AP Language & Composition Terms 1-200 Flashcards

3822948944	absolute phrase	term applied to anything totally independent of influences, limitations, controls, or modifiers; combines a noun and a participle with any accompanying modifiers or objects.	0
3822948945	active voice	the voice used to indicate that the grammatical subject of the verb is performing the action or causing the happening denoted by the verb	1
3822948946	passive voice	the voice used to indicate that the grammatical subject of the verb is the recipient (not the source) of the action denoted by the verb	2
3822948947	ad noseum	signifies that the topic in question has been discussed extensively, and that those involved in the discussion have grown tired of it	3
3822948948	ad hominem	attacking opponent's character instead of arguments	4
3822948949	ad populum	concludes a proposition to be true because many or most people believe it. In other words, the basic idea of the argument is: "If many believe so, it is so."	5
3822948950	ad verecundiam	appeal to authority	6
3822948951	ambiguity	unclearness by virtue of having more than one meaning	7
3822948952	anecdote	short account of an incident (especially a biographical one)	8
3822948953	antiphrases	use of word to mean opposite: the use of a word or phrase to mean the opposite of its usual or literal sense, e.g. saying on a rainy day, "What a great day for a picnic!"	9
3822948954	antithesis	direct opposite: the complete or exact opposite of something; figure of speech: a use of words or phrases that contrast with each other to create a balanced effect	10
3822948955	aphorism	a short pithy instructive saying	11
3822948956	appeal to authority	when a person argues that a statement is correct because the statement is made by a person or source that is commonly regarded as authoritative	12
3822948957	appeal to fear	when a person attempts to create support for his or her idea by using deception and propaganda in attempts to increase fear and prejudice toward a competitor	13
3822948958	appeal to prejudice	Using loaded or emotive terms to attach value or moral goodness to believing the proposition. "A reasonable person would agree that our income tax is too low."	14
3822948959	Aristotelian appeals	the means of persuasion as categorized by Greek philosopher Aristotle	15
3822948960	ethos	refers to the trustworthiness or credibility of the writer or speaker; is often conveyed through tone and style of the message and through the way the writer or speaker refers to differing views; it can also be affected by the writer's reputation as it exists independently from the message--his or her expertise in the field, his or her previous record or integrity, and so forth; the impact is often called the argument's 'ethical appeal' or the 'appeal from credibility.	16
3822948961	logos	refers to the internal consistency of the message--the clarity of the claim, the logic of its reasons, and the effectiveness of its supporting evidence; the impact on an audience is sometimes called the argument's logical appeal.	17
3822948962	pathos	is often associated with emotional appeal. But a better equivalent might be 'appeal to the audience's sympathies and imagination"; causes an audience not just to respond emotionally but to identify with the writer's point of view--to feel what the writer feels; evokes a meaning implicit in the verb 'to suffer'--to feel pain imaginatively; refers to both the emotional and the imaginative impact of the message on an audience, the power with which the writer's message moves the audience to decision or action.	18
3822948963	assertion	also referred to a writer's thesis; the point the writer is attempting to argue	19
3822948964	atmosphere	the mood, feeling created in the writing	20
3822948965	attitude	A speaker's, author's, or character's disposition toward or opinion of a subject.	21
3822948966	audience	One's listener or readership; those to whom a speech or piece of writing is addressed.	22
3822948967	authority	Arguments that draw on recognized experts or persons with highly relevant experience.	23
3822948968	backing	In Toulmin Arguments, offering background information or evidence to support a warrant.	24
3822948969	bandwagon	A fallacy which assumes that because something is popular, it is therefore good, correct, or desirable.	25
3822948970	beautiful people	A fallacy that uses good looking models or celebrities to attract our attention. Used to imply (but never promise) that if we use the product we will look like models.	26
3822948971	black-and-white fallacy	Presenting only two choices, with the product or idea being propagated as the better choice. For example: "You're either with us, or against us...."	27
3822948972	claims	A point the writer is trying to make; that which you are trying to prove	28
3822948973	cliche	A worn-out idea or overused expression	29
3822948974	coherence	Clarity and logical consistency within a speech or an argument.	30
3822948975	climax	That point in a plot that creates the greatest intensity, suspense, or interest; usually the point at which the conflict is resolved	31
3822948976	common man	The "plain folks" approach attempts to convince the audience that the propagandist's positions reflect the common sense of the people; use ordinary language and mannerisms (and clothe their message in face-to-face and audiovisual communications) in attempting to identify their point of view with that of the average person; can win the confidence of persons who resent or distrust foreign sounding, intellectual speech, words, or mannerisms."[9] For example, a politician speaking to a Southern United States crowd might incorporate words such as "Y'all" and other colloquialisms to create a perception of belonging	32
