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AP Language Terms 71-110 Flashcards

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5532584692SyntaxThe way an author chooses to join words into phrases, clauses, and sentences0
5532584693ThemeThe central idea or message of a work, the insight it offers to life1
5532584694ThesisStatement that is a sentence that directly expresses the author's opinion, purpose, meaning, or preposition2
5532584695ToneDescribes the author's attitude toward his or her material or the audience3
5532584696TransitionA word or phrase that links different ideas4
5532584697UnderstatementThe ironic minimalizing of fact, presenting something less significant than it actually is. Makes a work humorous and emphatic;A statement that lacks emphasis and is given less force than normal.5
5532584698Witintellectually amusing language that surprises and delights6
5532584699AttitudeA writer's intellectual position or emotion regarding the subject of the writing (related to tone)7
5532584700Concrete detailA non abstract detail asked on essay portion8
5532584701Descriptive detailDetail appealing to the visual sense of the reader9
5532584702DevicesThe figures of speech, syntax, diction, and other stylistic elements that collectively produce a particular artistic effect10
5532584703Languagehow the elements of this combine to form a whole (diction, syntax, figurative language, etc)11
5532584704Narrative devicesThe tools of the storyteller such as ordering events so that they build to a climactic moment or withholding information until a crucial time12
5532584705Narrative techniqueThe style of telling the story, especially the order of events and their detail13
5532584706Persuasive devicesThe words in the passage that have strong connotations hint at this. Words that intensify the emotional effect14
5532584707Persuasive essayAn essay that leads to appeal to the audience's emotion or ethical standards to make them feel or support the author's position15
5532584708Resources of languageAll the devices of composition available to a writer such as diction, syntax, sentence structure, etc16
5532584709Rhetorical featuresRefers to how a passage is constructed. Look at the passage's organization and how the writer combines images, details, or arguments17
5532584710Sentence structureThe type of sentences the author uses; the simple, compound, complex types of this18
5532584711Bathosthe sudden appearance of the commonplace in otherwise elevated matter or style; insincere or overdone pathos19
5532584712HyperboleA non-literal exaggeration to emphasize something.20
5532584713Litotes(Similar to understatement) Emphasizes a point by using a word opposite to the condition.21
5532584714AntithesisA structure that places contrasting ideas next to each other.22
5532584715HypophoraAsking a question, then answering it too.23
5532584716Rhetorical QuestionA question that is asked to create an effect, not really to be answered.24
5532584717Procatalepsis(Form of hypophora) Eliminates an objection without asking any questions.25
5532584718DistinctioGiving the definition of a word so that the word isn't taken the wrong way.26
5532584719SimileA figure of speech using "like" or "as" to compare two thing somewhat alike.27
5532584720Metaphor(Similar to simile) Speaking of something as though it were another.28
5532584721Eponym(Similar to allusion) Linking the attributes of a well known person to another person.29
5532584722SententiaA quotation or wise saying. Can be a quote from a person.30
5532584723ExemplumProviding the reader with an example to illustrate what the author means. Fictional examples need to be hypothetical.31
5532584724ClimaxOrganizing ideas in writing from least to most important.32
5532584725ParallelismStructuring multiple sentences, generally the same way, to link them all.33
5532584726Chiasmus(Form of parallelism) The structure of two lines are crisscrossed. The beginning of the first is at the end of the second and vice versa.34
5532584727Anadiplosis(Form of repetition) Repeating the last word of a phrase or sentence near the beginning of the next.35
5532584728Conduplicatio(Form of repetition) Take an important word in the previous sentence or phrase and repeats it at the beginning of the next.36
5532584729MetabasisA summary of a previous body of work that allows the reader to move on to a new point.37
5532584730ParenthesisA device that is used to insert additional information into the main body of the writing.Equivalent to the spoken aside.38
5532584731EnumeratioA list of details about something that is supplied.39

