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AP Language Rhetorical Terms: List 3 Flashcards

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9652143834abstractWords or phrases denoting ideas, qualities, and conditions that exist but cannot be seen--opposite of these types terms are concrete terms0
9652143835ad populem argumentA fallacious argument that appeals to the passions and prejudices of a group rather than its reason. An example is using the phrase "It's the American Way"1
9652143836allegoryThe device of using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning. This type of meaning usually deals with moral truth or generalization about human existence.2
9652143837anaphoraThe repetition of a group of words at the beginning of successive clauses.3
9652143838aphorismA terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or a moral principle. Can be a memorable summation of the author's point.4
9652143839apostropheA figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction--may add familiarity or emotional intensity.5
9652143840attitudeA writer's intellectual position or emotion regarding the subject of the writing.6
9652143841audienceThe group for whom a work is intended.7
9652143842claimThe ultimate conclusion, generalization, or point, backed up by support, of an argument.8
9652143843clichéA stale image or expression, and the bane of good expository writing.9
9652143844comparison/contrastA rhetorical mode used to develop essays that systematically match two items for similarities and differences10
9652143845complex sentenceA sentence with one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.11
9652143846concreteSaid of words or terms denoting objects or condition that are palpable, visible, or evident to the senses---opposite of abstract.12
9652143847evidenceThe logical bases or supports for an assertion or idea.13
9652143848genreThe major category into which a literary work fits--the basic divisions of literature are prose, poetry, and drama.14
9652143849inversionThe reversal of the normal order of words in a sentence to achieve some desired effect, usually emphasis.15
9652143850loose sentenceA type of sentence in which the main idea comes first, followed by dependent grammatical units such as phrases and clauses. A work containing many of these often seems informal, relaxed, and conversational.16
9652143851metonymyA figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it.17
9652143852periodic sentenceA 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.18
9652143853process analysisA type of development in writing that stresses how a sequence of steps produces a certain effect.19
9652143854rhetorical questionA question posed with no expectation of receiving an answer. Used in public speaking to launch or further discussion.20
9652143855synecdocheA part of something used to refer to the whole.21
9652143856syntaxThe order of words in a sentence and their relationships to each other.22
9652143857transitionWords, phrases, sentences, or paragraphs that indicate connections between the writer's ideas.23
9652143858unityThe characteristic of having all parts contribute to the overall effect.24

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