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AP Language Terms Pre-Assessment Flashcards

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10375076965Cumulative (Loose) Sentencebegins with a main clause that is followed by phrases and/or clauses that modify the main clause. These phrases or clauses add information to the main or independent clause.0
10375076966Periodic Sentencea sentence that, by leaving the completion of its main clause to the end, produces an effect of suspense.1
10375076967Litotes/Understatementa figure of speech in which a negative statement is used to affirm a positive statement.2
10375076968Warrantexpresses the assumption necessarily shared by the speaker and the audience.3
10375076969Ethosan appeal to ethics and it is a means of convincing someone of the character or credibility of the persuader.4
10375076970Pathosan appeal to emotion, and is a way of convincing an audience of an argument by creating an emotional response.5
10375076971Logosan appeal to logic, and is a way of persuading an audience by reason.6
10375076972Concessionan acknowledgement that an opposing argument may be true or reasonable.7
10375076973SyllogismA logical structure that uses the major premise and minor premise to reach a necessary conclusion.8
10375076976Inductiona logical process wherein you reason from particulars to universal, using specific cases in order to draw a conclusion, which is also called a generalization.9
10375076977Deductiona logical process wherein you reach a conclusion by starting with a general principle or universal truth (a major premise).10
10375076979Refutationa denial of the validity of an opposing argument.11
10375076981Similea figure of speech used to explain or clarify an idea by comparing it explicitly to something else, using words like, as, or as though.12
10375076982Metaphorfigure of speech that compares two unlike things without using like or as.13
10375076983Anaphorathe intentional repetition of beginning clauses in order to create an artistic effect.14
10375076984Rhetoricit is the art of finding ways of persuading an audience.15
10375076985Rhetorical Trianglespeaker-subject-audience16
10375076986Allusionbrief reference to a person, event, or place (real or fictitious) to to a work of art.17
10375076987Hyperboledeliberate exaggeration used for emphasis or to produce a comic or ironic effect; an overstatement to make a point.18
10375076988Personificationattribution of a lifelike quality to an inanimate object or an idea.19
10375076989Asyndetonomission of conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses, or words.20
10375076990Polysyndetonthe deliberate use of multiple conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses or words.21
10375076991Parallelismsimilarity of structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases, or clauses.22
10375076992Antithesisopposition, or contrast or ideas or words in a parallel construction.23
10375076993Enumerationto mention separately as if in counting; name one by one; specify, as in list24
10375076994Rhetorical QuestionFigure of speech in the form of a question posed for the rhetorical effect rather than for the purpose of getting an answer. Ex.) Are you stupid?25
10375076995Chiasmusthe reversal in the order of words in two otherwise parallel phrases. Ex.) He went to the country, the country went to him.26
10375076996RebuttalIn the Toulon model, a rebuttal gives voice to possible objections.27
10375076997Fallacy of Argumenta flaw in the structure of an argument that renders its conclusion invalid or suspect.28
10375076998Bandwagon Appeala fallacy of argument in which a course of action is recommended on the grounds that everyone else is following it.29
10375076999Begging the Questiona fallacy of argument in which a claim is based on the very grounds that are in doubt or dispute.30
10375077000Anecdotea brief story used to illustrate a point or claim.31
10375077001Modes of DisclosureExposition- illustrates a point Narration- tells a story Description- creates a sensory image Argumentation- takes a position on an issue and defends it.32
10375077002Examplea specific event, person, or detail of an idea cited and/or developed to support or illustrate a thesis or topic.33
10375077003Contrast/ Comparisona method of presenting similarities and differences between or among at least two persons, places, things, ideas, etc. may be organized by: Subject by subject Point by point Combination34
10375077004Cause and Effectestablishes a relationship: B is the result of A.35
10375077005Classificationseparates items into major categories and details the characteristics of each group is placed within the category.36
10375077006Processsimply "how to" do something is done. It can have one of two purposes. It can either give instructions or inform the reader about how something is done.37
10375077007Definitionidentifies the class to which a specific term belongs and those characteristics which make it different from all the other items in that class.38
10375077008Narrationis nothing more than storytelling. There is a beginning, a middle, and an end.39
10375077009Descriptionwriting that appeals to the senses. It can be objective, which is scientific or clinical, or it can be impressionistic, which tries to involve the reader's emotions or feelings.40
