AP English Language Flashcards
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| 6926027541 | Analogy | a comparison between two things, typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification. Example: | 0 | |
| 6926056253 | Argument | The combination of reasons, evidence, etc that an author uses to convince an audience of their position. Example:Too comprehensive a concept for a single example! In effective rhetoric, every phrase serves to further build the argument. | 1 | |
| 6934553285 | Aristotelian appeals | Three different methods of appealing to an audience to convince them—ethos, logos, and pathos. Example:See ethos, logos and pathos. | 2 | |
| 6934561636 | Attitude | The writer's personal views or feelings about the subject at hand. Example: "the deplorable state of this school" would convey that the author has a negative attitude towards the school. | 3 | |
| 6934564173 | Audience | Who the author is directing his or her message towards Example:When you create a resume, your audience is potential employers. | 4 | |
| 6934567898 | Compare and contrast | Discussing the similarities and differences between two things to some persuasive or illustrative purpose. Example:"Hybrid cars have a much smaller carbon footprint than traditional midsize vehicles." | 5 | |
| 6934571115 | Connotation | The implied meaning of a word; words can broadly have positive, negative, or neutral connotations. Example:conscientious = positive connotation | 6 | |
| 6934572867 | Context | The extra-textual environment in which the text is being delivered. Example:If I am delivering a congratulatory speech to awards recipients, the immediate context might be the awards presentation ceremony; the broader context might be the purpose or significance of the awards themselves. | 7 | |
| 6934577235 | Counterargument | The argument(s) against the author's position. Example:If I want to eliminate the dress code, a counterargument might be that this will place a burden on students of a lower socioeconomic status, who must now afford an entire school wardrobe or risk unwanted attention. | 8 | |
| 6934588203 | Deductive reasoning | A form of logical reasoning wherein a general principle is applied to a specific case. Example:If all planets orbit a star, and Theta II is a planet, then it must orbit a star. | 9 | |
| 6934592938 | Denotation | The literal, dictionary-definition meaning of a word. Example:The denotation of "chair" is "a place to sit." | 10 | |
| 6934595046 | Diction | The style of language used; generally tailored to be appropriate to the audience and situation. Example:You might say "What's up, loser?" to your little brother, but you would probably say "How are you doing today?" to your principal. | 11 | |
| 6934600824 | Ethos | Setting up a source as credible and trustworthy. Example: "Given my PhD in the subject and years of experience in the field" is an appeal to ethos. | 12 | |
| 6934604396 | Evidence | The information presented meant to persuade the audience of the author's position. Example: If I were arguing that Anne is a good student, I might reference her straight-A report card and her 1500 SAT score as pieces of evidence. | 13 | |
| 6934610150 | Figurative language | The use of language in a non-literal way; i.e. metaphor, simile, etc. Example: "The sky's like a jewel box tonight!" | 14 | |
| 6934615069 | Genre | The specific type of work being presented. Example: Broader categories include "novel" and "play," while more specific genres would be things like "personal essay" or "haiku." | 15 | |
| 7193191196 | Imagery | Any descriptive language used to evoke a vivid sense or image of something; includes figurative language. Example: "The water was a pearl-studded sea of azure tipped with turquoise." | 16 | |
| 7193191662 | Implication | When something is suggested without being concretely stated. Example: Broader categories include "novel" and "play," while more specific genres would be things like "personal essay" or "haiku." | 17 | |
| 7193194046 | Inductive reasoning | Making a generalization based on specific evidence at hand. Example:All of the planets in this solar system orbit a star, so all planets probably orbit stars. | 18 | |
| 7193195521 | 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. Example:"I do so hope there are more papers to sign," is something that might be said ironically. | 19 | |
| 7193196780 | Juxtaposition | Placing two very different things together for effect. Example:"There they stood together, the beggars and the lords, the princesses and the washerwoman, all crowding into the square." | 20 | |
| 7193203087 | Logos | Appealing to someone's sense of concrete facts and logic. Example:Citing peer-reviewed scientific studies is an appeal to logos. | 21 | |
| 7193203866 | Occasion | The reason or moment for writing or speaking. Example:When giving a graduation speech, the occasion is graduation. | 22 | |
| 7193204355 | Organization | How the different parts of an argument are arranged in a piece of writing or speech. Example:Think about the outlines you write in preparation for drafting an argumentative essay and you'll have an idea of what organization is. | 23 | |
| 7193206930 | Pathos | An Aristotelian appeal. Involves appealing to someone's emotions. Examples:Animal shelters ads with pictures of cute sad animals and dramatic music are using pathos. | 24 | |
| 7193207362 | Purpose | The author's persuasive intention. Example:If you are trying to convince your mother you should get a dog, your purpose in addressing an essay on the subject to her would be to convince her that you should get a dog. | 25 | |