AP Language: Rhetorical Terms Practice Set Flashcards

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4202184951RhetoricThe art or study of using language effectively and persuasively. (Function,Development Strategies, Devices, Questions, Effectiveness, Emphasis)0
4202197786Understatementirony which deliberately represents something as much less than it really is making to seem more important than it really is (also known as litotes)1
4202207064(Extended) Metaphora comparison between two things that is carried through a stanza or entire poem, often by multiple comparisons of unlike objects or ideas2
4202214480Similefigure of speech in which an explicit comparison is made between two unlike things using words: like, as, than...3
4202217621Allusionreference to something famous in history, religion, mythology, or literature4
4202220475AnnecdoteShort account of an incident5
4202244013Qualifyto describe by specifying the characteristics or qualities of; characterize6
4202248627Onomatopoeiawords that sound like what it is describing7
4202254753Antithesisdirect contrast; opposition8
4202259323Personificationto assign human characteristics to inanimate objects or abstract ideas9
4202262980Alliterationbeginning several words with the same sound. Alliterative - having the same consonant at the beginning of each stressed syllable10
4202265765Paradoxa statement which contradicts itself but is in fact true11
4202269317Modes of discourseThe four traditional modes of discourse are narration, description, exposition, and argument.12
4202274074NarrationIs story telling. It involves relating a series of events, usually in a chronological order. It usually reserves the title "story" for fiction. If the events actually happened, the writing is given another name such as biography, autobiography, history, after action report, or newspaper report.13
4202278486Descriptiontells what things are like according to the five senses. But description often tries to do more than to enable readers to visualize characters, settings, and actions. It may also try to evoke a mood or atmosphere, and this is aided by the use of simile and metaphor.14
4202283887Expositionis the kind of writing that is used to inform. This mode of writing has several subtypes, the most common being process analysis, definition, classification and division, comparison and contrast, cause and effect, and problem and solution. These are distinguished by purpose, as the names indicate, but also by structure or organization.15
4202285975ArgumentThe purpose of argument is to convince through logic. An argument is based on a belief or opinion that the writer holds as true. The statement of this opinion is called a "thesis." If the reader accepts the reasons and the evidence, then he should agree with the thesis.16
4202290811PersuasionArgument and persuasion differ in two primary ways. The first is the intent. While the intent of argument is to present reasons and evidence to elicit logical agreement, the purpose of persuasion goes beyond this to get the reader to act on his belief. The second way the two differ is in the methods that a writer uses to win the assent of his readers. Both argument and persuasion make use of logos. But persuasion also employs pathos which is proof based on motives and emotions.17
4202298949Analogysimilarity in some respects between things that are otherwise dissimilar18
4202301465Parallelismthe use of identical or equivalent syntactic constructions in corresponding clauses or phrases19
4202305886Parallel structureusing the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance20
4202307858AllegoryThe representation of abstract ideas or principles by characters, figures, or events in narrative, dramatic, or pictorial form21
4202310396Apostropheaddress to an absent or imaginary person or object22
4202313330Subordinate clause/Dependent clauseA clause that cannot stand alone as a full sentence and functions as a noun, adjective, or adverb within a sentence23
4202319586SyllogismA form of deductive reasoning consisting of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion24
4202321650MetonymyA figure of speech in which one word or phrase is substituted for another with which it is closely associated, as in the use of Washington for the United States government or of the sword for military power.25
4202325609Appeals to authorityBy using an authority, the argument is relying upon testimony, not facts. A testimony is not an argument, and it is not a fact.26
4202329622Declarative sentencea sentence that makes a statement or declares something27
4202339304Sentence Types (simple)a sentence having no coordinate or subordinate clauses. "The cat purred."28
4202344686Sentence Types (Complex)a sentence composed of at least one main clause and one subordinate clause.29
4202354009Sentence Types (compound)a sentence of two or more coordinate independent clauses, often joined by a conjunction or conjunctions, as The problem was difficult, but I finally found the answer.30
4202355824Elegy/ Elegiaca poem or song composed especially as a lament for a deceased person31
4202360470Periodic Sentencea sentence in which the main clause or its predicate is withheld until the end; for example, Despite heavy winds and nearly impenetrable ground fog, the plane landed safely.32
