AP English Language and Composition Flashcards

6926056982	Alliteration	Using words with the same first letter repeatedly close together in a phrase or sentence.	0
7175083665	Allusion	Making a brief reference to the cultural canon—e.g. the Bible, Shakespeare, classical mythology, etc.	1
7175080929	Analogy	Explaining something complex by comparing it to something more simple.	2
7175085406	Anecdote	Offering a brief narrative episode. This device can serve many functions in a text—for example, introducing an issue, serving as evidence, to illustrate a point, and so on.	3
6926075870	Argument	The combination of reasons, evidence, etc that an author uses to convince an audience of their position.	4
6934518740	Aristotelian appeals	Three different methods of appealing to an audience to convince them—ethos, logos, and pathos.	5
6934523785	Attitude	The writer's personal views or feelings about the subject at hand.	6
6934540991	Audience	Who the author is directing his or her message towards.	7
6934543943	Compare and contrast	Discussing the similarities and differences between two things to some persuasive or illustrative purpose.	8
7175088634	Concession	Agreeing with the opposing viewpoint on a certain smaller point (but not in the larger argument).	9
6934546496	Connotation	The implied meaning of a word; words can broadly have positive, negative, or neutral connotations.	10
6934552114	Context	The extra-textual environment in which the text is being delivered.	11
6934554297	Counterargument	The argument(s) against the author's position.	12
6934559405	Deductive reasoning	A form of logical reasoning wherein a general principle is applied to a specific case.	13
6934561595	Denotation	The literal, dictionary-definition meaning of a word.	14
6934564929	Diction	The style of language used; generally tailored to be appropriate to the audience and situation.	15
7175090240	Didactic	A text with an instructive purpose, often moral.	16
6934568059	Ethos	Setting up a source as credible and trustworthy.	17
7175092217	Euphemism	Referring to something with a veiled phrase instead of saying it directly	18
6934569580	Evidence	Setting up a source as credible and trustworthy.	19
7175095899	Exemplification	Providing examples in service of a point.	20
6934577240	Figurative language	The use of language in a non-literal way; i.e. metaphor, simile, etc.	21
6934579304	Genre	The specific type of work being presented.	22
7175097934	Hyperbole	Overstating a situation for humorous or dramatic effect.	23
7175107373	Idiom	A commonly used phrase that signifies something very different than its literal meaning.	24
6934582335	Imagery	Any descriptive language used to evoke a vivid sense or image of something; includes figurative language.	25
6934584839	Implication	When something is suggested without being concretely stated.	26
6934589650	Inductive reasoning	Making a generalization based on specific evidence at hand.	27
6934590729	Irony	At the most basic sense, saying the opposite of what you mean; also used to describe situations in which the results of an action are dramatically different than intended.	28
6934593114	Juxtaposition	Placing two very different things together for effect.	29
6934594523	Logos	Appealing to someone's sense of concrete facts and logic.	30
6934596712	Occasion	The reason or moment for writing or speaking. (e.g. a poet writing a poem about death after the death of a loved one)	31
7175109069	Onomatopoeia	Using "sound-effect" words (e.g. "clap," "buzz).	32
6934603425	Organization	How the different parts of an argument are arranged in a piece of writing or speech.	33
7175110230	Paradox	A phrase or assertion that appears to contradict itself (but the contradiction itself may have its own meaning).	34
7175113992	Parallelism	Repeated structural elements in a sentence. (e.g. "We went to sea; we went to war; we went to bed.")	35
7175114848	Parody	Using the form of something to mimic and make fun of it.	36
6934605846	Pathos	An Aristotelian appeal. Involves appealing to someone's emotions.	37
7175116653	Personification	Giving human characteristics to a nonhuman object or idea.	38
6934608296	Purpose	The authors persuasive intention.	39
6934613670	Repetition	Re-using a word or phrase repeatedly for effect or emphasis.	40
7175038956	Rhetoric	The use of spoken or written word (or a visual medium) to convey your ideas and convince an audience.	41
7175040302	Rhetorical Triangle	The relationship between the author, the audience, the text/message, and the context.	42
7175117730	Sarcasm	Mockingly stating the opposite of what you mean. Easier to convey in the spoken word than via writing.	43
7175119500	Satire	A genre of humorous and mocking criticism to expose the ignorance and/or ills of society.	44
7175075392	Speaker	The persona adopted by the author to deliver his or her message; may or may not actually be the same person as the author.	45
7175076097	Style	The author's own personal approach to rhetoric in the piece; similar to voice.	46
7175076448	Symbolism	Using a symbol to refer to an idea or concept.	47
7175120089	Synecdoche	Referring to one part of something as a way to refer to the whole.	48
7175077435	Syntax	The way sentences are grammatically constructed.	49
7175078017	Synthesis	Combining sources or ideas in a coherent way in the purpose of a larger point.	50
7175078568	Themes	Overarching ideas or driving premises of a work.	51
7175079293	Tone	The use of stylistic devices to reveal an author's attitude toward a subject.	52
7175122196	Understatement	Deliberately minimizing something, usually for humorous effect.	53
7175079849	Voice	An author's unique sound. Similar to style.	54