AP LANGUAGE VOCAB 1-20

Question 1

Anecdote

Answer 1

a short, simple narrative of an incident, often used for humorous effect or to make a point

Question 2

Argumentation

Answer 2

writing that attempts to prove the validity of a point of view or an idea by presenting “reasoned arguments”; persuasive writing is a form of argumentation

Question 3

Allegory

Answer 3

an extended narrative of an incident in prose or verse in which characters, events, and settings represent abstract qualities and in which the writer intends a second meaning to be read beneath the surface of the story; the underlying meaning may be moral, religious, political, social, or satiric

Question 4

Annotation

Answer 4

explanatory notes added to a text to explain, cite sources, or give bibliographic data. Detailed annotations are necessary on most readings

Question 5

Antithesis

Answer 5

the presentation of two contrasting images. the ideas are balanced by word, phrase, clause, or paragraphs. “To be or not to be…”, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”

Question 6

Rhetoric

Answer 6

the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, especially the use of figures of speech and other compositional techniques

Question 7

Colloquialism

Answer 7

a word or phrase (including slang) used in everyday conversation and informal writing but that is often inappropriate in formal writing (y’all, ain’t, can’t, somethin’)

Question 8

Connotation

Answer 8

words suggesting implied meaning because of its association in a reader’s mind. opposite of denotation

Question 9

Consonance

Answer 9

repetition of identical consonant sounds within two or more words in close proximity: boot/beat/best/boring or even compound words like fulfill or ping-pong

Question 10

Caricature

Answer 10

descriptive writing that greatly exaggerates a specific feature of a person’s appearance or a facet of personality

Question 11

Aphorism

Answer 11

a short, often witty, statement of a principle or truth about life. Benjamin Franklin was famous for these. e.g. “the early bird gets the worm”

Question 12

Apostrophe

Answer 12

usually in poetry, but sometimes in prose: the device of calling out to an imaginary, dead, or absent person or to a place, thing, or personified abstraction

Question 13

Coherence

Answer 13

the “quality” of a piece of writing in which all the parts contribute to the development of the central idea/theme or organizing principle

Question 14

Cacophony

Answer 14

also referred to as dissonance… hard, awkward, or dissonant sounds used deliberately in poetry or prose; the opposite of Euphony

Question 15

1. Connotation 2. Denotation

Answer 15

1. the emotions connected to a word or phrase when heard

2. the actual definition of a word

Question 16

Enumeration

Answer 16

rhetorical device used for listing the details or a process of mentioning words or phrases step by step. (Type of amplification or division in which a subject is further distributed into components or parts. Used to clarify and detail understanding.

Question 17

Analogy

Answer 17

A comparison in which an idea or thing is compared to another thing that is quite different from it. It aims at explaining that idea or thing by comparing it to something that is familiar. EX: structure of an atom is like a solar system

Question 18

Parallelism

Answer 18

the use of components in a sentence that are grammatically the same; or similar in their construction , sound, meaning, or meter. Parallelism examples are found in literary works EX: like father, like son

Question 19

Allusion

Answer 19

brief, indirect reference to a person, place, thing, or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance. It does not describe in detail the person or thing to which it refers. It is just a passing comment and the writes expects the reader to possess enough knowledge to spot the allusion and grasp its importance.

Question 20

Metonymy

Answer 20

figure of speech that replaces the name of a thing with the name of something else with which it associates closely. EX: “I’m mighty glad Georgia waited til after Christmas before it secedes, or it would have ruined the Christmas parties.

Question 21

Anaphora

Answer 21

In writing or speech, the deliberate repetition of the first part of the sentence in order to achieve an artistic affect known as __________. Used to emphasize certain words or phrases.

Question 22

Epistrophe

Answer 22

Derived from Greek word that means turning upon, which indicates the same word returns at the end of each sentence. It is a stylistic device that can be defined as the repetition of phrases or words at the end of the clauses or sentences.

Question 23

Asyndeton

Answer 23

Derived from a greek word, meaning unconnected. Stylistic device used in literature and poetry to intentionally eliminate conjunctions between phrases and in the sentence, yet maintain the grammatical accuracy. Helps in reducing the indirect meaning of the phrase and presents it in a concise form. Helps in speeding up the rhythm of words.

Question 24

Polysyndeton

Answer 24

Derived from greek word meaning “bound together”. It makes use of coordinating conjunctions like “and”, “or”, “but”, and “nor” (mostly and/or) which are used to join successive words, phrases, or clauses in such a way that these conjunctions are even used where they might have been omitted

Question 25

Synecdoche

Answer 25

literary device in which a part of something represents the whole or it may use a whole to represent a part. Distinguishing between this and metonymy often take thoughtful consideration

Question 26

Tone

Answer 26

an attitude of a writer toward a subject or an audience. It is something important for the reader to “sense” to determine an argument. Tone is generally conveyed through choice of words or the viewpoint of the writer on a particular subject

Question 27

Process Analysis

Answer 27

Step-by-Step breakdown of the phases of a process, used to convey the details of each phase of thinking, an operation, etc. It is often used to improve understanding and also to break down an argument to make it more comprehensive

Question 28

Syntax

Answer 28

set of rules in language, dictates how words from different parts of speech are put together

Question 29

Provocative Diction

Answer 29

“diction” is our choice of words. Thus, “provocative diction” is the purposeful choice of words tending to provoke, excite, or stimulate a provocative question that will frame a rhetorical argument

Question 30

Classification

Answer 30

the action or process of classifying something according to shared qualities or characteristics. This often is a strategy of argumentation or an argumentative response in an effort to provide the reader with structure to YOUR argument. It would be considered a support to both Logos and Ethos in presenting an argument

Question 31

Understatement

Answer 31

For example, you win 10 million dollars in a lottery, you tell the reporter “I am delighted”. Similarly, supposes a team loses 0-50 and says “we did not do very well”. Opposite of hyperbole or overstatement.