4202366475Euphamismthe act or an example of substituting a mild, indirect, or vague term for one considered harsh, blunt, or offensive33
4202371710Passive Voicea verb, or form of a verb, which expresses the effect of the action by the agent. The picture is admired by all.34
4202379703Antecedentthe word, phrase, or clause that determines what a pronoun refers to, as the children in, The teacher asked the children where they were going.35
4202381773Oxymorona rhetorical figure in which incongruous or contradictory terms are combined, as in a deafening silence and a mournful optimist.36
4202385446Ambiguitydoubtfulness or uncertainty as regards to interpretation37
4202391854Prepositional Phrasea phrase that consists of a preposition and its object and has adjectival or adverbial value, such as in the house in the people in the house or by him in The book was written by him.38
4202395129Satirea literary work in which human vice or folly is attacked through irony, derision, or wit39
4202400133Colloquialpertaining to words or expressions more suitable for speech than writing; in informal, conversational style40
4202402758Litotesa figure of speech consisting of an understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by negating its opposite, as in This is no small problem41
4202405446Straw Manan argument (usually weak) or opponent set up so as to be easily refuted or defeated42
4202410316Synechdochea figure of speech in which a part is used for the whole (as hand for sailor), the whole for a part (as the law for police officer), the specific for the general (as cutthroat for assassin), the general for the specific (as thief for pickpocket), or the material for the thing made from it (as steel for sword)43
4202413334Denotationmost specific or direct meaning of a word, in contrast to its figurative or associated meanings44
4202415670Inversionan interchange of position of adjacent objects in a sequence, especially a change in normal word order, such as the placement of a verb before its subject45
4202419710Ad Hominemappealing to personal considerations rather than to logic or reason: Debaters should avoid ad hominem arguments that question their opponents' motives.46
4202424031Pronouna function word that is used in place of a noun or noun phrase47
4202427305Ad hocused for the particular end or case at hand without consideration of wider application (done by specialists...dentists...)48
4202430774Parodya literary or artistic work that imitates the characteristic style of an author or a work for comic effect or ridicule49
4202433008Participial phraseThe participial phrase includes the participle and the object of the participle or any words modified by or related to the participle. The car sliding out of control toward the building is going to hit the window. SLIDING modifies the CAR. The verb is IS GOING.50
4202435443Hyperbolea figure of speech in which exaggeration is used for emphasis or effect, as in I could sleep for a year or This book weighs a ton51
4202439065Didaticintended to instruct; morally instructive52
4202441663Circular Reasoninga use of reason in which the premises depends on or is equivalent to the conclusion, a method of false logic by which "this is used to prove that, and that is used to prove this"; also called circular logic53
4202445243Begging the questionto assume an answer to an unstated question or premise54
4202451990Juxtapositionthe state of being placed or situated side by side for contrasting effect55
6344818974Ellipsesin a sentence, the omission of a word or words replaced by three periods56
6344821074chiasmusA rhetorical device in which certain words, sounds, concepts, or syntactic structures are reversed or repeated in reverse order. Structure may also create or heighten paradox. (ex: "Fair is foul and foul is fair." "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.")57
6344829693anaphoraA rhetorical figure of repetition in which the same word or phrase is repeated in (and usually at the beginning of) successive lines, clauses, or sentences.58
6344831200epistropherepetition of a phrase at the end of sentences59
6344876702anadiplosisFigure of repetition that occurs when the last word or terms in one sentence, clause, or phrase is/are repeated at or very near the beginning of the next sentence, clause, or phrase.60
6344878515syllepsisthe use of a word understood differently in relation to two or more other words, which it modifies/governs. "The ink, like our pig, keeps running out of the pen."61
6344883790parenthesisInsertion of some verbal unit in a position that interupts the nomal syntatical flow of the sentence, thereby sending the thought off on an important tangent that has a pronounced rhetorical effect. Often involves literal, but not always, there are other ways to insert a comment into a sentence. One might use commas, dashes or for example. This mark, however, is off on a tangent, cut off from the thrust of the sentence and grammatically unrelated to the sentence.62
6344889898polysyndentonThe deliberate use of many conjunctions for special emphasis - to highlight quantity or mass of detail, or to create a flowing, continuous sentence pattern63
6344972426loose sentenceA complex sentence in which the main clause comes first and the subordinate clause follows64
6344975942isocolonParallel structure in which the parallel elements are similar not only in grammatical structure, but in length65

