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AP Language/Argumentation Flashcards

Terms for early discussion for AP Language--including Thank You for Arguing

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4354568564accismusthe figure of coyness ("Oh, you shouldn't have.")0
4354568565anaphorarepetition of a word or phrase as the beginning of successive clauses1
4354568566anthropomorphism-logical fallacy, the representation of objects (especially a god) as having human form or traits2
4354568567aporiaexpression of doubt (often feigned) by which a speaker appears uncertain as to what he should think, say, or do.3
4354568568begging the questionOften called circular reasoning, __ occurs when the believability of the evidence depends on the believability of the claim.4
4354568569circumlocutiontalk around an issue to avoid getting to the point5
4354568570concessioconcession, the jujitsu figure. you seem to agree with your opppnent but only use it to your advantage6
4354568571deliberative rhetoricOne of three types of rhetoric (the other two are legal and demonstrative). Deliberative rhetoric deals with argument about choices. It concerns itself with matters that affect thefuture. Without deliberative rhetoric, we wouldn't have democracy.7
4354568572demonstrative rhetoricAlso called epideictic, the speech of sermons, funeral orations and national anthems. It uses the present tense and its chief topic is values. Aristotle named it one of the three kinds of rhetoric, the other two being forensic (legal) and deliberative (political).8
4354568573dialysisThe this-not-that Figure. "Dont buy the shoes. Buy the colors." People take wisdom more seriously if you put it cryptically; it's the idiot savant approach.9
4354568574disinterestlack of bias or involvement; impartiality; (ed) uninvolved; free from self-interest10
4354568575dubitatiofeigned doubt about your ability to speak well11
4354568576ethosan appeal based on the character/reputation/ credibility of the speaker.12
4354568577forensic (legal) rhetoricArgument that determines guilt or innocence. It focuses on the past.13
4354568578hypophoraa figure that asks a rhetorical question and then immediatly answering it.14
4354568579idiominseparable words with a single meaning. often mistaken for figures in general, the idiom is merely a kind of figure.15
4354568580kairothe rhetorical art of seizing the occasion. it covers both timing and the appropriate medium16
4354568581logosargument by logic, one of three "appeals"17
4354568582post hoc ergo propter hocthe Chanticleer fallacy. A follow B; therefore. A caused B ("My crowning makes the sun come up.")18
4354568583prolepsis (procatalepsis)anticipating and answering objections in advance19
4354568584red herringthe fallacy of distraction20
4354568585reductio ad absudrumtaking an opponents argument to its illogical conclusion. A fallacy in formal logic21
4354568586slippery slopethe fallacy of dire consequences. it assumes that one choice will neccessarily lead to a cascading series of bad choices22
4354568587straw man fallacyinstead of dealing with the actual issue, it attacks a weaker version of argument23
4354568588syncrisisa figure that reframes an argument by redefining it. "Not manipulation. Instruction."24
4354568589Ad hominemConsists of replying to an argument or factual claim by attacking or appealing to a characterist or belif of the person making the argument or claim, rather than by addressing the substance of the argument or producing evidence against the claim25
4354568590anadiplosisA rhetorical figure of speech in which a word or phrase from the end of a sentence or clause is repeated at the begginging of the next sentence or clause. More generally it refers to rhetorical repetition for emphisis26
4354568591Personificationassigning human qualities to inanimate objects or concepts. Wordsworth's "the sea that bares her bosom to the moon."27
4354568592Antithesisthe presentation of two contrasting ideas. The ideas are balanced by phrase, clause, or paragraphs. "To be or not to be . . ." "It was the best of times; it was the worst of times . . ." "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country . . ."28
4354568593Oxymorona figure of speech wherein the author groups apparently contradictory terms. "jumbo shrimp" and "cruel kindness."29
4354568594Sarcasmbitter, caustic language that is meant to hurt or ridicule someone or something. It may use verbal irony as a device.30
4354568595SynecdochePart as representative of the whole. "All hands on deck"31
4354568596Hyperboledeliberate exaggeration or overstatement32
4354568597MetonymyA type of metaphor in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it. "The White House declared," from the Greek meaning "changed label" or "substitute name"33