3822948977	demonizing the enemy	Makes individuals from the opposition appear to be subhuman, worthless, or immoral, through suggesting of false accusations	33
3822948978	detail	Facts revealed by the author or speaker that support the attitude or tone in the work	34
3822948979	allegory	A literary work in which characters, objects, or actions represent abstractions	35
3822948980	allusion	A reference to another work of literature, person, or event	36
3822948981	analogy	A comparison between two things, typically on the basis of their structure and for the purpose of explanation or clarification.	37
3822948982	apostrophe	A figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love.	38
3822948983	conceit	A fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects	39
3822948984	paradox	A statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.	40
3822948985	personification	A figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes	41
3822948986	onomatopeia	formation or use of words that imitate sounds of the actions to which they refer	42
3822948987	oxymoron	A figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction.	43
3822948988	imagery	Description that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste)	44
3822948989	irony	A contrast or discrepancy between what is stated and what is really meant, or between what is expected to happen and what actually does happen.	45
3822948990	setting	The context in time and place in which the action of a story occurs.	46
3822948991	simile	A comparison of two unlike things using "like" or "as"	47
3822948992	verbal irony	Irony in which a person says or writes one thing and means another, or uses words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of the literal meaning.	48
3822948993	understatement	A figure of speech in which a writer or speaker says less than what he or she means; the opposite of exaggeration.	49
3822948994	hyperbole	A figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor	50
3822948995	idiom	A work or phrase that has a special meaning different from its standard or dictionary meaning.	51
3822948996	concrete detail	A highly specific, particular, often real, actual, or tangible detail; the opposite of abstract.	52
3822948997	dramatic irony	In this type of irony, facts or events are unknown to a character in a play or a piece of fiction but known to the reader, audience, or other characters in the work	53
3822948998	extended metaphor	A comparison between two unlike things that continues throughout a series of sentences in a paragraph or lines in a poem	54
3822948999	figurative language	Language that cannot be taken literally since it was written to create a special effect or feeling.	55
3822949000	diction	A speaker or writer's choice of words (formal, informal, colloquial, full of slang, poetic, ornate, plain, abstract, concrete, etc.); has a powerful effect on tone	56
3822949001	abstract	theoretical, not applied or practical; not concrete	57
3822949002	metaphor	A comparison that establishes a figurative identity between objects being compared.	58
3822949004	alliteration	Repetition of initial consonant sounds	59
3822949005	assonance	Repetition of a vowel sound within two or more words in close proximity	60
3822949006	colloquial	Characteristic of ordinary conversation rather than formal speech or writing	61
3822949007	concrete	relating to or involving specific people, things, or actions rather than general ideas or qualities	62
3822949008	connotation	All the meanings, associations, or emotions that a word suggests	63
3822949009	contemptuous	Expressing disdain; showing a lack of respect	64
3822949010	contrastive	Containing or forming a contrast; contrasting.	65
3822949011	denotation	Literal meaning of a word	66
3822949012	dialect	A regional variety of a language distinguished by vocabulary, spelling, and pronunciation.	67
3822949013	didactic	A term used to describe fiction or nonfiction that teaches a specific lesson or moral or provides a model of correct behavior or thinking.	68
3822949014	dissonance	a harsh and disagreeable combination, especially of sounds	69
3822949015	formal	following or according with established form, custom, or rule; suited for serious or official speech & writing	70
3822949016	informal	relaxed in tone; not suited for serious or official speech and writing	71
3822949017	monosyllabic	Having only one syllable	72
3822949018	nostalgic	Longing for the past	73
3822949019	polysyllabic	Having many syllables	74
3822949020	sardonic	cynical; scornfully mocking	75
3822949021	synecdoche	A 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).	76
3822949022	synesthesia	A rhetorical trope involving shifts in imagery. It involves taking one type of sensory input (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste) and comingling it with another separate sense in an impossible way	77
3822949023	tautology	a repetition, a redundancy, a circular argument	78
3822949024	vernacular	the everyday speech of the people (as distinguished from literary language)	79
3822949025	epigram	a concise but ingenious, witty, and thoughtful statement; often paradoxical in nature	80
3822949026	epigraph	a quotation set at the beginning of a literary work or one of its divisions to suggest its theme	81