AP Literature vocab terms Flashcards

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7280749252allegorya narrative or description having a second meaning beneath the surface one0
7280749253alliterationthe repetition at close intervals of the initial consonant sounds of accented syllables or important words1
7280750084allusionan indirect or passing reference to an event, person, place or artistic work that the author assumes the reader will understand2
7280750718anachronisman event, custom, object, person or thing that is out of its natural order of time3
7280751711analogya likeliness or similarity between things that are otherwise unlike4
7280751712anaphorarepetition of an opening word or phrase in a series of lines5
7280753164anecdotea brief narrative of an entertaining or seemingly truthful incident6
7280753165antithesisa figure of speech in which words and phrases with opposite meanings are balanced against each other7
7280755650aphesisthe loss of letters or syllables at the start of a word8
7280755651aphorisma terse statement of a principal or truth; a maxim9

AP Literature Flashcards

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4920806509Alliterationrepetition of the same or similar consonant sounds in words that are close together ; specifically at the beginning of the phrase (right at the front)0
4920815581Allusionreference to someone/something that is known f/r history, lit., religion, politics, sports, science or any other branch of culture ; indirect ref. to something1
4920871094Anachronism"misplaced in time" ; something out of its proper historical time ; error of putting something in the wrong historical time ; "like a Puritan on a motorcycle."2
4920875502Analogycomparison b/w 2 things to show how they are alike3
4921929036Anaphoradeliberate rep of a word/phrase/clause @ beginning of two or more consecutive sentences ; helps make the point of the writer more coherent ; forceful4
4921934654Antagonistopponent who struggles against or blocks the hero, usually the protagonist, in a story ; another character, society, force of nature, or conflicting impulse within protagonist like guilt5
4921957788Anticlimaxunsatisfying and trivial turn of events in a literary work that occurs in place of a genuine climax ; often involves a surprising shift in tone6
4921960709Antiherocentral character who lacks all the qualities traditionally associated w/ heroes ; may lack courage, grace, intelligence, or moral scruples7
4921982514Antithesisstatement in which 2 opposing ideas are balanced ; words/phrases/clauses set in deliberate contrast to one another ; balances opposing ideas, feelings, tones, or structures giving crisp expressions to their pairing and heightening its effect ; "it was the best of times and the worst of times"8
4921987609Aphorismbrief, witty statement of principle or general truth9
4921987610Apostrophea locution that addresses a person or personified thing not present ; calling out to an imaginary, dead, or absent person, or to a place or thing, or a personified abstract idea ; figure of speech wherein the speaker talks directly to something that is nonhuman10
4922001223Apotheosiselevating someone to the level of a god ; the high point or climax11
4922003521Archetypea character, situation, or symbol that is familiar to people from all cultures because of it occurs frequently in literature, myth, religion, or folklore ; an original model or type after which other similar things are patterned; a prototype12
4922007436Asidea short speech, delivered to the audience or to another character, that others onstage are not supposed to hear13
4922009276Assonancerepetition of similar vowel sounds followed by different consonant sounds especially in words that are together ; Consanance with vowels14
4922012236Asyndetoncommas used without conjunction to separate a series of words, thus emphasizing the parts equally ; when conjunctions that would normally connect a string of words, phrases, or clauses are omitted from a sentence15
4922013450Aubadea poem or song about lovers who must leave one another in the early hours of the morning16
4922018897Ballada folk song or poem passed down orally that tells a story which may be derived from an actual incident or from legend ; any popular narrative poem, often with epic subject and usually in lyric form17
4922022470Bathosthe use of insincere or overdone sentimentality18
4922024462Bildungsromana German word referring to a novel structured as a series of events that take place as the hero travels in quest of a goal ; coming of age19
4922050607Blank Versepoetry written in iambic pentameter; unrhymed poetry that has a regular rhythm and line length ; favored technique of Shakespeare (five feet of two syllables each—unstressed and stressed)20
4922053331Cacophonyharsh, discordant sounds that are unpleasant to the ear; used deliberately in poetry or prose21
4922056722Caesuraa pause, usually near the middle of a line of verse, usually indicted by the sense of the line, and often greater than the normal pause ;22
4922059733Carpe diemlatin for "seize the day" ; frequently used in 16 th and 17 th century poetry expresses the idea that you only live once ; genre of poem23
4922062665Catharsisemotional release which brings about renewal of the self or welcome relief from anxiety, tension, etc.24
4922067447Chiasmusfigure of speech that reverse the order of words in phrases that would otherwise be structured the same ; in poetry, type of rhetorical balance in which the second part is syntactically balanced against the first, but with the parts reversed25
4922071468Climaxmost exciting moment of the story; turning point26
4922073512Colloquialconversational, informal in language27
4922090372Conceitan elaborate metaphor that compares two things that are startlingly different. Often an extended metaphor ; a far-fetched comparison b/w two seemingly unlike things ; goes from beginning of poem to the end28
4922091808Connotationwhat a word suggests beyond its surface definition29
4922093842Consonancethe repetition of two or more consonant sounds in a group of words or a line of poetry30
4922097734Coupleta pair of rhyming lines in a poem31
4922101463Denotationthe dictionary or exact/literal definition of a word32
4922106453Denouementan outcome, solution, or clarification at the end of the story or play ; the unraveling of a plot ; the untieing of the knot33
4922112820Deus Ex Machinaliterally, when gods intervene at a story's end to resolve a seemingly impossible conflict ; an unexpected power or event saving a seemingly hopeless situation34
4922114376Dictionsimple, sophisticated, colloquial, formal, informal... - the deliberate choice of a style of language for a desired effect or tone ; words chosen to achieve a particular effect that is formal, informal, or colloquial35
4922115944Didactic Verseintended to teach ; form of fiction or nonfiction that teaches a specific lesson or moral or provides a model of correct behavior or thinking36
4922117853Dramatic Ironywhen in which the audience or reader knows more about a situation than a character37
4922119435Dramatic Monologuewhen a single speaker in literature says something to a silent audience38
4922121095Dramatic Verseemploys dramatic form or element39
4922121727Elegya poem of mourning, usually about someone who has died ; eulogy = great praise or commendation often about someone who has died40