10375077014Hasty generalizationa fallacy of argument in which an inference is drawn from insufficient data.41
10375077015Non sequitora fallacy of argument in which claims, reasons, or warrants fail to connect logically; one point doesn't follow from another.42
10375077034AllegoryThe device of using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning. A story in which each aspect of the story has a symbolic meaning outside the tale itself.43
10375077035AlliterationThe repetition of sounds, especially initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words (as in "she sells sea shells").44
10375077036AllusionA direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly known, such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art.45
10375077037AmbiguityThe multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage.46
10375077038AnalogyA similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them.47
10375077039AntecedentThe word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.48
10375077040Antithesisthe opposition or contrast of ideas; the direct opposite.49
10375077041AphorismA terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or a moral principle. (If the authorship is unknown, the statement is generally considered to be a folk proverb.)50
10375077042ApostropheA prayer like figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love. It is an address to someone or something that cannot answer.51
10375077044Caricaturea verbal description, the purpose of which is to exaggerate or distort, for comic effect, a person's distinctive physical features or other characteristics.52
10375077045ClauseA grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb.53
10375077046Colloquial/ColloquialismThe use of slang or informalities in speech or writing.54
10375077048ConnotationThe non-literal, associative meaning of a word; the implied, suggested meaning.55
10375077049DenotationThe strict, literal, dictionary definition of a word, devoid of any emotion, attitude, or color.56
10375077050DictionRelated to style, diction refers to the writer's word choices, especially with regard to their correctness, clearness, or effectiveness.57
10375077051DidacticFrom the Greek, didactic literally means "teaching."58
10375077052EuphemismFrom the Greek for "good speech," euphemisms are a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept - POLITICALLY CORRECT59
10375077053Extended MetaphorA metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout a work.60
10375077054Figurative LanguageWriting or speech that is not intended to carry literal meaning and is usually meant to be imaginative and vivid61
10375077055Figure of speechA device used to produce figurative language. Many compare dissimilar things. Figures of speech include apotrophe hyperbole irony metaphor oxymoron paradox personification simile syneddoche understatement62
10375077056GenreThe major category into which a literary work fits. The basic divisions of literature are prose, poetry, and drama.63
10375077058HyperboleA figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement. (The literal Greek meaning is "overshoot.")64
10375077059ImageryThe sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or represent abstractions.65
10375077060Inference/inferTo draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented.66
10375077061Invectivean emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language.67
10375077062Irony/ironicThe contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant, or the difference between what appears to be and what is actually true.68
10375077063Loose sentence/non-periodic sentenceA type of sentence in which the main idea (independent clause) comes first, followed by dependent grammatical units such as phrases and clauses.69
10375077064MetaphorA figure of speech using implied comparison of seemingly unlike things or the substitution of one for the other, suggesting some similarity.70
10375077065MetonymyA figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it.71
10375077066MoodThe prevailing atmosphere or emotional aura of a work.72
10375077067NarrativeThe telling of a story or an account of an event or series of events.73
10375077068onomatopoeiaA figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words.74
10375077069OxymoronOxymoron is a figure of speech wherein the author groups apparently contradictory terms to suggest a paradox.75
10375077070ParadoxA statement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense but upon closer inspection contains some degree of truth or validity.76
10375077071Parallelismthe use of successive verbal constructions in poetry or prose that correspond in grammatical structure, sound, meter, meaning, etc.77
10375077072ParodyA work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.78
10375077073PedanticAn adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish (language that might be described as "show-offy"; using big words for the sake of using big words).79
10375077074Periodic sentenceThe opposite of loose sentence, a sentence that presents its central meaning in a main clause at the end.80
10375077075PersonificationA figure of speech in which the author presents or describes concepts, animals, or inanimate objects by endowing them with human attributes or emotions.81
10375077076Point of viewIn literature, the perspective from which a story is told.82