4354568598ParadoxA statement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense but upon closer inspection contains some degree of truth or validity. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."34
4354568599Onomatopoeiaa figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words. Simple examples include such words as buzz, hiss, hum.35
4354568600Metaphora comparison of two unlike things, not using like or as. "Your eyes are stars"36
4354568601SymbolAnything that represents, stands for, something else. Usually concrete—such as an object, action, character, or scene—that represents something more abstract.37
4354568602Invectivean emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language.38
4354568603Euphemisma more acceptable and usually more pleasant way of saying something that might be inappropriate or uncomfortable. "He went to his final reward" for "he died."39
4354568604SatireA work that targets human vices and follies or social institutions and convention for reform or ridicule.40
4354568605AlliterationThe repetition of sounds at the beginning of words, such as "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers."41
4354568606Pathosan appeal based on emotion.42
4354568607Syllogisma deductive system of formal logic that presents two premises that inevitably lead to a sound conclusion. A=B, B=C, so A=C. "All men are mortal; Socrates is a man; therefore, Socrates is mortal."43
4354568608AnecdoteA story or brief episode told by the writer or a character to illustrate a point.44
4354568609Denotationthe literal or dictionary meaning of a word45
4354568610Connotationthe feelings or emotions surrounding/associated with a word, beyond its literal meaning. Generally positive or negative in nature.46
4354568611RepetitionThe duplication, either exact or approximate, or any element of language, such as sound, word, phrase, clause, sentence, or grammatical pattern.47
4354568612VoiceTwo definitions/uses. One refers to the total "sound" of the writer's style.The second refers to the relationship between a sentence's subject and verb (active and passive).48
4354568613Parallelismsimilarity in structure and syntax in a series of related words, phrases, clauses, sentences, or paragraphs that develops balance. Ex. "When you are right, you cannot be too radical; when you are wrong, you cannot be too conservative"- MLK49
4354568614AnalogyDrawing a comparison to show a similarity in some respect. It is assumed that what applies to a parallel situation also applies to the original circumstance.50
4354568615Rhetoricthe techniques and rules for using language effectively, eloquently, and persuasively.51
4354568616Antecedentthe word, phrase, or clause that a pronoun refers to.52
4354568617ThesisThe sentence or group of sentences that directly expresses the author's opinion, purpose, meaning, or proposition.53
4354568618AsyndetonCommas used (with no conjunction) to separate a series of words, speeds up flow of sentence. X, Y, Z as opposed to X, Y, and Z.54
4354568619Point of ViewWho tells a story and how it is told. (1st, 2nd, 3rd limited, 3rd omniscient)55
4354568620Deductive reasoningreasoning from the general to the particular (or from cause to effect). "People suck, so you probably suck too."56
4354568621Dictionthe author's choice of words that creates tone, attitude, and style, as well as meaning57
4354568622Apostrophewhen a speaker address someone/something that isn't there. Ex. "Are you there God? It's me, Mr. Ginley."58
4354568623Extended MetaphorA metaphor that continues beyond it's initial use, often developed at great length, occurring frequently throughout a work.59
4354568624Clichean overused saying or idea60
4354568625PolysyndetonDeliberate use of many conjunctions in close succession, especially where some might be omitted. Hemingway and the Bible both use extensively. Ex. "he ran and jumped and laughed for joy"61
4354568626Inductive reasoningreasoning from detailed facts to general principles. Ex. "All of the ice we have examined so far is cold.Therefore, all ice is cold."62
4354568627Imagerywords that create mental pictures63
4354568628Similea comparison using like or as64
4354568629Motifpattern; repeated image, symbol, idea65
4354568630Puna play on words that are identical or similar in sounds but differ in meaning66
4354568631Ambiguitydeliberately unclear, having multiple meanings67
4354568632Chiasmusa statement consisting of two parallel parts in which the second part is reversed ("Susan walked, and in rushed Mary.")68
4354568633Rhetorical Questiona question that does not expect an explicit answer69
4354568634Juxtapositionwords, phrases, ideas placed side by side for effect70
4354568635Non Sequituran inference that does not follow logically from the premise (literally, does not follow)71
4354568636Logical Fallacya mistake in reasoning72