AP Psychology - THINKING & LANGUAGE Flashcards

Thinking Problem Solving Creativity and Language

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8767627045cognitionall the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating.0
8767627046Concepta mental grouping of similar objects, events, ideas, or people1
8767627047Prototypea standard or typical example (Is that a computer screen that BENDS?!)2
8767627048algorithma precise rule (or set of rules) specifying how to solve some problem3
8767627049Heuristica commonsense rule (or set of rules) intended to increase the probability of solving some problem4
8767627050InsightA cognitive form of learning involving the mental rearragnment or restructuring of the elements in a problem to achieve an understanding or the problem and arrive at a solution5
8767627051Creativitythe ability to produce novel and valuable ideas6
8767627052Confirmation biasa tendency to search for information that confirms one's preconceptions7
8767627053fixationthe inability to see a problem from a new perspective, by employing a different mental set8
8767627054Mental Seta tendency to approach a problem in a particular way, often a way that has been successful in the past9
8767627055Functional fixednessthe tendency to think of things only in terms of their usual functions; an impediment to problem solving (Is a shoe just a shoe?)10
8767627056Representative heuristicjudging the likelihood of things in terms of how well they seem to represent, or match, particular prototypes; may lead one to ignore other relevent information11
8767627057Availability heuristicestimating the likelihood of events based on their availability in memory; if instances come readily to mind, we presume such events are common12
8767627058Overconfidencetotal certainty or greater certainty than circumstances warrant13
8767627059Belief Perseveranceclinging to one's initial conceptions after the basis on which they were formed has been discredited14
8767627060Intuitioninstinctive knowing (without the use of rational processes)15
8767627061Framingthe way an issue is posed16
8767627062Languagespoken, written or signed words, and the ways we use them to communicate.17
8767627063Phoneme(linguistics) the smallest distinctive unit of sound18
8767627064Morphemesmallest meaningful language unit19
8767627065Grammara system of linguistic rules that enables communication20
8767627066Semanticsthe study of language meaning21
8767627067Syntaxthe rules for grammatical arrangement of words in sentences22
8767627068Babbling Stagebeginning at about 4 months, the stage of speech development in which the infant spontaneously utters various sounds at first unrelated to the household lanuage.23
8767627069One-word Stagethe stage in speech development, from about age 1 to 2, during which a child speaks mostly in single words24
8767627070Two-word stagebeginning about age 2, the stage in speech development during which a child speaks mostly two-word statements25
8767627071Telegraphic speechearly speech stage in which a child speaks like a telegram--'go car'--using mostly nouns and verbs and omitting 'auxiliary' words26
8767627072Linguistic determinismWhorf's hypothesis that language determines the way we think27
8767627073Noam ChomskyAmerican linguist whose theory of generative grammar argued that language and grammar are innate, that we have a language acquisition device built in.28
8767627074B.F Skinnerpioneer of operant conditioning who believed that language development is determined by our past history of rewards and punishments29
8767627075Benjamin WhorfLinguist who theorized the concept of "liguistic determinism" or how language impacts thought30