Question 32

Colorful Diction

Answer 32

Diction is your conscious choice of words as a writer. It stands to reason that “colorful diction” is a very purposeful word choice that will serve to accentuate meaning and tone.

Question 33

Counterargument

Answer 33

an argument or set of reasons put forward to oppose an idea or theory developed in another argument. When writing in the argumentative mode, it is mandatory that the writer acknowledge the “other” side to his or her argument. It is part of the refutation of someone else’s claim to support your own “side” of the argument that you are making.

Question 34

Claim

Answer 34

If somebody gives an argument to support his/her position, it is called making a claim. Different reasons are usually presented to prove why a certain point should be accepted as logical.

Question 35

Evidence

Answer 35

Type of literary device that appears in different categories of essays and theses in the form of paraphrase and quotations. It is presented to persuade the readers and used with powerful arguments in the texts or essays. If there is no evidence, the claim stands quashed.

Question 36

Warrant

Answer 36

A warrant is the glue that holds an argument together. It links the evidence to the claim. It says something like “This evidence supports the claim because…” and it is always in a similar form that is more of a statement of support of “why” your evidence supports your assertation/claim

Question 37

Fallacy

Answer 37

erroneous argument dependent upon an unsound or illogical contention. There are many fallacy examples that we can find in everyday conversations

Question 38

Logical Fallacy

Answer 38

A pattern of reasoning/thinking rendered invalid by a flaw in its logical structure that can neatly be expressed in a standard logic system, for example propositional logic. An argument that is formally fallacious is always considered wrong

Question 39

Prophecy

Answer 39

has all the elements of a prediction, except time. It is more closely related to religion since there is uncertainty about time.`

Question 40

Prediction

Answer 40

An assumption is made after calculating and evaluating the odds to predict the future. Prediction is limited to a time element.

Question 41

Adage

Answer 41

Short, pointed, and memorable saying based on facts, and considered a veritable truth by the majority of people. Famous adages become popular due to their usage over a long period of time. A _________ expresses a general fact or truth about life. Ex, “God helps those who help themselves”

Question 42

Pedantic

Answer 42

derived from French word, Pedant, meaning “to teach or act as pedagogue”. Someone who is concerned with precision, formalism, accuracy, minute details in order to make an arrogant show of learning. Ex “He who finds it impossible to read criticism of himself without immediately reaching for his pen and replying to the effect that the accusation is a gross insult to his person.”

Question 43

Flippant

Answer 43

lacking proper respect or seriousness. This is often associated with the impatience of youth.
Synonyms: smart-assed
Antonyms: sincere
Related Words: cheeky

Question 44

Evocative

Answer 44

the use of language that “suggests” meanings other than the denotation. Language that connects with emotions or feelings not associated with the actual meaning of a word.

Question 45

Syntactical Inversion

Answer 45

Inversion, also called anastrophe, in literary style and rhetoric, the syntactic reversal of the normal order of the words and phrases in a sentence, as, in English, the placing of an adjective after the noun it modifies (“the form divine”) , a verb before its subject (“Came the dawn”)

Question 46

Apposition

Answer 46

a grammatical construction in which two elements, normally noun phrases, are placed side by side, with one element serving to identify the other in a different way. The two elements are said to be in apposition

Question 47

Didactic

Answer 47

frequently used for those literary texts which are overloaded with informative or realistic matter and are marked by the omission of graceful and pleasing details. Therefore, it becomes a derogatory term referring to the forms of literature that are ostentatiously dull and erudite. However, some literary texts are entertaining as well as didactic

Question 48

Conceit

Answer 48

figure of speech in which two vastly different objects are likened together with the help of similies and metaphors. Thus, conceit can have a surprising or shocking effect on the readers because they are novel comparisons unlike the conventional comparisons made in similies and metaphors

Question 49

Periodic Sentence

Answer 49

has the main clause or the predicate at the end. used for emphasis on and can be persuasive by putting reasons for something at the beginning before the final point is made. Used also to create suspense for the reader “In spite of heavy snow and cold temperatures, the game continued.”

Question 50

Paradox

Answer 50

A statement that appears to be self-contradictory or silly but may include a latent truth. Also used to illustrate an opinion or statement contrary to accepted traditional ideas. A paradox is often used to make a reader think over an idea in innovative ways

Question 51

Irony

Answer 51

figure of speech in which words are used in such a way that their intended meaning is different from the actual meaning of the words. It may also be a situation that may end up in quite a different way than what is generally anticipated
“Go ask his name: if he be married
My grave is like to be my wedding bed”

Question 52

Parenthesis

Answer 52

stylistic device that comes from Greek word meaning alongside. However, parenthesis is a qualifying or explanatory sentence, clause, or word that writers insert into a paragraph/passage. The overuse of parenthesis may have the sentences look ambiguous and poorly structured

Question 53

Sardonic

Answer 53

grimly mocking, sarcastic, satirical, “TONE” word that describes writing that fits the meaning

Question 54

Satire

Answer 54

technique employed by writers to expose and criticize foolishness and corruption of an individual or a society by using humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule.

Question 55

Polemical

Answer 55

relating to or involving strongly critical, controversial, or disputatious works. A “polemical” essay could be any of the following - critical, hostile, bitter

Question 56

Ambiguity

Answer 56

ambiguity or fallacy of ambiguity is a word, phrase, or statement which contains more than one meaning. Skilled writers use ambiguity with purpose and intent