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AP Language & Composition Rhetorical Devices Flashcards

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8154074686rhetoricThe art of effective communication, especially persuasive discourse.0
8154074687analogyA comparison to a directly parallel case, arguing that a claim reasonable for one case is reasonable for the other case.1
8154074688antithesisA balancing of two opposite or contrasting words, phrases or clauses.2
8154074689appeal to authorityA type of logical fallacy in which the writer or speaker seeks to persuade not by giving evidence but by appealing to the respect people have for the famous.3
8154074690parallelismRefers to a grammatical or structural similarity between sentences or parts of a sentence.4
8154074691concessionAn argumentative strategy by which a speaker or writer acknowledges the validity of an opponent's point.5
8154074692qualifying statementA statement in which the writer has added some information, evidence, or phrase in order to make it less strong or less generalized.6
8154074693generalizationThe abstraction of a general idea, principle, or pattern from the observation of particular objects, events, or experiences.7
8154074694anecdoteA brief recounting of a relevant episode.8
8154074695periodic statementSentence that has its main clause at the end of the sentence.9
8154074696compound subjectA subject that consists of two or more simple subjects joined by a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or) and that have the same predicate.10
8154074697subordinate clauseAlso called a dependent clause—will begin with a subordinate conjunction (such as "although" or "if") or a relative pronoun (such as "that" or "who") and will contain both a subject and a verb. This combination of words will not form a complete sentence. It will instead make a reader want additional information to finish the thought.11
8154074698toneAuthor's attitude toward subject matter as revealed through style, syntax, diction, figurative language, and organization.12
8154074699ironical statementThe use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning.13
8154074700syllogismA form of deductive reasoning consisting of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion.14
8154074701ad hominem argumentA type of logical fallacy in which the writer or speaker attacks a person instead of the argument proposed by that individual.15
8154074702antecedentThe word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun16
8154074703connotationThe feelings and attitudes associated with a word.17
8154074704simple sentenceContains one independent clause (also called a main clause).18
8154074705compound sentenceContains two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction or a semicolon.19
8154074706imageryUse of sensory details to create images.20
8154074707digressionThe act of departing from the main subject in speech or writing to discuss an apparently unrelated topic.21
8154074708prepositional phraseA group of words made up of a preposition, its object, and any of the object's modifiers.22
8154074709allusionA reference, explicit or indirect, to a person, place, or event, or to another literary work or passage.23
8154074710euphemismThe use of a word or phrase that is less expressive or direct but considered less offensive than another.24
8154074711oxymoronA figure of speech in which two contradictory words are placed side-by-side for effect.25
8154074712personificationA kind of metaphor that gives inanimate objects or abstract ideas human characteristics26
8154074713apostropheA form of personification in which the absent, or dead, are spoken to as if present, and the inanimate, as if animate.27
8154074714idiomatic dictionAn expression that means something other than the literal meanings of its individual words. Also used to describe language that is peculiar to an individual.28
8154074715colloquialismOrdinary, everyday speech and language.29
8154074716allegoryA fiction or nonfiction narrative, in which characters, things, and events represent qualities, moral values, or concepts.30
8154074717epithetA short, poetic nickname--often in the form of an adjective or adjectival phrase--attached to a normal name (also called "tag").31
8154074718double entendreTerm used to indicate a word or phrase that is deliberately ambiguous, especially when one of the meanings is risqué or improper.32
8154074719monologueA long speech by one person; a dramatic speech by one actor.33
8154074720extended metaphorA metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout a work34
8154074721paradoxOccurs when the elements of a statement contradict each other. Although the statement may appear illogical, impossible, or absurd, it turns out to have a coherent meaning that reveals a hidden truth.35
8154074722rhetorical questionA question that requires no answer. It is used to draw attention to a point and is generally stronger than a direct statement.36
8154074723assertion/claimA statement that is debatable, as opposed to fact. It expresses a specific position on some doubtful or controversial issue that the arguer wants the audience to accept.37
8154074724understatementDeliberately expresses an idea as less important than it actually is, either for ironic emphasis or for politeness and tact38
8154074725false dilemmaa type of logical fallacy that involves a situation in which only two alternatives are considered, when in fact there is at least one additional option.39
8154074726begging the questionA type of logical fallacy in which the premises include the claim that the conclusion is true or (directly or indirectly) assume that the conclusion is true.40
8154074727truismAn undoubted or self-evident truth. The 'everyday wisdom' of the common man.41
8154074728syntaxThe way in which sentences are structured42
8154074729symbolAn object, place, setting, prop, event or person (which may also retain its own literal meaning) that represents or stands for some idea or event.43
8154074730appeal to pathosA quality in a literary work which arouses profound feelings of compassion or sorrow.44
8154074731onomatopoeiaA word that imitates the sound it represents.45
8154074732alliterationThe repetition of the same consonant sound, especially at the beginning of words.46
8154074733juxtapositionA poetic and rhetorical device in which normally unassociated ideas, words, or phrases are placed next to one another, often creating an effect of surprise and wit.47
8154074734concrete dictionSpecific words that describe physical qualities or conditionsSpecific words that describe physical qualities or conditions48
8154074735abstract dictionLanguage that denotes ideas, emotions, conditions, or concepts that are intangible-impenetrable, incredible, inscrutable, inconceivable, unfathomable49
8154074736diatribeA violently bitter verbal attack.50
8154074737hyperboleA bold overstatement or extravagant expression of fact, used for serious or comic effect.51
8154074738figurative languageLanguage that is symbolic or metaphorical and not meant to be taken literally.52
8154074739ambiguityUse of language where the meaning is unclear or has two or more possible interpretations or meanings.53
8154074740ellipsisThe deliberate omission of a word or words that are readily implied by the context; it creates an elegant or daring economy of words.54
8154074741epiphanyLiterally, "a manifestation." A sudden radiance and revelation while observing a commonplace object.55
8154074742synecdocheA form of metaphor where a part of something is used to signify the whole.56
8154074743metonymyA figure of speech where the term for one thing is applied for another with which it has become closely associated in experience.57
8154074744asyndetonThe deliberate omission of conjunctions in a series of related clauses.58
8154074745polysyndetonThe deliberate use of many conjunctions for special emphasis - to highlight quantity or mass of detail or to create a flowing, continuous sentence pattern.59

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