AP English Literature Literary Terms Flashcards

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7035955337AllusionA brief reference to a literary, mythological, famous, or historical person, place, thing, or event0
7035955338Dramatic Ironywhen a reader or viewer knows something that a character does not1
7035955339Situational Ironywhen something happens that the reader or character does not expect2
7035955340Verbal Ironywhen someone says one thing but means another3
7035955341ForeshadowingThe use in a literary work of clues that suggest events that have yet to occur4
7035955342SymbolThe use of any object, person, place or action that both has a meaning in itself and that stands for something larger than itself, such as a quality, attitude, belief or value5
7035955343MoodThe feeling created in the reader by a literary work or passage6
7035955344SuspenseThe quality of a literary work that makes the reader uncertain or tense about the outcome of events7
7035955345MotifA recurrent element in a literary work; A pattern or strand of imagery or symbolism in a work of literature8
7035955346ArchetypeA type of character, action, or situation that occurs over and over in literature; a pattern or example that occurs in literature and life9
7035955347ToneThe writer's attitude or feeling toward a person, a thing, a place, an event or situation10
7035955348ThemeA central message, or insight into life, explored through the literary work11
7035955349Point of ViewThe perspective from which a story is told. This can be as simple as 1st, 2nd, 3rd person, etc. Often, it refers to the person who is telling the story (a close friend; a classmate; a neighbor; a boyfriend/girlfriend)12
7035955350SettingThe background against which action takes place (the geographical location; the occupations and daily manner of living of the character; the time or period in which the action takes place; the general environment of the characters: i.e. social, moral, emotional)13
7035955351Imagerythe words or phrases a writer uses to represent persons, objects, actions, feelings, and ideas descriptively by appealing to the five senses (light, sound, smell, taste, and touch). An author may also use animal imagery, as well as light and/or dark imagery14
7035955352Detailfacts revealed by the author or speaker that support the attitude or tone in the work15
7035955353EmphasisWhen important aspects of a story are given important positions and in-depth development. This is created by the use of: Repetition—reiteration of a word, sound, phrase, or idea; Parallelism—the arrangement and repetition of words, phrases, or sentence structures (|| Parallelism adds rhythm and emotional impact to writing); Extensive Detail / Description; Mechanical Devices such as capitalization, italics, symbols, and/or different colors of ink16
7035955354CharacterizationThe methods used by an author to create a character, including: the character's physical appearance; the character's own speech, thoughts, actions, and/or feelings; OTHER characters' speech, thoughts, actions, and/or feelings about the character; and direct comments by the author about the character17
7035955355MotivationA reason that explains a character's thoughts, feelings, or behavior18
7035955356ProtagonistThe central character—and focus of interest—who is trying to accomplish or overcome an adversity and who has the ability to adapt to new circumstances19
7035955357AntagonistThe character opposing the protagonist; this can be a person, idea, or force20
7035955358Dynamic CharacterA character that undergoes a change in actions or beliefs during the course of a story21
7035955359Static CharacterA character who does not grow or change throughout the story and who ends as he/she began22
7035955360DictionWord choice (An author often chooses a word because it suggests a connotative meaning that comes from its use in various social contexts.)23
7035955361ConnotationThe emotions or associations a word normally aroused in people using, hearing, or reading the word24
7035955362PunA play on words that are identical or similar in sound but have sharply different meanings; they can have serious uses, as well as humorous uses25
7035955363IdiomAn accepted phrase or expression having a meaning different from the literal26
7035955364HyperboleA deliberate, extravagant and often outrageous exaggeration; it may be used for either serious or comic effect27
7035955365ParadoxA statement that seems to contradict itself but—on on closer inspection—does not; a statement that does not seem logical on one level but which makes sense on another level28
7035955366OxymoronPaired terms that contradict each other on one level but actually do make sense on another level29
7035955367SynecdocheA figure of speech in which a part of something represents the whole thing; an example is calling a car "wheels" when meaning the whole car. It is also a figure of speech in which a whole represents a part of it; an example is saying Mexico won seven gold medals when, in fact, seven individuals from Mexico won medals.30
7035955368MetonomyA figure of speech in which something closely associated with an object, idea, person, or group represents the actual object, idea, person, or group. An example is calling police officers "badges" or calling construction workers "hardhats."31
7035955369ApostropheA figure of speech in which someone absent or dead or something nonhuman is addressed as if it were alive and present and could reply32
7035955370ConcessionAn argumentative strategy by which a speaker or writer acknowledges the validity of an opponent's point.33

