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AP Language Terms (Copy) Flashcards

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6202625200Ad HominemA fallacy that attacks the opposing speaker or another person rather than addressing the issues at hand0
6202625201AllegoryFictional work in which the characters represent ideas or concepts1
6202625202AlliterationThe repetition of consonant sounds, usually at the beginning of words2
6202625203AllusionA reference, usually oblique or faint, to another place, idea, or person from history or literature3
6202625204AmbiguityUncertain or indefinite; subject to more than one interpretation4
6202625205AnalogyThe correspondance or resemblance between two things that are essentially different5
6202625206Faulty Analogypoorly devised, inaccurate or illogical comparison6
6202625207AnecdoteA short story used to illustrate a point the author is making7
6202625208AntecedentEvery pronoun refers back to a previous noun or pronoun8
6202625209AntithesisAn opposition or contrast of ideas that is often expressed in balanced phrases or clauses9
6202625210AphorismA terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or a moral principle10
6202625211ApostropheA figure of speech in which an absent person or personified object is addressed by a speaker11
6202625212AppositiveA word or phrase that follows a noun or pronoun for emphasis or clarity12
6202625213AsyndetonWhen the conjunctions (such as "and" or "but") that would normally connect a string of words, phrases, or clauses are omitted from a sentence13
6202625214Atmosphere (mood)the emotional feeling of a place, scene, or event14
6202625215Bandwagon AppealsA fallacy that urges people to follow the same path or accept the same idea based on popular behavior/opinion15
6202625216Begging the QuestionA fallacy that assumes as true the very claim that is disputed; a form of circular reasoning that is divorced from reality16
6202625217Caricaturea verbal description, the purpose of which is to exaggerate or distort a person's distinctive physical features or other characteristics17
6202625218Clausea grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb18
6202625219Coordinationjoining one or more equal grammatical units (words, phrases, or clauses) with a coordinating conjunction19
6202625220Contrastexplain differences in two or more items20
6202625221Colloquial LanguageSlang or common language that is informal21
6202625222Connotationthe interpretive level of a word based on associated images rather than the literal meaning22
6202625223Deductive ArgumentThe process of moving from a general rule to a specific example23
6202625224DenotationThe literal, dictionary defined meaning of a word24
6202625225DictionAn author's choice of words25
6202625226DogmatismA fallacy that asserts or assumes there is only one solution or direction to go26
6202625227Either-Or ChoicesA fallacy that asserts there are only two choices, one positive and one negative27
6202625228ElegyA work that expresses sorrow28
6202625229Ellipsesindicated by a series of three periods; shows that words have been omitted29
6202625230Equivocationan argument that gives a lie an honest appearance; a half truth30
6202625231EthosRefers to the honesty, credibility, values, intentions and authority of the speaker31
6202625232EuphemismA mild or pleasant sounding expression that substitutes for a harsh, indelicate, or simply less pleasant idea32
6202625233ExpositionWriting or speech that is organized to explain33
6202625234False AuthorityA fallacy that offers the speaker/writer's authority as the sole reason for believing a claim34
6202625235Faulty Causalityin Latin "post hoc, ergo propter hoc". A fallacy that assumes one event/action causes another35
6202625236Figurative LanguageAll uses of language that imply an imaginative comparison36
6202625237Footnotesnumbered references within a work that correspond to numbers at the bottom of the page37
6202625238ForeshadowingA purposeful hint placed in a work of literature to suggest what may occur later in the narrative38
6202625239GenreThe major category into which a literary work fits (prose, poetry, drama) (fiction etc.)39
6202625240Hasty GeneralizationA fallacy that assumes as true an inference derived from insuffcient evidence; a stereotype40
6202625241HyperboleA figure of speech in which exaggeration is used to achieve emphasis41
6202625242ImageryA mental picture that is conjured by specific words and associations42
6202625243Inductive Argumentcreating a case by providing specific examples and drawing a conclusion based on the evidence they provide43
6202625244Inference/inferto draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented44
6202625245Invective (tirade, polemic)an emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language45
6202625246IronyContrast between what is stated and what is really meant, or the difference between what appears to be and what is actually true46
6202625247Verbal Ironywhen the words literally state the opposite of the writer's meaning47
