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AP English Flashcards

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12403976691abstract languagedescribes ideas and qualities, rather than observable or specific things0
12403976692ad hominemIn an argument, this is an attack on the person rather than on the opponent's ideas. It comes from the Latin meaning "against the man."1
12403976693allegoryA story in which each aspect of the story has a symbolic meaning outside the tale itself.2
12403976694alliterationthe repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words3
12403976695allusionA reference to another work of literature, person, or event4
12403976696ambiguityThe multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage.5
12403976697analogyA comparison of two different things that are similar in some way6
12403976698anaphorathe repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses7
12403976699anecdotea short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person8
12403976700annotationA brief explanation, summary, or evaluation of a text or work of literature.9
12403976701antithesisthe direct opposite, a sharp contrast10
12403976702assonanceRepetition of vowel sounds11
12403976703*asyndetonomission of conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses, or words -NO conjunctions12
12403976704authoritythe right to use power -ethos13
12403976705backingSupport or evidence for a claim in an argument14
12403976706balanceA sentence/argument in which different elements are equal or in the correct proportions.15
12403976707begging the questionA fallacy in which a claim is based on evidence or support that is in doubt.16
12403976708causal relationshipForm of argumentation in which the writer claims uses cause and effect and relates one argument to another17
12403976709chiasmusA statement consisting of two parallel parts in which the second part is structurally reversed18
12403976710common knowledgeInformation that is readily available from a number of sources, or very well-known19
12403976711concrete languagedescribes specific, observable things rather than ideas or qualities20
12403976712connotationAll the meanings, associations, or emotions that a word suggests21
12403976713consonanceRepetition of consonant sounds22
12403976714conventionalusual, original, generally done23
12403976715cumulativeincreasing, building upon itself24
12403976716deconstructionthe process of analyzing literature and writing in order to understand the language and meaning25
12403976717dictionA writer's or speaker's choice of words26
12403976718didacticinstructive27
12403976719dramatic ironywhen a reader is aware of something that a character isn't28
12403976720either/or reasoningAn argument that something complex can be looked at in only two different ways29
12403976721ellipticaloval; ambiguous, either purposely or because key words have been left out; missing words30
12403976722emotional appealtries to persuade the reader by using words that appeal to the reader's emotions instead of to logic or reason31
12403976723epigraphthe use of a quotation at the beginning of a work that hints at its theme32
12403976724equivocationWhen a writer uses the same term in two different senses in an argument.33
12403976725ethosappealing to authority34
12403976726explicationThe interpretation or analysis of a text.35
12403976727expositionA narrative device, often used at the beginning of a work that provides necessary background information about the characters and their circumstances.36
12403976728false analogyan argument using an inappropriate metaphor37
12403976729figurative languageLanguage that cannot be taken literally since it was written to create a special effect or feeling.38
12403976730freight - trainSentence consisting of three or more very short independent clauses joined by conjunctions.39
12404021076Hyperboleextreme exaggeration40
12404021097imageryDescription that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste)41
12404027454inversion (sentence)inverted order of words in a sentence (variation of the subject-verb-object order)42
12404027455ironythe use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning43
12404032876logosan appeal based on logic or reason44
12404036955metaphora figure of speech that is used to make a comparison between two things that aren't alike but do have something in common (not using like or as)45
12404046363moodFeeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader46
12404048728morala lesson taught by a literary work47
12404051519negative-positivesentence that beings by stating what is not true, then by ending by stating what is true48
12404054330non-sequiturA statement that does not follow logically from evidence49
12404057651objectivitytreating facts without influence from personal feelings or prejudices50
12404059562OnomatopoeiaA word that imitates the sound it represents.51
12404061281oversimplificationdescription of something in a way that does not include all the facts or details (and that causes misunderstanding)52
12404064024oxymoronA figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase53
12404067038paradoxA statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth54
12404069600parallelismsimilarity of structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases, or clauses55
12404071837parodyA work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule56
12404074301pathosAppeal to emotion57
12404076392periodicSentence that places the main idea or central complete thought at the end of the sentence, after all introductory elements58
12404076393personaan individual's characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting59
12404078745personificationA figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes60
12404078747point of viewthe perspective from which a story is told61
12404082013*Polysyndetonthe use, for rhetorical effect, of more conjunctions than is necessary or natural -MANY conjunctions62
12404087313post hoc, ergo propter hocafter this, therefore because of this63
12404095809Red HerringWhen a writer raises an irrelevant issue to draw attention away from the real issue64
12404098766refutationa denial of the validity of an opposing argument65
12404101320repetitionRepeated use of sounds, words, or ideas for effect and emphasis66
12404101322rhetoricthe art of using language effectively and persuasively67
12404104429satireA literary work that criticizes human misconduct and ridicules vices, stupidities, and follies.68
12404109153sarcasmthe use of irony to mock or convey contempt69
12404109154simileA comparison between two unlike things using "like" or "as"70
12404114198Straw ManA fallacy that occurs when a speaker chooses a deliberately poor or oversimplified example in order to ridicule and refute an idea71
12404116436Stylethe choices a writer makes; the combination of distinctive features of a literary work72
12404118643SymbolA thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract73
12404124241SyntaxSentence structure74
12404127637ThemeCentral idea of a work of literature75
12404127638ToneAttitude a writer takes toward the audience, a subject, or a character76
12404130341tricolonSentence consisting of three parts of equal importance and length, usually three independent clauses77
12404133958unitythe topic, supporting sentences, the detail sentences and (sometimes) the concluding sentence all tell the reader about ONE main topic78
12404147572verbal ironyA figure of speech in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant (sarcasm)79

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