ap lang essay vocab Flashcards
1
Q
the moment or event that motivates someone to write or to speak about a specific issue, problem, or situation
A
exigence/exigency
2
Q
language designed to have a persuasive or impressive effect on its audience, but often regarded as lacking in sincerity or meaningful content.
A
rhetoric
3
Q
indirect reference to something (usually literary text) that the reader should be familiar with
A
allusion
4
Q
a brief recounting of a relevant episode, often inserted into text to either develop a point or inject humor
ex. That reminds me of when the entire family gathered around the TV to watch Nixon resign.
A
anecdote
5
Q
the word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun
ex. “If i could command the wealth of all the world by lifting my finger, I would not pay such a price for it.”
-the wealth
A
antecedent
6
Q
***IMPORTANT THING ABOUT DICTION- diction is word choice so do NOT say in argument that the author uses diction, describe the type of diction instead ex. the author’s colloquial diction, ornate diction, plain diction, etc.
A
7
Q
literal explicit meaning of a word
A
denotation
7
Q
associations suggested by a word, implied meaning and not literal meaning
A
connotation
8
Q
used to describe fiction nonfiction or poetry that teaches a specific lesson or moral/provides a model of correct behavior or thinking ex. aesop’s fables
A
didactic
9
Q
a story in which characters, things, and events represent qualities or concepts, the interaction of those characters, things, and events is meant to reveal an abstraction/truth
ex. animal farm
A
allegory
10
Q
a folk saying with a lesson ex. a rolling stone gathers no moss = people pay a price for being always on the move/ people who keep moving avoid picking up responsibilities and cares.
- the early bird gets the worm aka don’t be late to things
A
adage
11
Q
- less offensive substitute for offensive words or concepts ex. “physically challenged” in place of derogatory word “crippled”
or “vertically challenged” instead of short (sometimes adds humor)
A
euphemism
12
Q
- form of figurative language
- comparison of one pair of variables to a parallel set
- argues that the relationship between the first pair of variables is the same as the relationship between the second pair of variables
ex. “America is to the world as the hippo is to a jungle”
A
analogy
13
Q
blatant exaggeration ex. my mom will kill me if i get another bad grade
A
hyperbole
14
Q
common, often used expression that just doesn’t check out if you take it literally ex. i got chewed out by my coach
A
idiom
15
Q
- makes an implied comparison
- does NOT use “like” or “as”
- ex. my feet are popsicles
A
metaphor
16
Q
when the metaphor is continued later in the written work
- “You’re a snake! Everything you hiss out of your mouth is a lie. You frighten children, and you have no spine.”
A
extended metaphor
17
Q
replacing an actual word or idea with a related word or concept
ex. I couldn’t understand his tongue aka his language
A
metonymy
18
Q
- a kind of metonymy when a whole is represented by naming one of its parts or vice versa ex. check out my new wheels
- The phrase “hired hands” can be used to refer to workers. .
A
synecdoche
19
Q
- uses like/as, makes a direct comparison to two different things
A
simile
20
Q
- a description involving a crossing of the senses ex. a purplish scent filled the room OR I was deafened by his brightly colored clothing
A
synesthesia
21
Q
word/words used to create a picture in the reader’s mind which involves the 5 senses
- often used in conjunction with metaphors, similes, or figures of speech
A
imagery
22
Q
long, emotionally violent attack using strong and abusive language ex. swear words, vitriol
A
invective
23
Q
when the opposite of what you expect to happen does
A
irony
24
- when you say something and mean the opposite.
- if the tone is bitter, it's sarcasm
verbal irony
25
when the audience of a drama, play, movie etc knows something that the character doesn't and would be surprised to find out
dramatic irony
26
- found in the plot/story line of a book, story. or movie
- sometimes it makes you laugh because it's funny how things turn out
situational irony
27
- placing things side by side for the purposes of comparison to MAKE A POINT!!!