10375077077Prosewritten or spoken language in its ordinary form, without metrical structure.83
10375077078RepetitionThe duplication, either exact or approximate, of any element of language, such as a sound, word, phrase, clause, sentence, or grammatical pattern.84
10375077079RhetoricFrom the Greek for "orator," this term describes the principles governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively.85
10375077080SarcasmInvolves bitter, caustic language that is meant to hurt or ridicule someone or something.86
10375077081SatireA work that targets human vices and follies or social institutions and conventions for reform or ridicule.87
10375077082Subordinate clauseLike all clauses, this word group contains both a subject and a verb (plus any accompanying phrases or modifiers), but unlike the independent clause, this clause cannot stand alone; it does not express a complete thought.88
10375077083SyllogismA deductive system of formal logic that presents two premises (the first one called "major" and the second called "minor") that inevitably lead to a sound conclusion.89
10375077084Symbol/symbolismGenerally, anything that represents itself and stands for something else.90
10375077085SyntaxThe way an author chooses to join words into phrases, clauses, and sentences.91
10375077086ThemeThe central idea or message of a work, the insight it offers into life.92
10375077087ThesisThe sentence or group of sentences that directly expresses the author's opinion, purpose, meaning, or position.93
10375077088ToneDescribes the author's attitude toward his material, the audience, or both.94
10375077089TransitionA word or phrase that links different ideas. Used especially, although not exclusively, in expository and argumentative writing, effectively signal a shift from one idea to another.95
10375077090Understatementthe ironic minimalizing of fact; presents something as less significant than it is.96
10375077091Witin modern usage, intellectually amusing language that surprises and delights.97
10375077092Slippery SlopeThis is the failure to provide evidence to support a claim that one event will lead to a catastrophic chain of events.98
10375077093straw manWhen a writer argues against a claim that nobody actually holds or is universally considered weak.99
10375077094EthosAn appeal to credibility. The writer is seeking to convince you that he or she has the background, history, skills, and/or expertise to speak on the issue.100
10375077095JuxtapositionMaking on idea more dramatic by placing it next to its opposite.101
10375077098Rhetorical QuestionA question whose answer is assumed.102
10375077099SimileA critical figure of speech in an argument when what is unknown is compared to something that is known using the word "like," "as," or "than" in order to better perceive its importance.103
10375077100rhetorical appealthe persuasive devices by which a writer tries to sway an audience's attention and response to any given work. See logos, ethos, and pathos.104
10375077101descriptive detailWhen an essay uses this phrase, look for the writer's sensory description.105
10375077103narrative devicesThis term describes the tools of the storyteller (also used in nonfiction), such as ordering events so that they build to a climactic moment or withholding information until a crucial or appropriate moment when revealing it creates a desired effect. On the essay portion of the exam, this term may also apply to biographical and autobiographical writing.106
10375077104narrative techniquesThe style of telling the "story," even if the passage is nonfiction. Concentrate on the order of events and on their detail in evaluating a writer's technique.107
10375077105Ad hominem argumentAn argument attacking an individual's character rather than his or her position on an issue108
10375077106AnaphoraFigure of repetition that occurs when the first word or set of words in one sentence, clause, or phrase is/are repeated at or very near the beginning of successive sentences, clauses, or phrases; repetition of the initial words over successive phrases or clauses109
10375077107AnecdoteA brief story that illustrates or makes a point110
10375077108Appeal to authorityA fallacy in which a speaker or writer seeks to persuade not by giving evidence but by appealing to the respect people have for a famous person or institution.111
10375077109Argumentationone of the four forms of discourse which uses logic, ethics, and emotional appeals (logos, ethos, pathos) to develop an effective means to convince the reader to think or act in a certain way.112
10375077110AssonanceRepetition of a vowel sound within two or more words in close proximity113
10375077111AsyndetonA series of words separated by commas (with no conjunction).114
10375077112toneA speaker's, author's, or character's disposition toward or opinion of a subject.115
10375077113audienceOne's listener or readership; those to whom a speech or piece of writing is addressed.116
10375077114Balanced sentenceA sentence in which words, phrases, or clauses are set off against each other to emphasize a contrast117
10375077115Begging the questionOften called circular reasoning, __ occurs when the believability of the evidence depends on the believability of the claim.118

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