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AP Language terms Flashcards

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12429698688Rhetoric/Rhetorical triangleEffective, persuasive, eloquent language use; Subject, Speaker, Audience. Context/Purpose0
12429710703AlliterationRepetition of consonant sounds (Sheep should sleep in a shed)1
12429714513AllusionAn indirect reference to something outside of the text (I thought the software would be useful, but it was a Trojan Horse)2
12429718502AmbiguityUnclear; 2 or more possible meanings or interpretations (call me a cab!)3
12429724369AnalogyAn extended comparison between 2 seemingly dissimilar ideas (Thats as useful as rearranging a stack of chairs on the Titanic)4
12429740554AnaphoraRepetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses (It rained on his lousy tombstone, and it rained on the grass on his stomach. It rained all over the place. - Catcher in the Rye)5
12429757249AntithesisParallel structure that juxtaposes contrasting ideas (Many are called, but few are chosen)6
12429764812AphorismA short astute statement of general truth (all for one and one for all)7
12429769492ApostropheAddressing a person or a concept that is absent (Baby one more time by Brittney Spears)8
12429772980BiasPrejudice or predisposition towards one side of a subject or issue (bias towards cats because one grew up with them)9
12429778259ClaimA statement that asserts belief or truth10
12429781209ClichéAn overused expression (someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed)11
12429786965Colloquial/ismLanguage that is distinct to a certain time or place. A place where a character is from (Aint, gonna)12
12429791643ConcessionA reluctant acknowledgement or yielding ,effective and mature (Although hersheys is the best candy bar, snickers is also a great candidate)13
12429798446ConnotationImplied definition of a word (Home - Cozy/comfortable House - Actually building Residence - cold, no feeling Dwelling - primitive of basic surroundings)14
12429803243DeductionArguing/reasoning from general to specific (all apples are fruits, and a Granny Smith is an apple. Therefore, Granny Smith has to be a fruit.)15
12429806851DenotationLiteral meaning of a word, dictionary definition (native American totem poles, frog brings wealth, Eagle is leader of the sky and powerful, etc. )16
12429813122DictionAuthors choice of words (poetic, informal, informative, etc.)17
12429818190double entendredouble meaning of a group of words that the writer has purposefully left ambiguous (new obesity study looks for larger test group)18
12429828003ElegiacMournful over what has been lost (funeral speeches)19
12429828004EpigramA brief witty statement, word/phrase (If we dont end war, war will end us)20
12429835678EpithetAdding a characteristic to a thing or persons name (Timmy the Terrible)21
12429839357EthosAppeal to credibility (past college professor arguing for new educational standards in schools, credible source)22
12429841149EuphemismReplacing a word that sounds negative with something that is more pleasant (Put to sleep instead of euthanize)23
12429848706Figurative LanguageFigures of speech that go beyond literal meaning to achieve a literary effect (simile, metaphor, personification, etc.)24
12429857586GroundsSupport that you give (Metaphors, Similes, Personifications) and argument, material writer uses to support claim/evidence and appeals25
12429870508HyperboleExaggeration or emphasis (Ive told you to clean your room a million times!)26
12429871749ImageryWords that appeal to the readers senses (sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing) (glittering white, the frosty snow covered everything in sight)27
12429877754InductionReasoning from specific to general (ive counted five or six people with green eyes, therefore everyone has green eyes)28
12429882738InferenceReasonable conclusion drawn from information presented (If someone slams a door, you can infer they are upset about something)29
12429885656InvectiveSpiteful, angry language (Clark Griswald rant in Christmas Vacation)30
12429888318InversionA sentence where the verb procedes the subject31
12429892856IronyVerbal opposite of what is said is meant Dramatic - Audience knows what will happen before the character Situational - The opposite happens from what is expected32
12429911461JargonThe specialized vocab of a profession or a academic field (medical, legalese, educational, etc. )33
12429926759JuxtapositionPlacement of two things side by side for emphasis (Fact or fiction, despair and hope)34
12429928963LitotesUnderstatement, uses sarcasm (You are not as young as you used to be)35
12429930539LogosAppeal to logic, facts, statistics, and logical information36
12429933140MetaphorImplied comparison (she is an angel)37
12429937347MetonymyUse of one aspect of something to represent the whole thing (Hollywood - The film industry)38
12429939833NarrationStory telling39
12429941694OnomatopoeiaWords that are spelled the same as they sound (oink, crash, boom, bang, etc.)40
12429944802OxymoronA figure of speech that combines 2 contradictory terms (the comedian was seriously funny)41
12429948990ParadoxA statement that seems contradictory but is actually true (I know one thing, that I know nothing)42
12429953164ParallelismRepetition of similar grammatical or syntactical patterns (I dont want to live on in my work; I want to live on in my apartment - Woody Alen)43
12429955245ParodyA piece that imitates and exaggerates the prominent features of another; used for comedic effect or ridicule (¨Scary Movie" spoof on horror movies)44
12429963241PathosAppeal to emotion (puppies and kittens trigger emotion)45
12429964698PersonificationGiving an inanimate object human characteristics (lightning danced across the sky)46
12429968836Point of viewPerspective from which a story is told 1st - me 2nd - you 3rd - All knowing 3rd limited - one characters perspective47
12429977972PurposeOne´s intention or objective in a speech or a peice of writing48
12429986148RepetitionDuplication of a word, phrase, or sentence (Let it snow let it snow let it snow)49
12429988558Rhetorical modesPatterns of organization developed to achieve a specific purpose: can include narration, description, compare/contrast (narration, description, exposition and argumentation)50
12430002379Rhetorical questionA question asked more to produce an effect than to summon an answer (do you really think im that stupid? Are you kidding me?)51
12430006685SarcasmBitter language meant to hurt or ridicule (That is just what I need! Great! Terrific!)52
12430009959SatireAn ironic, sarcastic, or witty composition that claims to argue for something but actually argues against it. Ridicules the flaws of human society/nature (The movie the scary movie)53
12430021121SimileFigure of speech that uses like or as to compare things (she was like a snowflake on a cold winter day)54
12430023773Subordinate clauseDependent clause: Created by a subordinating conjunction, a clause that modifies an independent clause. (while she slept, )55
12430035705Independent clauseSimple sentence; a complete thought (She snored)56
12430038603SyllogismA form of deductive reasoning supported by major/minor premise (Major premise: plants need carbon dioxide to live, Minor premise: oak tree is a plant Conclusion: therefore the oak tree needs carbon dioxide to live)57
12430042427SymbolA concrete object that represents a more abstract concept (Dove symbolizes peace)58
12430051720SynecdocheMetonymy (Dish=plate of food)59
12430057243SyntaxSentence structure60
12430059222ThesisThe central idea in a work to which all parts of the work refer61
12430063334ToneAttitude that the writter has towards the subject or audience (Distant, intimate, ironic, satirical, etc. )62
12430067180VoiceRelationship between the noun and the verb. A distinctive quality in the style and tone of writing (can include many different literary devices and stylistic techniques)63
12430071950WarrantLogical connection between the claim and its supporting reason64
12430074956ZuegmaOne word (usually a verb) modifies or governs - often in different, sometimes congruent ways - two or more words in a sentence (She BROKE his car and his heart)65

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