AP English Language & Composition Essential Terms Flashcards

7240110217	Analogy	Explaining something complex by comparing it to something more simple	0
7240111800	Argument	The combination of reasons, evidence, etc that an author uses to convince an audience of their position	1
7240114829	Aristotelian Appeals	Three different methods of appealing to an audience to convince them - ethos, logos, and pathos	2
7240116171	Attitude (Tone)	The writer's personal views or feelings about the subject at hand	3
7240118103	Audience	Who the author is directing his or her message towards	4
7240120888	Compare and Contrast	Discussing the similarities and differences between two things to some persuasive or illustrative neutral connotations	5
7240123107	Context	The extra-textual environment in which the text is being delivered	6
7240125642	Counterargument	The argument(s) against the author's position	7
7240126916	Deductive Reasoning	A form of logical reasoning wherein a general principle is applied to a specific case	8
7240128531	Denotation	The literal, dictionary-definition meaning of a word	9
7240130232	Diction	The style of language used; generally tailored to be appropriate to the audience and situation	10
7240132200	Ethos	Setting up a source as credible and trustworthy	11
7267882033	Evidence	The information presented meant to persuade the audience of the author's position	12
7267887775	Figurative Language	The use of language in a non-literal way; i.e. metaphor, simile, etc.	13
7267893572	Genre	The specific type of work being presented	14
7267899595	Imagery	Any descriptive language used to evoke a vivid sense or image of something; includes figurative language	15
7267902614	Implication	When something is suggested without being concretely stated	16
7316841849	Inductive Reasoning	Making a generalization based on specific evidence at hand	17
7316848292	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	18
7316856930	Juxtaposition	Placing two very different things together for effect	19
7316862168	Logos	Appealing to someone's sense of concrete facts and logic	20
7316866974	Occasion	The reason or moment for writing or speaking	21
7361769071	Organization	How the different parts of an argument are arranged in a piece of writing or speech	22
7361780839	Pathos	An Aristotelian appeal; involves appealing to someone's emotions	23
7361788684	Purpose	The author's persuasive intention	24
7361795253	Repetition	Re-using a word or phrase repeatedly for effect or emphasis	25
7361800569	Rhetoric	The use of spoken or written word (or a visual medium) to convey your ideas and convince an audience	26
7399451323	Rhetorical Triangle	The relationship between the author, the audience, the text (message), and the context	27
7399462445	Speaker	The persona adopted by the author to deliver his or her message	28
7399472776	Style	The author's own personal approach to rhetoric in the piece	29
7399479935	Symbolism	Using a symbol to refer to an idea or concept	30
7399483392	Syntax	The way sentences are grammatically constructed	31
7481669750	Synthesis	Combining sources or ideas in a coherent way in the purpose of a larger point	32
7481672503	Themes	Overarching ideas or driving premises of a work	33
7481677631	Voice	An author's unique sound; similar to style	34
7481688836	Alliteration	Using words with the same first letter repeatedly close together in a phrase or sentence	35
7481691738	Allusion	Making a brief reference to the cultural canon - e.g. the Bible, Shakespeare, classical mythology, etc.	36
7654675683	Anecdote	Offering a brief narrative episode	37
7654679886	Concession	Agreeing with the opposing viewpoint on a certain smaller point (but not in the larger argument)	38
7654682799	Didactic	A text with an instructive purpose, often moral	39
7654684556	Euphemism	Referring to something with a veiled phrase instead of saying it directly	40
7654687915	Exemplification	Providing examples in service of a point	41
7733892598	Hyperbole	Overstating a situation for humorous or dramatic effect	42
7733897667	Idiom	A commonly used phrase that signifies something very different than its literal meaning	43
7733902589	Onomatopoeia	Using "sound-effect" words	44
7733906210	Paradox	A phrase or assertion that appears to contradict itself	45
7733911851	Parallelism	Repeated structural elements in a sentence	46
7805300797	Parody	Using the form of something to mimic and make fun of it	47
7805304107	Personification	Giving human characteristics to a non-human object or idea	48
7805307503	Sarcasm	Mockingly stating the opposite of what you mean	49
7805312413	Satire	A genre of humorous and mocking criticism to expose the ignorance and/or ills of society	50
7805318004	Synecdoche	Referring to one part of something as a way to refer to the whole	51
7805321272	Understatement	Deliberately minimizing something, usually for humorous effect	52