3822949027	flag-waving	the attempt to persuade the audience to choose a particular product because doing so will be an exhibit of patriotism or good citizenship	82
3822949028	genre	a category or type of literature (or of art, music, etc.) characterized by a particular form, style, or content	83
3822949029	glittering generalities	use of intensely emotionally appealing words so closely associated with highly valued concepts and beliefs that they carry conviction without supporting information or reason; ", At this defining moment in our history, preparing our children to compete in the global economy is one of the most urgent challenges we face."	84
3822949030	half-truth	a statement that deceives an audience by revealing part of the truth, but mixing the truth with a lie	85
3822949031	homily	a sermon stressing moral principles; a tedious moralizing lecture or discourse	86
3822949032	implication	a suggestion an author or speaker makes (implies) without stating it directly; the author/sender implies; the reader/audience infers.	87
3822949033	inference	a conclusion one can draw from the presented details	88
3822949034	intentional vagueness	generalities are deliberately vague so that the audience may supply its own interpretations- intention is to move the audience by use of undefined phrases without analyzing their validity	89
3822949035	invective	a strong denunciation or condemnation; abusive language; abusive, vituperative	90
3822949036	jargon	language used by a special group; technical terminology; gibberish	91
3822949037	juxtaposition	A poetic and rhetorical device in which normally unassociated ideas, words, or phrases are placed next to one another for comparison or emphasis	92
3822949038	euphemism	use of an inoffensive word or phrase in place of a more distasteful one	93
3822949039	dysphemism	a coarse or rude way of saying something. The opposite of euphemism. e.g., Saying "croak" instead of "die."	94
3822949040	guilt by association	a person is judged because of his associations, his friends, his family, not because of anything he has done	95
3822949041	litotes	a form of understatement that involves making an affirmative point by denying its opposite	96
3822949042	logical fallacies	an error in reasoning that renders an argument invalid.	97
3822949043	begging the question	occurs when the believability of the evidence depends on the believability of the claim; often called circular reasoning; "So when you say that he's lying, are you saying that he isn't telling the truth?"	98
3822949044	either-or reasoning	When the writer reduces an argument or issue to two polar opposites and ignores any alternatives.	99
3822949045	false dilemma	A fallacy of logical argument which is committed when too few of the available alternatives are considered, and all but one are assessed and deemed impossible or unacceptable; e.g. A father speaking to his son says, "Are you going to go to college and make something of yourself, or are you going to end up being an unemployable bum like me?" The dilemma is the son's supposed choice limitation: either he goes to college or he will be a bum. The dilemma is false, because the alternative of not going to college but still being employable has not been considered.	100
3822949046	generalization	A broad statement that applies to many individuals, experiences, situations, or observations. A kind of conclusion that is drawn after considering as many facts as possible.	101
3822949047	non-sequitor	a statement that does not follow logicaly from what has been said; that is a conclusion that does not follow from the premises	102
3822949048	post hoc	Assuming that an incident that precedes another is the cause of the second incident	103
3822949049	red-herring	any diversion intended to distract attention from the main issue	104
3822949050	malapropism	A blunder in speech caused by the substitution of a word for another that is similar in sound but different in meaning.	105
3822949051	maxim	A general truth or rule of conduct; a short saying	106
3822949052	metonymy	A figure of speech in which one word or phrase is substituted for another with which it is closely associated (such as "crown" for "royalty").	107
3822949053	mood	Feeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader	108
3822949054	motif	A recurring element, such as an image, theme, or type of incident.	109
3822949055	name-calling	a method of propaganda that is an attempt to turn people against and opponent or an idea by using unpleasant labels or descriptions for that person or idea	110
3822949056	organization	arrangement of the ideas of a text	111
3822949057	deductive reasoning	reasoning in which a conclusion is reached by stating a general principle and then applying that principle to a specific case (The sun rises every morning; therefore, the sun will rise on Tuesday morning.)	112
3822949058	exemplification	A rhetorical strategy that is the fundamental way a writer can illustrate, support, and clarify ideas that include referring to a sample, detail, person or typical event.	113
3822949059	inductive reasoning	Decision making process in which ideas are processed from the specific to the general.	114
3822949060	syllogism	A form of reasoning in which two statements are made and a conclusion is drawn from them; it is the format of a formal argument that consists of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion. Example: Major Premise: All tragedies end unhappily. Minor Premise: Hamlet is a tragedy. Conclusion: Therefore, Hamlet ends unhappily.	115
3822949061	pace	the speed at which an author tells a story	116
