AP Language Vocab 22-40 Flashcards
Epistrophe
is derived from a Greek word that means turning upon, which indicates the same word returns at the end of each sentence. This is a stylistic device that can be defined as the repetition of phrases or words at the end of the clauses or sentences. It is also called epiphora. Its examples of frequently found in literary pieces in persuasive writing and speeches. The opposite of this is anaphora.
Asyndeton
is derived from a Greek word which means unconnected. It is a stylistic device used in literature and poetry to intentionally eliminate conjunctions between the phrases and in the sentence, yet maintain the grammatical accuracy. This literary tool helps in reducing the indirect meaning of the phrase and presents it in a concise form. It helps speeding up the rhythm of words. Mostly this technique is employed in speech but can be used in written works too.
Polysyndeton
the term comes from a Greek word meaning “bound together.” It makes use of coordinating conjunctions like “and”, “or”, “but”, and “nor” (mostly and 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.
Synecdoche
is a literary device in which a part of something represents the whole or it may use a where to represent a part. Distinguishing between this and metonymy often take some thoughtful consideration
Tone
in a written composition, is an attitude of a writer toward a subject or an audience. It is something important for the reader to “sense” to determine an argument. Is generally conveyed through the choice of words or the viewpoint of a writer on a particular subject.
Process Analysis
A step-by-step breakdown of the phrases of a process used to convey the details of each phase of thinking, and operation, etc. It is often used to improve understanding and also to break down an argument to make it more comprehensive.
Syntax
Set of rules in a language. Dictates how words from a part of speech are put together in order to convey a complete thought. In plain English, it means how to arrange words.
Provocative Diction
“diction” is our choice of words. Thus, “Provocative Diction” is the purposeful choice of words serving or tending to provoke, excite, or stimulate a provocative question that will frame a rhetorical argument.
Classification
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.
Understatement
For example, you win 10 million dollars in a lottery. When you tell a news reporter “I am delighted”, you are making an understatement. Similarly, suppose a team loses to its opponent 50 to 0 in a soccer match and the captain of the team says in a post-match ceremony says,
“We did not do well”, it is an understatement because he is trying to decrease the intensity of the loss. It is the opposite of Hyperbole or overstatement.
Colorful Diction
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.
Counterargument
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.
Claim
if somebody gives an argument to support his/her position, it is called making this. Different reasons are usually presented to prove why a certain point should be accepted as logical.
Evidence
it is a type of literary technique 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 within essays. In rhetoric, when a person makes a claim or presents an argument, he needs to present this in support of his claim and argument.
Warrant
this in 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 “why” your evidence supports your assertion/claim. ‘Why we just broke down the door to your home.’
Fallacy
is an erroneous argument upon an unsound or illogical contention. There are many examples that we can find in everyday conversations.
Logical Fallacy
In argumentation, a formal fallacy (also called deductive fallacy) is a pattern of reasoning/thinking rendered invalid by a flaw in its logical structure that can be neatly expressed in a standard logic system, For example, propositional logic. An argument that is formally fallacious is always considered wrong.
Prophecy
While this does forecast the future, there are quite a few differences. While this has many elements, it does not have the element of time. Since there is no element of time, this is hard to determine. This has a more religious connotation since there is an element of uncertainty about time.
Prediction
is a forecast made by those who calculate the parameters of the subject involved after evaluating the odds they can predict the future. The weather forecast is a good example. This is limited to a time element.
Adage
is a short, pointed and memorable saying based on facts, and is considered a veritable truth by the majority of the people. Famous ones become popular due to their usage over a long period of time. In fact, it expresses a general fact or truth about life. As it becomes popular, it is then accepted as a universal truth.
Pedantic
comes from a french word, pedant, which, means “teach or to act as a pedagogue.” Is someone who is concerned with precision, formalism, accuracy, minute details in order to make an arrogant and ostentatious show of learning.
Flippant
lacking proper respect or seriousness. This is often associated with the impatience of youth. Syn: wiseass, smart-alleck, cute. Antonyms: earnest, sincere
Evocative
the use of language that “suggests” meanings other than the denotative. Language that connects with emotions or feelings not associated with actual meaning of a word.
Syntactical Inversion
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”).