| 7193207716 | Repetition | Re-using a word or phrase repeatedly for effect or emphasis. Example:"We run, and we run, and we run, like rats on a wheel." | 26 | |
| 7193209051 | Rhetoric | The use of spoken or written word (or a visual medium) to convey your ideas and convince an audience. Example:Almost everything is an example of rhetoric! | 27 | |
| 7193225013 | Rhetoric Triangle | The relationship between the author, the audience, the text/message, and the context Example:The author communicates to the reader via the text; and the reader and text are surrounded by context. | 28 | |
| 7193225900 | 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. Example:Similar to the difference between author and narrator in a work of fiction. | 29 | |
| 7193225901 | Style | The author's own personal approach to rhetoric in the piece; similar to voice. Example:We might say the Taylor Swift's songwriting style is straightforward and emotive. | 30 | |
| 7193227208 | Symbolism | Using a symbol to refer to an idea or concept. Example:"Fire" is commonly used a symbol for passion and/or anger. | 31 | |
| 7193228934 | Syntax | The way sentences are grammatically constructed. Example:"She likes pie" | 32 | |
| 7193229709 | Synthesis | Combining sources or ideas in a coherent way in the purpose of a larger point. Example:A typical research paper involves synthesizing sources to make a broader point about the topic. | 33 | |
| 7193232178 | Themes | Overarching ideas or driving premises of a work. Example:Some themes you will probably hear in your high school graduation speech include leaving behind a legacy, moving into the great unknown, becoming an adult, and changing the world. | 34 | |
| 7193234187 | Tone | The use of stylistic devices to reveal an author's attitude toward a subject. Example:Only a narrow distinction from attitude. The phrase "the deplorable state of this school" reveals a negative attitude, but the word choice of "deplorable" is part of the author's tone. | 35 | |
| 7193235212 | Voice | An author's unique sound. Similar to style. Example:Think of the way that you can recognize a pop singer on the radio without hearing who it is first. | 36 | |
| 7193237279 | Alliteration | Using words with the same first letter repeatedly close together in a phrase or sentence. Example:"She purchased the pretty purple parka." | 37 | |
| 7193239715 | Allusion | Making a brief reference to the cultural canon—e.g. the Bible, Shakespeare, classical mythology, etc. Example:"Like Eve in the Garden of Eden, George was not good at resisting temptation." | 38 | |
| 7193240888 | 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. Example:"When I went to buy my morning coffee, I ran into an old friend. He told me he had won the lottery and he was about to buy a yacht. Two months later I heard he had declared bankruptcy." | 39 | |
| 7193242132 | Concession | Agreeing with the opposing viewpoint on a certain smaller point (but not in the larger argument). Example:"While I admit that hybrid cars have higher carbon production costs than conventional automobiles, this is dramatically offset by the much-smaller lifetime carbon footprint of the vehicles." | 40 | |
| 7193242762 | Didactic | A text with an instructive purpose, often moral. Examples:Aesop's fables are an example of a didactic work. | 41 | |
| 7193244018 | Euphemism | Referring to something with a veiled phrase instead of saying it directly Example:"She let Bob go," is a euphemism for "she fired Bob." | 42 | |
| 7193247529 | Exemplification | Providing examples in service of a point. Example:"The Town Beautification Funds are being sorely misused; the streets are full of litter, the parks are full of broken equipment, and City Hall's facade is drab and crumbling." | 43 | |
| 7193250231 | Hyperbole | Overstating a situation for humorous or dramatic effect. Example:"My backpack weighs tons!" | 44 | |
| 7193251352 | Idiom | A commonly used phrase that signifies something very different than its literal meaning. Example:"This costs an arm and a leg!" is an idiom which means "This is very expensive." | 45 | |
| 7193251628 | Onomatopoeia | Using "sound-effect" words (e.g. "clap," "buzz). Example:"We heard an ominous hiss from the kitchen." | 46 | |
| 7193256802 | Paradox | A phrase or assertion that appears to contradict itself (but the contradiction itself may have its own meaning). Example:Paradoxical phrases include "dark angel," "fresh rot," "blissful hell," etc. | 47 | |
| 7193258167 | Parallelism | Repeated structural elements in a sentence. Example:"We went to sea; we went to war; we went to bed." | 48 | |
| 7193259761 | Parody | Using the form of something to mimic and make fun of it. Example:Weird Al is the master of the musical parody genre. | 49 | |
| 7193260313 | Personification | Giving human characteristics to a nonhuman object or idea. Example:"The sun was shining happily today." | 50 | |
| 7193261290 | Sarcasm | Mockingly stating the opposite of what you mean. Easier to convey in the spoken word than via writing Example:"Did you come up with that all by yourself?" might be delivered sarcastically after someone delivers a poorly-thought out idea. | 51 | |
| 7193262533 | Satire | A genre of humorous and mocking criticism to expose the ignorance and/or ills of society. Example:"Did you come up with that all by yourself?" might be delivered sarcastically after someone delivers a poorly-thought out idea. | 52 | |
| 7193264174 | Synecdoche | Referring to one part of something as a way to refer to the whole. | 53 | |
| 7193266879 | Understatement | Deliberately minimizing something, usually for humorous effect. | 54 |