AP Language Flashcards

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6412169806EnglishEnglish0
6412169807adagea proverb or wise saying commonly used (ex: Things are not always as they seem.)1
6412169808allegorya story in which people, things and happenings have a hidden or symbolic meaning.(fables, parables, apologue have meanings on two or more levels.)2
6412169809alliterationwords used in quick succession and begin with letters belonging to the same sound group; a repetition of similar sounds/letters in the sentence. (Wicked witch of the west went her own way.)3
6412169810allusiona passing reference to a commonly-known historical, cultural, religious, literary, or mythical person, place, event, or work of art, whereby the reader must make the connection within the current text.4
6412169811ambiguitymultiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, passage or sentence; can lead reader toward uncertainty of meaning5
6412169812analogyestablishing a relationship based on similarities between two concepts or ideas; helps convey meaning of a new idea6
6412169813anaphorathe deliberate repetition of the first part of the sentence in order to achieve an artistic effect; most commonly found in the Bible (O Lord,.for I am weak.O Lord, heal me. O Lord, have mercy on me.)7
6412169814anecdoteshort and interesting story or an amusing event often proposed to support or demonstrate some point and make readers and listeners laugh; Anecdotes can include an extensive range of tales and stories8
6412169815antecedentword, phrase, or clause that is replaced by a pronoun9
6412169816antimetabolerepetition of words in reverse grammatical order; Ex: "Fair is foul and foul is fair."10
6412169817antithesisparallel structures of the contrasted phrases or clauses, i.e. the structures of phrases and clauses are similar in order to draw the attention of the listeners or readers; Ex: "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."11
6412169818apostrophespeaker talks to someone or something that is obviously not present12
6412169819appositivea renaming of a noun or noun phrase immediately after first stating the noun13
6412169820archetypeA detail, image, or character type that occurs frequently in literature and myth and is thought to appeal in a universal way to the unconscious and to evoke a response14
6412169821argumenta statement put forth and supported by evidence15
6412169822asyndetonauthor purposely leaves out conjunctions in the sentence, while maintaining the grammatical accuracy of the phrase; shortening the statement for greater impact; "Reduce, reuse, recycle."16
6412169823audiencethose to whom a piece of literary work is being presented17
6412169824cacophonyTremendous noise, disharmonious sound18
6412169825characterizationActions, dialogue, and narrative description that reveal a sense of a character's personality to the reader.19
6412169826circumlocutionan indirect or wordy way of expressing an idea which leaves the reader perplexed; exaggeratedly long and complex sentences in order to convey a meaning that could have otherwise been conveyed through a shorter, much simpler sentence20
6412169827climaxthat point in a plot that creates the greatest intensity, suspense, or interest. Also called "turning point"21
6412169828colloquialCharacteristic of ordinary conversation rather than formal speech or writing22
6412169829concessionAn argumentative strategy by which a speaker or writer acknowledges the validity of an opponent's point.23
6412169830conceitA fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects; unusual and unlikely comparisons between two things24
6412169831connotationassociations people make with words that go beyond the literal or dictionary definition25
6412169832contextThe parts before or after a word or statement that influence its meaning26
6412169833counter argumentan argument or set of reasons put forward to oppose an idea or theory developed in another argument.27
6412169834cumulative sentencea sentence in which the main independent clause is elaborated by the successive addition of modifying clauses or phrases28
6412169835denotationDictionary definition of a word; literal meaning29
6412169836denouementan outcome or solution; the unraveling of a plot30
6412169837detailThe facts revealed by the author or speaker that support the attitude or tone in a piece of poetry or prose.31
6412169838dictionA writer's or speaker's choice of words32
6412169839elegya mournful, melancholy, or plaintive poem, especially a funeral song or a lament for the dead.33
6412169840ellipsisin a sentence, the omission of a word or words replaced by three periods ...34
6412169841epicA long narrative poem, written in heightened language, which recounts the deeds of a heroic character who embodies the values of a particular society35
6412169842ethosOne of the fundamental strategies of argumentation identified by Aristotle. Ethos is basically an 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.36
6412169843euphemismFrom the Greek for "good speech," euphemisms are a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept - POLITICALLY CORRECT37
6412169844expositionBackground information presented in a literary work.38
6412169845foreshadowingForeshadowing is used to suggest an upcoming outcome to the story; builds suspense/anxiety39
6412169846genreA category of artistic composition, as in music or literature, characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject matter.40
6412169847horative sentenceSentence that exhorts, urges, retreats, implores, or calls to action;41
6412169848hyperboleA figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement. (The literal Greek meaning is "overshoot.") Hyperboles often have a comic effect; however, a serious effect is also possible. Often, hyperbole produces irony.42
6412169849imageryuse of words and phrases to create "mental images" for the reader; helps the reader visualize more realistically the author's writings through the usage of metaphors, allusions, descriptive words and similes43
6412169850imperative sentencesgives a command or request; often subject is understood and sentence ends with !44
6412169851inversionA sentence in which the verb precedes the subject.45
6412169852verbal ironySarcasm; what is said is the opposite of what is meant46
6412169853juxtapositionplacing an idea next to its opposite to emphasize contrast and comparison47
6412169854Litotesan understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by negating its opposite. Ex: "Not bad" looking48
6412169855logosAn appeal to reason. Logos is one of the fundamental strategies of argumentation identified by Aristotle. It occurs when a writer tries to convince you of the logic of his argument. writers may use inductive argumentation or deductive argumentation, but they clearly have examples and generally rational tome to their language. The problem with logos is that is can appear reasonable until you dissect the argument and then find fallacies that defeat the viability of the argument on the reader's eyes. Of course, that presupposes that the readers is able to identify the fallacies.49
6412169856metaphorA figurative comparison of two unlike things without using the word like or as50
