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

AP Language Rhetorical Devices Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
9843239934AssumptionA belief or statement taken for granted without proof.0
9843239935Ad HominemA fallacy that attacks the person rather than dealing with the real issue in dispute1
9843239936Ad Populem"To the people," something must be good because everyone is doing it2
9843239937AllusionA reference to commonly known idea or text, the most common are historical, biblical, or literary.3
9843239938AmbiguityAn event or situation that may be interpreted in more than one way.4
9843239939Anaphorathe repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses5
9843239940AntimetaboleThe repetition of words in an inverted order to sharpen a contrast.6
9843239941AntithesisDirect opposite7
9843239942Appeal to False AuthorityThis fallacy occurs when someone who has no expertise to speak on an issue is cited as an authority.8
9843239943Archaic DictionThe use of words common to an earlier time period; antiquated language.9
9843239944AsyndetonOmission of conjunctions10
9843239945BackingFurther assurances or data without which the assumption lacks authority11
9843239946Bandwagon AppealThe argument that since something is popular or everybody is doing it, so should you.12
9843239947Caricaturea representation of a person that is exaggerated for comic effect13
9843239948ChiasmusA statement consisting of two parallel parts in which the second part is structurally reversed14
9843239949Circular ReasoningRepeating the claim as a way to provide evidence, resulting in no evidence at all.15
9843239950ClaimAn assertion, usually supported by evidence16
9843239951Claims of FactAssert that something is true or not true17
9843239952Claims of Valueargues that something is good or bad, right or wrong, desirable or undesirable18
9843239953Claims of Policyrecommend that a specific course of action be taken or approved19
9843239954Closed ThesisA limited thesis that previews the major points the speaker/author will make20
9843239955Open Thesisis one that does not list all the points the writer intends to cover in an essay.21
9843239956Colloquialisminformal words or expressions not usually acceptable in formal writing22
9843239957Complex SentenceA sentence with one independent clause and at least one dependent clause23
9843239958ConcedeTo admit as true; to yield, submit24
9843239959ConfirmationProof Proof; evidence; verification25
9843239960ConnotationAll the meanings, associations, or emotions that a word suggests26
9843239961Counter Argument ThesisSummary of counterargument, preceding writer's opinion27
9843239962CounterargumentA challenge to a position; an opposing argument.28
9843239963Cumulative SentenceSentence that completes the main idea at the beginning of the sentence and then builds and adds on.29
9843239964Declarative SentenceA sentence that makes a statement.30
9843239965DiatribeA bitter verbal attack31
9843239966Double Entendrea word or phrase open to two interpretations, one of which is usually risqué or indecent.32
9843239967Euphemisman inoffensive expression that is substituted for one that is considered offensive33
9843239968Faulty AnalogyA fallacy that occurs when an analogy compares two things that are not comparable.34
9843239969First Hand Evidenceevidence based on something the writer knows35
9843239970Hasty GeneralizationA fallacy in which a faulty conclusion is reached because of inadequate evidence.36
9843239971Imperative SentenceA sentence that requests or commands.37
9843239972IncongruityTo present things that are out of place or are absurd in relation to its surroundings38
9843239973Induction/Inductive ReasoningReasoning from specific to general.39
9843239974InnuendoA hint, indirect suggestion, or reference40
9843239975InvectiveAn emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language.41
9843239976InversionInverted order of words in a sentence (variation of the subject-verb-object order)42
9843239977IronyA contrast between expectation and reality; incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs43
9843239978Jargonthe specialized language or vocabulary of a particular group or profession44
9843239979JuxtapositionPlacement of two things closely together to emphasize comparisons or contrasts45
9843239980Logical FallacyAn error in reasoning that renders an argument invalid46
9843239981Metonymysubstituting the name of one object for another object closely associated with it47
9843239982Non Sequitura conclusion or statement that does not logically follow from the previous argument or statement.48
9843239983Oxymorona figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction49
9843239984ParadoxA figure of speech or statement that seems contradictory but actually contains a hidden truth50
9843239985ParallelismThe repetition of similar grammatical or syntactical patterns.51
9843239986Parodya humorous imitation of a serious work52
9843239987Paronomasiaan intentional form of pun that uses words similar in sound but different in meaning for a humorous effect53
9843239988Periodic SentenceA sentence that presents its central meaning in a main clause at the end.54
9843239989PolemicAn argument against an idea, usually regarding philosophy, politics, or religion.55
9843239990Polysyndetonthe use, for rhetorical effect, of more conjunctions than is necessary or natural56
9843239991PropagandaIdeas spread to influence public opinion for or against a cause.57
9843239992PunA play on words58
9843239993Qualifiera restriction placed on the claim to state that it may not always be true as stated Words that avoid absolutes and admit potential exceptions59
9843239994Quantitative EvidenceIncludes things that can be measured, cited, counted, or otherwise represented in numbers60
9843239995RebuttalAn argument technique wherein opposing arguments are anticipated and countered61
9843239996Red Herringuse of an irrelevant point to divert attention from the real issue62
9843239997RefuteTo discredit an argument, particularly a counterargument.63
9843239998ReversalTo present the opposite of the normal order64
9843239999SchemeA pattern of words or sentence construction used for rhetorical effect.65
9843240000Second Hand EvidenceEvidence that is accessed through research, reading, and investigation.66
9843240001Slapstickcomedy based on deliberately clumsy actions and humorously embarrassing events67
9843240002Straw Man FallacyOccurs when the arguer attacks a misrepresentation of the opponent's view.68
9843240003SyllogismA form of deductive reasoning consisting of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion. A form of reasoning in which two statements are made and a conclusion is drawn from them.69
9843240004SymbolSomething that represents something else70
9843240005Synecdocheusing a part of something to represent the whole thing71
9843240006ToneAttitude a writer takes toward the audience, a subject, or a character72
9843240007TransitionThe connection between two parts of a piece of writing, contributing to coherence.73
9843240008ShiftIn writing, a movement from one thought or idea to another; a change.74
9843240009TravestyA crude, exaggerated, or ridiculous representation; mockery75
9843240010Understatementthe presentation of something as being smaller, worse, or less important than it actually is.76
9843240011Overstatementthe action of expressing or stating something too strongly; exaggeration. making to seem more important than it really is the action of expressing or stating something too strongly; exaggeration.77
9843240012Assumptiona thing that is accepted as true or as certain to happen, without proof.78
9843240013ZeugmaArtfully using one verb with two or more different objects79

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!