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AP Language Terms Flashcards

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6019726191Rhetoric/Rhetorical TriangleEffective, persuasive, eloquent language use; Aristotle said it is "available means of persuasion." Rhetoric comes from "orator" Subject Audience Speaker/Writer (Context/Purpose)0
6019739366AlliterationRepetition of consonant sounds ("and the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain.")1
6019754592AllusionAn indirect reference to something outside of the text "may the force be with you" (Star Wars)2
6019760871AmbiguityUnclear. "I'm going to the bank." two or more possible meanings.3
6019769832AnalogyAn extended comparison between two seemingly dissimilar things. "Their marriage was like fine wine..."4
6019782714AnaphoraRepetition of a word or phase at the beginning of successive clauses. "I have a dream..." (MLK Jr.)5
6019789717AntithesisParallel structure that juxtaposes contrasting ideas (some like it hot, some like it cold.) (It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.)6
6019801312AphorismA short astute statement of general truth. ("Power tends to corrupt. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.")7
6019808757ApostropheRhetorical term addressing someone or something not present. ("Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?")8
6019816178BiasPrejudice or a predisposition toward one side of an object or issue.9
6019824512ClaimA statement that asserts a belief or truth.10
6019827349ClicheAn overused expression ("Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.")11
6019838888Colloquial/ismLanguage distinctive to a certain time/place.12
6019844593ConcessionReluctant acknowledgement or yielding.13
6019853019ConnotationImplied meaning/definition of a word.14
6019857792DeductionArgument/reasoning from general to specific (thesis is most specific point).15
6019863890DenotationLiteral definition of a word. Dictionary definition.16
6019868712DictionAuthor's word choice.17
6019871979Double EntendreDouble meaning of a group of words the author has purposefully left ambiguous. "The bawdy hand of the dial is now on the prick of noon." (Romeo and Juliet), "Children make delicious snacks."18
6019886590ElegiacMournful over what has passed or been lost.19
6019892053EpigramA brief, witty statement "A fool and his money are soon elected."20
6019897163EpithetA word or phrase adding a characteristic to a thing or person's name (eg. Richard the Lionhearted) (Blood Red Moon).21
6019909300EthosAn appeal that focuses on the credibility of a person.22
6019915415EuphemismA word that serves as a substitute for an unpleasant word. (Administrative Assistant vs. Secretary) (Passed Away vs. Died)23
6019927183Figurative LanguageFigures of speech that go beyond literal meaning to achieve a literary effect (metaphors, similes, hyperboles, personification)24
6019944393GroundsThe material a writer uses to support a claim (evidence/appeals).25
6019950157HyperboleGreat exaggeration for emphasis (I'm starving) (I'm drowning in homework) (This is going to take forever).26
6019960322ImageryDescriptive words that appeal to a reader's senses (sight, taste, hearing, touch).27
6019966712InductionReasoning from specific to general (1+3=4, 4 is even, therefore, an odd number plus an odd number equals an even number).28
6019978707InferenceReasonable conclusion drawn from presented information.29
6019988631InvectiveSpiteful, angry language.30
6019990315InversionA sentence in which the verb precedes the subject (Yoda) ("Never have I experienced something more frightening.")31
6019998896IronyDramatic - When the audience knows what will happen before the characters. Verbal - Opposite of what is said is meant. Situational - The opposite happens from what you expected to happen.32
6020014494JargonThe specialized vocabulary of a profession or academic field. (medical, legalese, education, etc.)33
6020020200JuxtapositionPlacement of two things side by side for emphasis.34
6020024098LitotesUnderstatement; Sarcasm35
6020025990LogosAppeal to logic (facts, statistics, logical information).36
6020032529MetaphorImplied comparison (The lake is a piece of glass).37
6020037435MetonymyUse of one aspect of something to represent the whole (nice wheels, or the crown - referring to royalty).38
6020049651NarrationStorytelling.39
6020053485OnomatopoeiaWords that are spelled the same way they sound. (crash, buzz, achoo.)40
6020058195OxymoronA figure of speech that combines two contradictory terms. (Jumbo shrimp; walking dead; bittersweet).41
6020070364ParadoxA statement that seems contradictory but is actually true.42
6020076694ParallelismA repetition of similar grammatical or syntactical patterns.43
6020082449ParodyA piece that imitates and exaggerates the prominent features of another; used for comic effect or ridicule (SNL; Weird Al).44
6020095678PathosAppeal to emotion.45
6020097703PersonificationGiving human characteristics to a non-human object (The wind cried "Mary").46
6020106866Point of ViewThe perspective from which the story is told. 1st: "I" "me" 2nd: "you" 3rd Omniscient: All-knowing, all-seeing 3rd Limited: One character's perspective47
6020125618PurposeOne's intention or objective in a speech or piece of writing.48
6020150999RepetitionThe action of repeating something that has already been said or written. Duplication of a word, phrase, or sentence.49
6020159501Rhetorical ModesPatterns of organization developed to achieve a specific purpose. Can include narration, description, comparison/contrast, cause/effect, definition, etc.50
6020173260Rhetorical QuestionA question asked more to produce an effect than to summon an answer.51
6020178462SarcasmBitter language meant to hurt or ridicule.52
6020181151SatireIronic, sarcastic, or witty composition that claims to argue for something but actually argues against it; ridicules the flaws of human society/nature.53
6020194444SimileComparison that uses "like" or "as". (School is like a zoo.)54
6020210970Subordinate ClauseDependant, created by using a subordination conjunction ("because"), a clause that modifies an independent clause. "While I was shopping, someone stole my car."55
6020230317Independent ClauseSimple sentence or a complete thought.56
6020234673SyllogismA form of deductive reasoning supported by a major/minor premise. "Drinking soda every day will cause people to get diabetes. You drink soda every day. You will get diabetes."57
6020248583SymbolA concrete object that represents a more abstract concept.58
6020257873SynecdocheMetonymy. 50 head of cattle.59
6020265463SyntaxSentence structure.60
6020267671ThesisA central idea in a work to which ALL parts of the work refer (directly expresses author's opinion/purpose).61
6020283072ToneA writer's attitude toward the subject or audience.62
6020287866VoiceA distinctive quality in the style and tone of writing.63
6020295421WarrantA logical connection between the claim and its supporting reason.64
6020304080ZeugmaA figure of speech in which a word applies to the others in a different sense. One word (usually a verb) that modifies or governs often in different, sometimes congruent ways - two or more words in a sentence. "He carried a strobelight and the responsibility for the lives of his men."65

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