- ex. placing the average day of the typical American vs someone in a 3rd world country for social commentary
juxtaposition
28
- the atmosphere created by the literature and accomplished via diction
- syntax often enhances this because of word order, sentence length, strength, and complexity affect pacing
-setting, tone, and events all affect these
mood
29
- a recurring idea in a piece of literature
ex. in to kill a mockingbird, the idea that "you never really understand another person until you consider things from their point of view"
motif
30
- speed or tempo of an author's writing
- writers can use a variety of devices (syntax, polysyndeton, anaphora, meter) to change the pacing of the words
- can be fast, sluggish, stabbing, vibrato, staccato, measured. etc
pacing
31
- a seemingly contradictory situation which is actually true
ex. you can't get a master's without experience which you get through a job/internship but you can't get a job or internship without a master's
- Hamlet: ''I must be cruel, only to be kind''.
- Animal Farm: ''All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.
paradox
32
- sentence construction which places equal grammatical constructions near each other or repeats identical grammatical patterns
- used to add emphasis, organize, or sometimes pacing to writing
- ex. cinderella swept the floor, dusted the mantle, and beat the rug
parallelism/parallel structure/balanced sentences
33
- repetition of a word, phrase, or clause at the beginning of two or more sentences or clauses in a row
- deliberate form of repetition and helps make the writer's point more coherent
- emphasizing a specific idea or message
ex. I came, I saw, I conquered
anaphora
34
- when the same words are used twice in succession, but the second time, the order of the words is reversed
ex. fair is foul and foul is fair
- also called antimetabole
- used in writing to deepen an idea through contrast or emphasis. It is also often found in poetry and speechwriting because of its memorable repetition
chiasmus
35
- two opposite of contrasting words, phrases, clauses, or even ideas with parallel structure
- ex. it was the best of times, the worst of times
- enhances your writing by illuminating differences and making your point more persuasive
antithesis
36
- when a single word governs or modifies two or more other words, and the meaning of the first word must change for each other words it governs or modifies
- ex. " I quickly dressed myself and the salad." "the butler killed the lights and then the mistress."
zuegma/syllepsis
37
- parentheses are used to set off an idea from the rest of the sentence
- considered an aside/whisper
- should be used sparingly for effect
- can also be used to set off dates and numbers
ex. in a short time (and the time is getting shorter by the gallon)
parenthetical idea
38
- form of allusion because it is referencing a previous text, event, etc
- ex. snl skits
- an exaggerated imitation of a serious work for humorous purposes
- it borrows words or phrases from an original. and pokes fun at it
-
parody
39
- the fictional mask or narrator that tells a story
persona
40
- the repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of words
- sally sells seashells by the seashore
alliteration
41
- the repetition of identical or similar vowel sounds
ex. the molten golden gates
assonance
42
- the repetition of the same consonant sound at the end of words or within words
ex. some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door
ex. mike likes his new bike
consonance
43
- when a writer creates a list of items which are all separated by conjunctions (usually a conjunction is used only before the last in a list
ex. i walked the dog and fed the cat and milked the cows
ex. or if a soul touch any unclean thing, whether it be a carcass of an unclean beast or a carcass of unclean cattle, or the carcass of unclean creeping things...he shall also be unclean
polysyndeton
44
a generally bitter comment that is ironically or satirically worded
- however, not all satire and irony are sarcastic (is noticeably mocking and bitter)
sarcasm
45
a work that reveals a critical attitude toward some element of life to a humorous effect (think a modest proposal)
- targets human vices and follies, or social institutions and conventions
- good satire has 3 layers: serious on the surface, humorous when you discover that it is satire and not reality, and serious when you discern the underlying point of the author
satire
46
a word or group of words placed beside a noun or noun substitute to supplement its meaning
ex. Bob, the lumber yard worker...
appositive
47
- a grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a bern
independent- expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence
dependent- cannot stand alone as a sentence and must be accompanied by an independent clause
clause
48
- a sentence in which 2 parallel elements are set off against each other like equal weights on a scale
- both parts are parallel grammatically
- "if a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich"
balanced sentence
49
- contains at least two independent clauses but no dependent clauses
compound sentence
50
- contains only one independent clause and at least one dependent clause
complex sentence
51
- when the writer begins with an independent clause, then adds subordinate elements
ex. "he doubted whether he could ever again appear before an audience, his confidence broken, his limbs shaking, his collar wet with perspiration."
