea (independent clause) comes first, followed by dependent grammatical units such as phrases and clauses. If a period were placed at the end of the independent clause, the clause would be a complete sentence. A work containing many loose sentences often seems informal, relaxed, or conversational. Generally, loose sentences create loose style. The opposite of a loose sentence is the periodic sentence. | 47 | |
| 7708820477 | Metonymy | 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. | 48 | |
| 7708820478 | Narrative | The telling of a story or an account of an event or series of events. | 49 | |
| 7708820479 | Occasion | The reason or moment for writing or speaking. | 50 | |
| 7708820480 | Onomatopoeia | Using "sound-effect" words (e.g. "clap," "buzz). | 51 | |
| 7708820481 | Organization | How the different parts of an argument are arranged in a piece of writing or speech. | 52 | |
| 7708820482 | Paradox | A phrase or assertion that appears to contradict itself (but the contradiction itself may have its own meaning). | 53 | |
| 7708820483 | Parallelism | Repeated structural elements in a sentence. | 54 | |
| 7708820484 | Parody | Using the form of something to mimic and make fun of it. A work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule. It exploits peculiarities of an author's expression. Well-written parody offers enlightenment about the original, but poorly written parody offers only ineffectual imitation. Usually an audience must grasp literary allusion and understand the work being parodied in order to fully appreciate the nuances of the newer work. | 55 | |
| 7708820485 | Pathos | An Aristotelian appeal. Involves appealing to someone's emotions. | 56 | |
| 7708820486 | Pedantic | An adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish (language that might be described as "show-offy"; using big words for the sake of using big words). | 57 | |
| 7708820487 | Periodic Sentence | The 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 | 58 | |
| 7708820488 | Personification | Giving human characteristics to a nonhuman object or idea. | 59 | |
| 7708820489 | Prose | One of the major divisions of genre, prose refers to fiction and nonfiction, including all its forms. In prose the printer determines the length of the line; in poetry, the poet determines the length of the line. | 60 | |
| 7708820490 | Purpose | The author's persuasive intention. | 61 | |
| 7708820491 | Repetition | Re-using a word or phrase repeatedly for effect or emphasis. | 62 | |
| 7708820492 | Rhetoric | The use of spoken or written word (or a visual medium) to convey your ideas and convince an audience. | 63 | |
| 7708820493 | Rhetorical Modes | This flexible term describes the variety, the conventions, and the purposes of the major kinds of writing. The four most common rhetorical modes (often referred to as "modes of discourse") are as follows: 1. The purpose of exposition (or expository writing) is to explain and analyze information by presenting an idea, relevant evidence, and appropriate discussion. The AP language exam essay questions are frequently expository topics. 2. The purpose of argumentation is to prove the validity of an idea, or point of view, by presenting sound reasoning, discussion, and argument that thoroughly convince the reader. Persuasive writing is a type of argumentation having an additional aim of urging some form of action. 3. The purpose of description is to re-create, invent, or visually present a person, place, event or action so that the reader can picture that being described. Sometimes an author engages all five senses in description; good descriptive writing can be sensuous and picturesque. Descriptive writing may be straightforward and objective or highly emotional and subjective. The purpose of narration is to tell a story or narrate an event or series of events. This writing mode frequently uses the tools of descriptive writing. | 64 | |
| 7708820494 | Rhetorical Triangle | The relationship between the author, the audience, the text/message, and the context. The author communicates to the reader via the text; and the reader and text are surrounded by context. |  | 65 |
| 7708820495 | Sarcasm | Mockingly stating the opposite of what you mean. Easier to convey in the spoken word than via writing. | 66 | |
| 7708820496 | Satire | A genre of humorous and mocking criticism to expose the ignorance and/or ills of society. | 67 | |
| 7708820497 | Semantics | The branch of linguistics that studies the meaning of words, their historical and psychological development, their connotations, and their relation to one another. | 68 | |
| 7708820498 | Speaker | The persona adopted by the author to deliver his or her message; may or may not actually be the same person as the author. | 69 | |