3822949062	parody	A work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.	117
3822949063	parenthetical	a comment that interrupts the immediate subject, often to qualify or explain	118
3822949064	pedantic	words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish.	119
3822949065	philippic	insulting language; a tirade	120
3822949066	polysyndeton	Deliberate use of many conjunctions in close succession, especially where some might be omitted. Hemingway and the Bible both use extensively. Ex. "he ran and jumped and laughed for joy"	121
3822949067	point of view	the perspective from which a story is told	122
3822949068	first person	The narrator is a character in the story who can reveal only personal thoughts and feelings and what he or she sees and is told by other characters. He can't tell us thoughts of other characters; utilizes pronouns I, me, we, our, us	123
3822949069	objective	Factual, related to reality or physical objects; not influenced by emotions, unbiased	124
3822949070	observer	character who is not "involved" in the actions of a story; can form a type of bias that occurs when an his/her expectations, past experience, and motives or other personal factors interfere with the accuracy of their observations	125
3822949071	participant	character who is experiencing the actions of a story	126
3822949072	second person	The narrator tells a listener what he/she has done or said, using the personal pronoun "you." This point of view is rare.	127
3822949073	subjective	An opinion based on personal preferences and value judgements	128
3822949074	third person	A point of view that presents the events of the story from outside of any single character's perception, much like the omniscient point of view, but the reader must understand the action as it takes place and without any special insight into characters' minds or motivations.	129
3822949075	propaganda	Ideas spread to influence public opinion for or against a cause.	130
3822949076	prose	Ordinary speech or writing without rhyme or meter; referring to speech or writing other than verse (poetry)	131
3822949077	pun	a play on words in which a humorous effect is produced by using a word that suggests two or more meanings or by exploiting similar sounding words having different meanings.	132
3822949078	purpose	the author's reason for writing: to entertain, inform, persuade, etc.	133
3822949079	repetition	Repeated use of sounds, words, or ideas for effect and emphasis	134
3822949080	rhetorical devices	a technique that an author or speaker uses to convey to the listener or reader a meaning with the goal of persuading him or her towards considering a topic from a different perspective	135
3822949081	rhetorical modes	the variety, the conventions, and the purpose of the major kinds of writing; four most common of these include exposition, argumentation, description, and narration.	136
3822949082	cause-effect	a relationship in which change in one variable causes change in another	137
3822949083	compare-contrast	arranges sets of information according to how similar or different they are	138
3822949084	definition	A method of informing that explains something by identifying its meaning	139
3822949085	description/narration	Methods of discourse in which any careful detailing of a person, place, thing, or event is used.	140
3822949086	division/classification	arrangement of ideas that either explains how parts relate to a whole OR establishes categories into which items can be sorted according to characteristics	141
3822949087	persuasion	A form of argumentation, language intended to convince through appeals to reason or emotion	142
3822949088	process analysis	A method of paragraph or essay development by which a writer explains step by step how something is done or how to do something.	143
3822949089	sarcasm	From the Greek meaning "to tear flesh,"; involves bitter, caustic language that is meant to hurt or ridicule someone or something. It may use irony as a device; can be witty and insightful; when poorly done, it is simply cruel.	144
3822949090	satire	A literary work that criticizes human misconduct and ridicules vices, stupidities, and follies.	145
3822949091	scapegoat	A person or group that bears the blame for another	146
3822949092	semantics	Meaning of words and sentences	147
3822949093	slippery slope	Arguments suggest that one thing will lead to another, oftentimes with disastrous results	148
3822949094	slogan	a phrase which expresses the purpose or nature of an organization; a motto; a catch phrase	149
3822949095	stereotyping	An exaggeration of one characteristic, which becomes the "only" characteristic; strips person of complexity	150
3822949096	straw man	a logical fallacy that involves the creation of an easily refutable position; misrepresenting, then attacking an opponent's position	151
3822949097	structure	the way something is arranged or organized	152
3822949098	style	A way of expressing something that is characteristic of a particular person or group of people or period.	153
3822949099	syllepsis	A construction in which one word is used in two different senses ("After he threw the ball, he threw a fit.")	154
3822949100	symbol	A thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract.	155
3822949101	syntax	Sentence structure	156
3822949102	anaphora	A 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.	157
3822949103	antecedent	A word, phrase, or clause to which a following pronoun refers. Ex: Iris tried, but she couldn't find the book. (Iris is the antecedent.)	158