6202625248Situational Ironywhen events turn out the opposite of what characters and readers expect48
6202625249Dramatic Ironywhen facts or events are known by the audience but not the characters in work49
6202625250Juxtapositionwhen two contrasting things are placed next to each other for comparison50
6202625251Logosthe use of hard evidence and logicial reasoning as a controlling principle in an argument51
6202625252Metaphora figure of speech in which two things are compared directly52
6202625253Metonymya figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it53
6202625254Mood (atmosphere)The prevailing or dominant feeling of a work, scene, or event54
6202625255Narrativethe telling of a story or an account of an event of series of events55
6202625256Non SequiturA fallacy that claims, reasons, or warrants fail to connect or follow each other56
6202625257Onomatopoeiaan effect created by words that have sounds that reinforce their meaning; buzz, hiss, hum, crack57
6202625258Oxymorontwo contradictory words in one expression; jumbo shrimp58
6202625259Paradoxa seeming contradiction that in fact reveals some truth59
6202625260Parallelisma literary technique that relies on the use of the same syntactical structure60
6202625261Parenthetical IdeasA short diversion from the main point of a work61
6202625262Parodyan effort to ridicule or make fun of a literary work or an author by writing a comic imitation of the work62
6202625263PathosA sympathetic appeal to pity or compassion used in an argument63
6202625264Personathe character created by the voice and narration of the speaker of a text64
6202625265Personificationa figure of speech in which ideas or objects are described as having human qualities or personalities65
6202625266Point of Viewthe particular perspective from which a story is told66
6202625267Puna play on words67
6202625268Repetitionthe reiteration of a word, phrase, image sound, etc. for emphasis68
6202625269Rhetoricthe art, style and logic of a written or spoken argument to persuade, to analyze, or to expose69
6202625270Rhetorical Strategythe way an author organizes words, sentences, and overall argument in order to achieve a particular purpose70
6202625271Rhetorical Devicesthe specific language tools that an author uses to carry out a rhetorical strategy (diction, imagery, syntax)71
6202625272Rhetorical Questiona question that is asked for the sake of the argument72
6202625273Satireto ridicule or mock ideas, persons, events, or doctrines while making a clear point (unlike parody)73
6202625274Scare Tacticsa fallacy that over-emphasizes possible dangers well beyond their statistical likelihood74
6202625275Selection of Detailthe specific words, incidents, images, or events the author uses to create a scene or narrative; details may be concrete or abstract75
6202625276Semanticsthe branch of language that studies the meaning of words76
6202625277Declarative sentenceassertive- a statement77
6202625278Imperative sentenceauthoritative- command78
6202625279Interrogative sentenceasks a question79
6202625280Exclamatory sentenceexpresses emotion80
6202625281Simple Sentenceone subject and one verb81
6202625282Compound Sentencemore than one subject and/or verb (no dependent clauses)82
6202625283Complex Sentenceone independent and one or more dependent clauses83
6202625284Compound-Complex Sentencetwo or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses84
6202625285Loose (Cumulative) Sentencesubordinate structures after the main subject and verb85
6202625286Periodic (Climactic) Sentencesubordinate structures before the main subject and verb86
6202625287Convoluted sentencesubordinate structures between main subject and verb87
6202625288Sentimental Appealsa fallacy that uses tender, heartwarming emotions excessively to distract readers from facts88
6202625289Similea figure of speech that compares one thing with another using the words "like" or "as"89
6202625290Slippery Slopea fallacy that portrays a small problem as tomorrow's slide into disaster90
6202625291Speakerthe narrator of a story, poem, or drama91
6202625292Straw mana fallacy that attacks an argument that really isn't there or isn't the real issue at hand92
6202625293Subordinationjoining two or more unequal grammatical units (words, phrases, or clauses) with a subordinating conjunction93
6202625294Syllogisma form of deductive reasoning in which pieces of evidence are used to create a new conclusion94
6202625295Symbolsomething that represents something else95
6202625296Synonyma word that has the same, or nearly the same, meaning as another word96
6202625297Syntaxthe way words are arranged in a sentence97
6202625298Tensiona feeling of excitement and expectation the reader or audience feels because of the conflict, mood, or atmosphere of the work98
6202625299Themethe central idea99
6202625300ToneAuthor's attitude100
6202625301Transitiona word or phrase that links different ideas101
6202625302Understatementwhen an author assigns less significance to an event or thing than it deserves102

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