AP Glossary 4 Flashcards
Definition of Rhetoric
The art of effective communication
Definition of Aristotle’s Rhetorical Triangle
The relationships in a piece of writing among the speaker/writer, exigence, audience, message, author’s purpose, appeals, tools and techniques, and context .
Definition of rhetorical question
Question not asked for information but for effect.
Example of rhetorical question
Are you finished interrupting me?’”
Impact of rhetorical question
Forcing them to consider the question and implications.
Definition of romanticism
Art or literature characterized by an idealistic, perhaps unrealistic view of people and the world, and an emphasis on nature.
Example of romanticism
the publication Lyrical Ballads, by Wordsworth and Coleridge
Definition of sarcasm
A generally bitter comment that is ironically or satirically worded.
Example of sarcasm
“they are really on top of things” about a group who is very disorganized
Impact of Sarcasm
Invokes humor and demonstrates cynicism
Definition of Satire
A work that reveals a critical attitude toward some element of life to a humorous effect.
Example of Satire
Catch-22
Impact of Satire
Creates a deeper meaning.
Definition of sentence
A sentence is group of words (including subject and verb) that expresses a complete thought.
Definition of appositive
A word or group of words placed beside a noun or noun substitute to supplement its meaning.
Example of appositive
“Bob, the lumber yard worker, spoke with Judy, an accountant from the city.”
Impact of Appositive
Provides additional information and enhances clarity.
Definition of Clause
A grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb.
Definition of balanced sentence
A sentence in which two parallel elements are set off against each other like equal weights on a scale.
Example of balanced sentence
“If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.”
Impact of balanced sentence
Enhance clarity and emphasize connections.
Definition of compound sentence
Contains at least two independent clauses but no dependent clauses.
Example of a compound sentence
The sun was shining brightly, but it was still quite cold outside.
Definition of Complex sentence
Contains only one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.
Example of Complex sentence
“Although it was raining, they decided to go for a walk”
Definition of Cumulative sentence
When the writer begins with an independent clause, then adds subordinate elements.
Example of Cumulative sentence
“He doubted whether he could ever again appear before an audience, his confidence broken, his limbs shaking, his collar wet with perspiration.”
Definition of periodic sentence
When the main idea is not completed until the end of the sentence.
Example of periodic sentence
“His
confidence broken, his limbs shaking, his collar wet with perspiration, he doubted
whether he could ever again appear before an audience.”
Definition of simple sentence
Contains only one independent clause.
Example of simple sentence
The dog barks.
Definition of declarative sentence
States an idea. It does not give a command or request, nor does it ask a question.
Example of Declarative sentence
The ball is round.
Definition of imperative sentence
Issues a command
Example of imperative sentence
Kick the ball.
Definition of interrogative sentence
Sentences incorporating interrogative pronouns (what, which, who, whom, and whose).
Example of interrogative sentence
“To whom did you kick the ball?”
Definition of Style
The choices in diction, tone, and syntax that a writer makes. Style may be conscious or unconscious.
Definition of symbol
Anything that represents or stands for something else. Usually a symbol is something concrete such as an object, actions, character…that represents something more abstract.
Example of symbol
The whale in Moby Dick
Impact of Symbol
Adding depth and more complex meaning.
Definition of syntax/sentence variety
Grammatical arrangement of words.
Definition of theme
The central idea or message of a work.
Example of theme
“love” in Romeo and Juliet
Definition of thesis
The sentence or groups of sentences that directly expresses the author’s opinion, purpose, meaning, or proposition.
Example of thesis
“Recycling is essential for protecting the environment and conserving natural resources”.
Definition of tone
A writer’s attitude toward his subject matter revealed through diction, figurative language and organization.
Example of tone
Humorous or somber
Impact of tone
How people perceive or interpret a message.
Definition of understatement
The ironic minimizing of fact, understatement presents something as less significant than it is.
Example of understatement
“Our defense played valiantly, and held the other team to merely eight touchdowns in the first quarter.”
Impact of understatement
Adds humor to writing, or can add emphasis to an idea.
