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AP Language and Composition Terms Flashcards

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9114211357Ad hominem argumentArgument appealing to personal considerations rather than logic or reason.0
9114211358Allegorya work with two levels of meaning, a literal one and a symbolic one.1
9114211359AlliterationThe repetition of consonant sounds at the beginnings of words.2
9114211360Allusionan indirect reference to a person, place, event, or literary work with which the author believes the reader will be familiar3
9114211361AmbiguityA technique in which a word, phrase, or event has more than one meaning or can be interpreted in more than one way.4
9114211362Analogya point-by-point comparison between two things for the purpose of clarifying the less familiar of the two subjects5
9114211363AnaphoraA repetition of a word or words at the beginning of successive lines, clauses, or sentences.6
9114211364AnecdoteA brief story that focuses on a single episode or event in a person's life and that is used to illustrate a particular point7
9114211365AntecedentThe word, phrase, or clause that a pronoun refers to.8
9114211366AphorismA brief statement, usually one sentence long, that expresses a general principle or truth about life.9
9114211367ApostropheA figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary preson or personified abstraction, such as liberty or love10
9114211368AssonanceThe repetition of vowel sounds within words.11
9114211369AtmosphereThe emotional mood created by the entirety of a literary work,12
9114211370ClauseA grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb.13
9114211371Colloquial/ColloquialismThe use of slang or informalities in speech in writing. They give works a more conversational, familiar tone.14
9114211372ConceitA fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects15
9114211373ConcessionIn an argument, conceding that the opposing side has some validity16
9114211374ConnotationThe emotional response evoked by a word17
9114211375DenotationLiterally, the dictionary definition of a word18
9114211376DictionA writer's or speaker's choice of words is called diction.19
9114211377DidacticA work with the primary aim of teaching or instructing20
9114211378Elegya poem written in tribute to a person21
9114211379EuphemismA more agreeable or less offensive substitute for generally unpleasant words or concepts.22
9114211380Extended Metaphora comparison between two essentially unlike things that nevertheless have something in common. It does not contain the word like or as. An extended metaphor compares two things at some length and in various ways.23
9114211381Figurative LanguageFigurative language is language that communicates ideas beyond the literal meaning of words.24
9114211382Figures of SpeechA device used to produce figurative language.25
9114211383Generic ConventionsThis term describes traditions for each genre.26
9114211384GenreGenre refers to the distinct types into which literary works can be grouped.27
9114211385HomilyThis term literally means "sermon," but more informally, it can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice.28
9114211386HyperboleA figure of speech in which the truth is exaggerated for emphasis or for humorous effect.29
9114211387ImageryThe descriptive words and phrases that a writer uses to re-create sensory experiences are called imagery.30
9114211388Inference/InferTo draw reasonable conclusions from the information presented.31
9114211389InvectiveAn emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language.32
9114211390Irony/IronicIrony refers to a contrast between appearance and reality.33
9114211391Kinesthetic ImageryKinesthetic imagery re-creates the tension felt through muscles, tendons, or joints in the body.34
9114211392Loose sentenceA type of sentence in which the main idea (independent clause) comes first, followed by dependent grammatical units such as phrases and clauses.35
9114211393MetaphorA figure of speech that compares two things that have something in common. Unlike similes, metaphors do not use the words like or as, but make comparisons directly.36
9114211394MetonomyA figure of speech which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it.37
9114211395MoodMood is the feeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader.38
9114211396NarrativeAny type of writing that relates to an event or a series of events.39
9114211397OnomatopoeiaA figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words.40
9114211398Oxymorona special kind of concise paradox that brings together two contradictory terms41
9114211399Paradoxa statement that seems to contradict itself but may nevertheless suggest an important truth.42
9114211400Parallelismthe grammatical framing of words, phrases, sentences, or paragraphs to give structural similarity.43
9114211401ParodyWriting that imitates either the style or the subject matter of a literary work for the purpose of criticism, humorous effect, or flattering tribute.44
9114211402PedanticAn adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish.45
9114211403Periodic SentenceA sentence that presents its central meaning in the main clause at the end.46
9114211404PersonificationPersonification is a figure of speech in which an object, animal, or idea is given human characteristics.47
9114211405Point of ViewPoint of view refers to the narrative perspective from which events in a story or novel are told.48
9114211406Predicate Adjectivesan adjective that follows a linking verb. It is in the predicate of the sentence, and modifies or describes the subject.49
9114211407Predicate Nominativea noun that renames the subject. It follows a linking verb and is located in the predicate of the sentence.50
9114211408Primary SourcesMaterials written or created by people who were present at events are called primary sources.51
9114211409Proseprose refers to all forms of written or spoken expression that are not in verse.52
9114211410RepetitionRepetition is a technique in which a sound, word, phrase, or line is repeated for emphasis or unity.53
9114211411Rhetoricthis term describes the principles governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently and persuasively.54
9114211412Rhetorical ModesThis term describes the variety, the conventions, and the purposes of the major kinds of writing.55
9114211413Rhetorical questionA question used for a rhetorical purpose that is not meant to be answered but the answer may be obvious56
9114211414SarcasmA type of verbal irony, refers to a critical remark expressed in a statement in which literal meaning is the opposite of actual meaning.57
9114211415SatireA literary technique in which foolish ideas or customs are ridiculed for the purpose of improving society.58
9114211416Similea figure of speech that compares two things that have something in common, using a word such as like or as.59
9114211417Stream of ConsciousnessA technique that presents the flow of a character's seemingly unconnected thoughts, responses, and sensations.60
9114211418Subject complementThe word or clause that follows a linking verb61
9114211419Syllogisma deductive system of formal logic that presents two premises—the first one called "major" and the second "minor"—that inevitably lead to a sound conclusion.62
9114211420Symbol/SymbolismGenerally, anything that represents or stands for something else.63
9114211421SyntaxThe way an author chooses to join words into phrases, clauses and sentences.64
9114211422Themean underlying message that a writer wants the reader to understand.65
9114211423ThesisSentence that directly expresses the author's opinion, purpose, meaning, or proposition66
9114211424ToneA writer's attitude toward his or her subject.67
9114211425TransitionA word or phrase that links different ideas.68
9114211426UnderstatementA technique of creating emphasis by saying less than is actually or literally true.69
9114211427Voicerefers to a writer's unique use of language that allows a reader to "hear" a human personality in his or her writing.70
9114211428Witintellectually amusing language that surprises and delights71

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