AP flashcards
Active Voice
- The subject of the sentence performs the action. This is a more direct and preferred style of
writing in most cases. “Anthony drove while Toni searched for the house.” The opposite is passive voice –
when the subject of the sentence receives the action.
“The car was driven by Anthony.
Allows writing to make a greater impact on the reader as it is the most direct way to convey an idea
Allusion
An indirect reference to something (usually a literary text, although it can be other things
commonly known, such as plays, songs, historical events) with which the reader is supposed to be familiar.
“Ben is just like Benedict Arnold.”
Allusion can add further meaning to something already stated that a reader can easily understand,
Anecdote
A brief recounting of a relevant event.
Bob laughed at the retelling of a story told by his friend,
Anecdotes are often inserted into fictional or non
fictional texts as a way of developing a point or injecting humor.
Antecedent
The word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.
“If I
could command the wealth of all the world by lifting my finger, I would not pay such a price for it.”
Diction
Word choice, particularly as an element of style. Different types of words have significant effects
on meaning.
“This is pathetic/This place is not optimal”
Diction is important to balance the story, provide context, and let the reader know what’s going on
Colloquial
Ordinary or familiar type of conversation. A “colloquialism” is a common or
familiar type of saying, similar to an adage or an aphorism.
“Y’all, Gonna, Wanna”
Colloquial creates a conversational tone
Connotation
Rather than the dictionary definition (denotation), the associations suggested by a
word. Implied meaning rather than literal meaning.
FBI, Feds
Understanding the connotations of words can enhance description, meaning, and tone.
Denotation
The literal, explicit meaning of a word, without its connotations.
“I do not like you”
Denotation provides a clear literal definition
Jargon
The diction used by a group which practices a similar profession or activity.
Athletes such football players use jargons to run plays.
To specialized audiences, jargon is precise and marks professionals in the discipline
Vernacular
Language or dialect of a particular country/Language or dialect of a regional
The majority of Cuba speaks spanish.
The reader/audience can relate more
Didactic
A term used to describe fiction, nonfiction or poetry that teaches a specific lesson or moral or
provides a model of correct behavior or thinking.
“a didactic novel that set out to expose social injustice”
The reader/audience has something to take in or learn
Adage
A folk saying with a lesson.
” Little red riding hood”
Gives cultural expression
Allegory
- A story, fictional or non fictional, in which characters, things, and events represent
qualities or concepts.
“The Tortoise and the Hare”
Gives important lessons that could be used in everyday life
Aphorism
A terse statement which expresses a general truth or moral principle. An aphorism can be a memorable summation of the author’s point.
“
if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
Gives truths that can relate to the world
Ellipsis
The deliberate omission of a word or phrase from prose done for effect by the author.
“We were now on our own…”
Saves space and removes unnecessary material
Euphemism
- A more agreeable or less offensive substitute for generally unpleasant words or concepts.
Poor > Less Fortunate
Removes possible offensive words
Figurative Language
Writing that isn’t meant to be taken literally.
“I’m so energized that I can run around the world”
Figurative language can transform ordinary descriptions into evocative events, enhance the emotional significance of passages, and turn prose into a form of poetry
Analogy
A comparison of one pair of variables to a parallel set of variables. When a writer uses an analogy, he or she argues that the relationship between the first pair of variables is
the same as the relationship between the second pair of variables.
“She’s as blind as a bat”
Draws comparison between two things
Hyperbole
Exaggeration
“It’s a tsunami outside”
Expresses authors/speakers attitude
Idiom
A common, often used expression that doesn’t make sense if you take it literally.
“Don’t beat around the bush”
Forces reader to start reading figuratively.
Metaphor
Making an implied comparison, not using “like,” as,” or other such words.
“My sister is the devil”
Creates images that are easier to understand
Metonymy
– Replacing an actual word or idea, with a related word or concept.
“the pen is mightier than the sword”
Creates vivid images in place of generalities
Synecdoche
A kind of metonymy when a whole is represented by naming one of its parts, or vice versa.
“Hungry mouths to feed”
Allows speakers to emphasize certain parts of a whole while highlighting their importance.
Simile
Using words such as “like” or “as” to make a direct comparison between two very different things.
“As cool as a cucumber”
Helps describes one thing by comparing it to another thing that is unrelated.
Synesthesia
a description involving a “crossing of the senses.”
“A purplish scent
filled the room.” “I was deafened by his brightly-colored clothing.”
Makes the authors images/ideas more vivid when communicating with the reader using their senses
Personification:
Giving human-like qualities to something that is not human.
“The tired old truck
groaned as it inched up the hill.”
Keeps reader/audience invested
Foreshadowing
When an author gives hints about what will occur later in a story.
“Tune in next week to see our heros win”
Keeps reader/audience invested
Imagery
Word or words that create a picture in the reader’s mind. Usually this involves the five senses.
Authors often use imagery in conjunction with metaphors, similes, or figures of speech.
Imagery allows the reader to clearly see, touch, taste, smell, and hear what is happening
Irony
When the opposite of what you expect to happen does.
A cop getting arrested
Twists words, scence, and expected outcome to fit the writers message
Verbal irony
- When you say something and mean the opposite/something different.
If your gym teacher wants you to run a mile in eight minutes or faster, but calls it a “walk in the
park” it would be verbal irony.
The author is able to show more irony through verbal irony, meaning the author can do more to compare and contrast.
Dramatic irony
- When the audience of a drama, play, movie, etc. knows something that the character doesn’t and would be surprised to find out.
If you’re watching a movie about the Titanic and a character leaning on the balcony right before the ship hits the iceberg says, “It’s so beautiful I could just die.
Provides comedy for audience while also sustaining interest
Situational irony
- Found in the plot (or story line) of a book, story, or movie. Sometimes it makes you laugh because it’s funny how things turn out.
A post on Facebook complains about how useless Facebook is.
Allows writers to show the characters intentions versus the outcomes
Juxtaposition
Placing things side by side for the purposes of comparison. Authors often use juxtaposition of ideas or examples in order to make a point.
“You can’t teach a dog new tricks”
Lets readers compare and contrast elements
Oxymoron
When contradictory terms are grouped together and suggest a paradox
“Big Baby”
Gives illumination of conflict
Pacing
The speed/tempo of an author’s writing
The manga has 5 straight months of filler
Controls the rate/speed of the plot
Paradox
A contradictory situation which is actually true
“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”
Allows readers to understand concepts in a different way
Parallelism
Sentence construction which places equal grammatical constructions near each other, or repeats identical grammar patterns.
My dog not only likes to play fetch, but also chase cars.
Adds emphasis, organization, and pacing to writing
Anaphora
Repetition of a word, phrase, or clause at the beginning of two or more sentences/clauses in a row,
“Be bold. Be brief. Be gone.”
To evoke emotion, drives emphasis or nudge readers towards their own emotional imagining.
Chiasmus
When the same words are used twice in succession, but the second time, the order of the words are reversed.
“Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate.”
Adds emphasis to text