6412169857metonymy(mĕtŏn′ ĭmē) A term from the Greek meaning "changed label" or "substitute name," metonymy is a figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it. For example, a news release that claims "the White House declared" rather than "the President declared" is using metonymy; Shakespeare uses it to signify the male and female sexes in As You Like It: "doublet and hose ought to show itself courageous to petticoat." The substituted term generally carries a more potent emotional impact.51
6412169858moodFeeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader; using specific diction, description, setting, and characterization to create the atmosphere52
6412169859motifA recurring theme, subject or idea53
6412169860mytha traditional story, especially one concerning the early history of a people or explaining some natural or social phenomenon, and typically involving supernatural beings or events.54
6412169861narrativea fiction, nonfiction, poetic, or dramatic story, actual or fictional, expressed orally or in text.55
6412169862non sequiturA statement that does not follow logically from evidence56
6412169863occasionthe time and place a speech is given or a piece is written57
6412169864onomatopoeiaA figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words. Ex: buzz, hiss, hum, crack, whinny, and murmur.58
6412169865organizationIn a composition, the arrangement of ideas, incidents, evidence, or details in a perceptible order in a paragraph or essay.59
6412169866oxymoronA figure of speech consisting of two apparently contradictory terms; The richest literary oxymora(paradoxes) seem to reveal a deeper truth through their contradictions. Ex: "without laws, we can have no freedom." Shakespeare's Julius Caesar also makes use of a famous oxymoron: "Cowards die many times before their deaths"60
6412169867paceSpeed with which the author delivers the story controlled by language, mood, emotion played out in speech, dialogue, descriptions.61
6412169868parableA simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson62
6412169869paradoxA statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.63
6412169870parallel structurerepetition of the same pattern of words or phrases within a sentence or passage to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance.64
6412169871parodyA humorous or satirical imitation of a serious piece of literature or writing65
6412169872pastoralA work of literature dealing with rural life66
6412169873pathosAn appeal to emotion. This is one of the fundamental strategies of argumentation identified by Aristotle. Typically, pathos arguments may use loaded words to make you feel guilty, lonely, worried, insecure, or confused.67
6412169874periodic sentenceThe opposite of loose sentence, a sentence that presents its central meaning in a main clause at the end. This independent clause is preceded by a phrase or clause that cannot stand alone. The effect of a periodic sentence is to add emphasis and structural variety. It is also a much stronger sentence than the loose sentence. (Example: After a long, bumpy flight and multiple delays, I arrived at the San Diego airport.)68
6412169875personaAn individual's characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting.69
6412169876personificationauthor presents or describes concepts, animals, or inanimate objects by endowing them with human attributes or emotions.70
6412169877point of viewPerspective from which a story is told; omniscient point of view= the person telling the story or narrator knows everything that's going on in the story; first- person point of view the narrator is a character in the story; limited third-person point of view the narrator is outside the story- like an omniscient narrator- but tells the story from the vantage point of one character."71
6412169878polemica controversial argument, esp. attacking a particular opinion72
6412169879propagandaA negative term for writing designed to sway opinion rather than present information.73
6412169880prosewritten or spoken language in its ordinary form, without metrical structure.74
6412169881purposeOne's intention or objective in a speech or piece of writing.75
6412169882refutationThe part of an argument wherein a speaker or writer anticipates and counters opposing points of view.76
6412169883repetitionRepeated use of sounds, words, or ideas for effect and emphasis77
6412169884rhetoricFrom the Greek for "orator," this term describes the principles governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively.78
6412169885rhetorical appealsRhetorical techniques used to persuade an audience by emphasizing what they find most important or compelling. The three major appeals are to ethos (character), logos (reason), and pathos (emotion).79
6412169886rhetorical questionA question whose answer is assumed; a rhetorical question is designed to force the reader to respond in a predetermined manner and to propel an argument emotionally.80
6412169887rhetorical triangleA diagram that represents a rhetorical situation as the relationship among the speaker, the subject, and the audience ex:Aristotelian triangle81
6412169888satireA work that reveals a critical attitude toward some element of human behavior by portraying it in an extreme way. It doesn't simply abuse (as in invective) or get personal (as in sarcasm). It targets groups or large concepts rather than individuals.82
6412169889simileA comparison of two things using like or as83
6412169890soliloquyA dramatic or literary form of discourse in which a character talks to himself or herself or reveals his or her thoughts without addressing a listener.84
6412169891symbolismAn ordinary object with an extraordinary significance85
6412169892synecdocheA figure of speech in which a part is used for the whole (as hand for sailor), the whole for a part (as the law for police officer), the specific for the general (as cutthroat for assassin), the general for the specific (as thief for pickpocket), or the material for the thing made from it (as steel for sword).86
6412169893syllogismA form of deductive reasoning consisting of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion.87
6412169894syntaxLanguage rules that govern how words can be combined to form meaningful phrases and sentences88
6412169895thesisFocus statement of an essay; premise statement upon which the point of view or discussion in the essay is based.89
6412169896toneA writer's attitude toward his or her subject matter revealed through diction, figurative language, and organization on the sentence and global levels.90
6412169897transitionA word or phrase that links one idea to the next and carries the reader from sentence to sentence, paragraph to paragraph91
6412169898voiceIn grammar, a term for the relationship between a verb and a noun (active or passive voice). In rhetoric, a distinctive quality in the style and tone of writing.92
6412169899zeugmaArtfully using a single verb to refer to two different objects in an ungrammatical but striking way, or artfully using an adjective to refer to two separate nouns, even though the adjective would logically only be appropriate for one of the two. Ex:"If we don't hang together, we shall hang separately!"93

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