4354568637Abstractrefers to language that describes concepts rather than concrete images ( ideas and qualities rather than observable or specific things, people, or places). The observable or "physical" is usually described in concrete language.73
4354568638Allegoryan extended narrative in prose or verse in which characters, events, and settings represent abstract qualities and in which the writer intends a second meaning to be read beneath the surface of the story; the underlying meaning may be moral, religious, political, social, or satiric. Examples: John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress (Temptations of Christians) , Orwell's Animal Farm (Russian Revolution), and Arthur Miller's Crucible ("Red Scare")74
4354568639Allusiona reference to a well-known person, place, or thing from literature, history, etc. Example: Eden, Scrooge, Prodigal Son, Catch-22, Judas, Don Quixote, Mother Theresa75
4354568640Aphorisma short, often witty statement of a principle or a truth about life. Examples: "Early bird gets the worm." "What goes around, comes around.." "People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones."76
4354568641Assonancerepetition of vowel sounds between different consonants, such as in neigh/fade,77
4354568642Cacophonyharsh, awkward, or dissonant sounds used deliberately in poetry or prose; the opposite of euphony.78
4354568643Consonancerepetition of identical consonant sounds within two or more words in close proximity, as in boost/best; it can also be seen within several compound words, such as fulfill and ping-pong79
4354568644Epistropherepetition of a word or expression at the end of successive phrases, clauses, sentences, or verses especially for rhetorical or poetic effect (as Lincoln's "of the people, by the people, for the people") Compare to anaphora. Ex: "When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child." (Corinthians) Ex: I'll have my bond!/ Speak not against my bond!/ I have sworn an oath that I will have my bond.---The Merchant of Venice80
4354568645Euphonya succession of harmonious sounds used in poetry or prose; the opposite of cacophony81
4354568646False AnalogyWhen two cases are not sufficiently parallel to lead readers to accept a claim of connection between them.82
4354568647OversimplificationWhen a writer obscures or denies the complexity of the issues in an argument83
4354568648Syntaxthe grammatical structure of a sentence; the arrangement of words in a sentence. It includes length of sentence, kinds of sentences (questions, exclamations, declarative sentences, rhetorical questions, simple, complex, or compound).84
4354568649Tonethe characteristic emotion or attitude of an author toward the characters, subject, and audience (anger, sarcastic, loving, didactic, emotional, etc.)85
4354568650Transitiona word or phrase that links one idea to the next and carries the reader from sentence to sentence, paragraph to paragraph.86
4354568651EllipsesIndicated by a series of three periods; shows that words have been omitted87
4354568652Either-or reasoningWhen the writer reduces an argument or issue to two polar opposites and ignores any alternatives.88
4354568653Stylean evaluation of the sum of the choices an author makes in blending diction, syntax, figurative language, and other literary devices.89
4354568654Parenthetical ideaAn idea that is set off from the rest of the sentence.90
4354568655LitotesA particular form of understatement, generated by denying the opposite of the statement which otherwise would be used.91
4354568656AnastropheDeparture from normal word order. "Faults, no one lives without."92
4354568657AntimetaboleReversing the order of repeated words of phrases (a loosely chiastic structure, AB-BA) to intensify the final formulation, to present alternatives, or to show contrast. "As not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."93
4354568658AntiphrasisOne-word irony, established by context. "Come here, Tiny," he said to the fat man.94
4354568659AppositiveA noun or noun substitute placed next to (in apposition to) another noun to be described or defined by the appositive. The appositive can be placed before or after the noun.95
4354568660ClimaxArranging words, clauses, or sentences in the order of increasing importance, weight, or emphasis. Parallelism usually forms a part of the arrangement because it offers a sense of continuity, order and movement up the latter of importance.96
4354568661EpanalepsisRepetition of the beginning word of a clasue or sentence at the end.97
4354568662Hasty GeneralizationLeaping to a generalization from inadequate or faulty evidence.98
4354568663Argument from doubtful authority"According to reliable sources, my opponent is lying."99

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