3822949104	appositive	A word or phrase that renames a noun or pronoun for emphasis or clarity; usually follows the noun to which it refers	159
3822949105	asyndeton	Commas used (with no conjunction) to separate a series of words; parts are emphasized equally when the conjunction is omitted; in addition, the use of commas with no intervening conjunction speeds up the flow of the sentence; takes the form of X, Y, Z as opposed to X, Y, and Z. EX: Be one of the few, the proud, the Marines.; We shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardships, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.	160
3822949106	balanced sentence	The phrases or clauses balance each other by virtue of their likeness or structure, meaning, or length. Ex. "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters."	161
3822949107	chiasmus	A statement consisting of two parallel parts in which the second part is structurally reversed ("Susan walked in, and out rushed Mary.")	162
3822949108	clause	(grammar) an expression including a subject and predicate but not constituting a complete sentence	163
3822949109	complex sentence	A sentence with one independent clause and at least one dependent clause	164
3822949110	complement	A word or word group that completes the predicate in a sentence.	165
3822949111	compound sentence	A sentence that contains at least two independent clauses but no dependent clauses.	166
3822949112	compound-complex sentence	A sentence with two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.	167
3822949113	cumulative sentence	A sentence in which the main independent clause is elaborated by the successive addition of modifying clauses or phrases (main clause is at the beginning)	168
3822949114	declarative sentence	A sentence that makes a statement or declaration.	169
3822949115	ellipsis	Leaving out elements of a sentence; indicated by 3 periods.	170
3822949116	exclamatory sentence	A sentence expressing strong feeling, usually punctuated with an exclamation mark.	171
3822949117	imperative sentence	A sentence that gives a command or makes a request.	172
3822949118	independent clause	A clause that can stand alone as a sentence.	173
3822949119	interrogative	A sentence that asks a question.	174
3822949120	inverted sentence	A sentence in which the subject follows the verb.	175
3822949121	object complement	follows a direct object and describes or identifies it by answering the question "what?"; can be adjectives, nouns, or pronouns	176
3822949122	parallel structure	the repetition of words or phrases that have similar grammatical structures	177
3822949123	periodic sentence	A sentence that presents its central meaning in a main clause at the end. The independent clause is preceded by a phrase or clause that cannot stand alone. The effect is to add emphasis and structural variety.	178
3822949124	predicate adjective	An adjective that follows a linking verb and describes the subject.	179
3822949125	predicate nominative	A noun or pronoun that follows a linking verb and renames or identifies the subject.	180
3822949126	rhetorical question	A question asked merely for rhetorical effect and not requiring an answer.	181
3822949127	scheme	A pattern of words or sentence construction used for rhetorical effect.	182
3822949128	sentence length	Sentences may be long, complex, and elaborate, or short and simple. Variety adds effect or emphasis.	183
3822949129	simple sentence	A sentence consisting of one independent clause and no dependent clause.	184
3822949130	solecism	grammatical mistake; blunder in speech	185
3822949131	subject complement	is a word or group of words that follows a linking verb and renames or describes the subject	186
3822949132	subordinate clause	A clause in a complex sentence that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence and that functions within the sentence as a noun or adjective or adverb.	187
3822949133	testimonial	when an important person or famous figure endorses a product	188
3822949134	theme	central idea of a work of literature	189
3822949135	thesis	In expository writing, the this is the sentence or a group of sentences that directly expresses the author's opinion, purpose, meaning, or position. Expository writing is usually judged by analyzing how accurately, effectively, and thoroughly a writer has proved the thesis.	190
3822949136	tone	attitudes and presuppositions of the author that are revealed by their linguistic choices (diction, syntax, rhetorical devices)	191
3822949137	transfer	associating a person or idea with something everyone thinks is good	192
3822949138	trope	A figure of speech using words in non-literal ways, such as a metaphor	193
3822949139	virtue words	words in the value system of the target audience which tend to produce a positive image when attached to a person or issue. EX- peace	194
3822949140	voice	a writer's distinctive use of language that conveys a distinct personality	195
3822949141	warrants	assumptions that act as links between the evidence and the claim	196
3822949142	weasel words	terms or phrases intended to mislead listeners by implying something that they don't actually say	197
3822949143	wit	an ability to say or write things that are clever and usually funny	198
3822949144	zeugma	A minor device in which two or more elements in a sentence are tied together by the same verb or noun; are especially acute if the noun or verb does not have the exact same meaning in both parts of the sentence. "She dashed his hopes and out of his life when she waked through the door."	199