- opposite of a periodic sentence
cumulative sentence aka loose sentence
52
- when the main idea is not completed until the end of the sentence
- writer begins with subordinate elements and postpones the main clause
- ex. "his confidence broken, his limbs shaking, his collar wet with perspiration, he doubted whether he could ever again appear before an audience."
- opposite of cumulative sentence
periodic sentence
53
states an idea, does not give command or request and does not ask a question
ex. the ball is round.
declarative sentence
54
issues a command ex. kick the ball.
imperative sentence
55
- sentences incorporating interrogative pronouns (what, which, who, whom, and whose)
ex. to whom did you kick the ball?
interrogative sentence
56
- a writer's attitude toward his subject matter revealed through diction, figurative language and organization
- to identify it, consider how the piece would sound if read aloud or how the author wants it read aloud
- can be playful, serious, businesslike, sarcastic, humorous, formal, somber
tone
57
a particular form of understatement, generated by denying the opposite of the statement which otherwise be used
- either retains the effect of an understatement or becomes an intensifying expression
ex. hitting that telephone pole certainly didn't do that car any good
ex. I can't disagree with what you said
litotes
58
- thesis, then set up premises (statements offered as reasons to support a conclusion- the main point being made)
argument
59
“the right place and the right time.”
ex. people were more likely to give to charities related to families and businesses soon after the 9/11 tragedy than they are now.
kairos
60
- credibility
- writer tries to convince the audience they are worth listening to aka they have authority on the subject
- risks fallacy of appeal to authority if it relies too much on it
ethos
61
- emotional
- persuading by appealing to the reader's emotions
- if it relies on it too much, may fall victim to the fallacy of appeal to emotion
pathos
62
- persuading by means of reasoning and logic (NUMBERS, STATS) using true premises and valid arguments
- generally considered strongest form of persuasion
logos
63
- accepting at least part of all of an opposing viewpoint
- often used to make one's own argument by demonstrating one is willing to accept what is obviously true and reasonable even if presented by opposition (followed up with a rebuttal)
concession
64
if- then statement, two parts, antecedent and consequent
ex. if you studied hard then you will pass the test, i have studied hard ergo i will pass the test
conditional statement
65
- occurs when one aseerts two mutually exclusive propositions, such as "abortion is wrong and abortion is not wrong" it is contradictory and therefore one must be false
contradiction
66
an example that runs counter to a generalization and falsifies it:
premise: he argued all whales are endangered, beluga is a type of whale and they aren't endangered therefore his argument is unsound
counterexample
67
an argument in which it is thought that the premises provide a guarantee of the truth of the conclusion. in a deductive argument, the premises are intended to provide support for the conclusion that is so strong that if the premises are true then it is impossible for the conclusion to be false
ex. All dogs have four legs, John's pet is a dog, therefore John's pet has four legs."
deductive argument
68
claiming that two situations are highly similar when they aren't
ex. we have pure food and drug laws regulating what goes into our bodies why can't we have laws to keep musicians from giving us filth for the mind
bad analogy
69
- using as evidence a well know saying as if it proving.has no exceptions ex. love america or leave it, anyone who disagrees with anything our country does must hate america so they should just move (karinacore)
cliche thinking
70
sequence is not causation, assuming that because 2 things happened, the first caused the second
false cause
71
a generalization based on too little/unrepresentative data ex. my uncle didn't go to college and he makes a lot of money so people who don't go to college make just as much as those who do go
hasty generalization
72
a conclusion that does not follow from its premises, an invalid argument ex.hinduism is one of the world's oldest religion and helps millions of people live happier more productive lives, therefore the principles of hinduism must be true
non sequitr
73
an argument in which it is thought that the premises provide reasons supporting the probable truth of the conclusion
- the premises are intended only to be so strong that if they are true it is unlikely that the conclusion is false
- ex. Premise: All the tigers I saw on my safari trip to South Africa were orange. Conclusion: Therefore, all tigers are orange.
inductive argument