| 7708820499 | Style | The author's own personal approach to rhetoric in the piece; similar to voice. The consideration of style has two purposes: An evaluation of the sum of the choices an author makes in blending diction, syntax, figurative language, and other literary devices. Some authors' styles are so idiosyncratic that we can quickly recognize works by the same author. We can analyze and describe an author's personal style and make judgments on how appropriate it is to the author's purpose. Styles can be called flowery, explicit, succinct, rambling, bombastic, commonplace, incisive, laconic, etc. Classification of authors to a group and comparison of an author to similar authors. By means of such classification and comparison, we can see how an author's style reflects and helps to define a historical period, such as the Renaissance or the Victorian period, or a literary movement, such as the romantic, transcendental, or realist movement. | 70 | |
| 7708820500 | Subject Complement | The word (with any accompanying phrases) or clause that follows a linking verb and complements, or completes, the subject of the sentence by either (1) renaming it (the predicate nominative) or (2) describing it (the predicate adjective). These are defined by: 1.) the predicate nominative - a noun, group of nouns, or noun clause that renames the subject. It, like the predicate adjective, follows a linking verb and is located in the predicate of the sentence. Example: Julia Roberts is a movie star. movie star = predicate nominative, as it renames the subject, Julia Roberts 2.) The predicate adjective -- an adjective, a group of adjectives, or adjective clause that follows a linking verb. It is in the predicate of the sentence, and modifies, or describes, the subject. Example: Warren remained optimistic. optimistic = predicate adjective, as it modifies the subject, Warren | 71 | |
| 7708820501 | Subordinate Clause | Like all clauses, this word group contains both a subject and a verb (plus any accompanying phrases or modifiers), but unlike the independent clause, the subordinate clause cannot stand alone; it does not express a complete thought. Also called a dependent clause, the subordinate clause depends on a main clause (or independent clause) to complete its meaning. Easily recognized key words and phrases usually begin these clauses. For example: although, because, unless, if, even though, since, as soon as, while, who, when, where, how and that. Example: Yellowstone is a national park in the West that is known for its geysers. underlined phrase = subordinate clause | 72 | |
| 7708820502 | Syllogism | A deductive system of formal logic that presents two premises (the first one called "major" and the second called "minor") that inevitably lead to a sound conclusion. A syllogism's conclusion is valid only if each of the two premises is valid. Syllogisms may also present the specific idea | 73 | |
| 7708820503 | Symbolism | Using a symbol to refer to an idea or concept. | 74 | |
| 7708820504 | Synecdoche | Referring to one part of something as a way to refer to the whole. | 75 | |
| 7708820505 | Synesthesia | When one kind of sensory stimulus evokes the subjective experience of another. In literature, synesthesia refers to the practice of associating two or more different senses in the same image. | 76 | |
| 7708820506 | Syntax | The way sentences are grammatically constructed. | 77 | |
| 7708820507 | Synthesis | Combining sources or ideas in a coherent way in the purpose of a larger point. | 78 | |
| 7708820508 | Themes | Overarching ideas or driving premises of a work. | 79 | |
| 7708820509 | Thesis | In expository writing, the thesis statement is the sentence or group of sentences that directly expresses the author's opinion, purpose, meaning, or position. Expository writing is usually judged by analyzing how accurately, effectively, and thoroughly a writer has proven the thesis. | 80 | |
| 7708820510 | Tone | The use of stylistic devices to reveal an author's attitude toward a subject. | 81 | |
| 7708820511 | Transition | A word or phrase that links different ideas. Used especially, although not exclusively, in expository and argumentative writing, transitions effectively signal a shift from one idea to another. More sophisticated writers use more subtle means of transition. | 82 | |
| 7708820512 | Understatement | Deliberately minimizing something, usually for humorous effect. | 83 | |
| 7708820513 | Voice | An author's unique sound. Similar to style. | 84 | |
| 7708820514 | Wit | In modern usage, intellectually amusing language that surprises and delights. A witty statement is humorous, while suggesting the speaker's verbal power in creating ingenious and perceptive remarks. Wit usually uses terse language that makes a pointed statement. Historically, wit originally meant basic understanding. Its meaning evolved to include speed of understanding, and finally, it grew to mean quick perception including creative fancy and a quick tongue to articulate an answer that demanded the same quick perception. | 85 |
