AP Vocabulary 1-24 Flashcards
Anecdote
A short, simple narrative of an incident, often used for humorous effect or to make a point.
Argumentation
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 and is the focus of the AP Language and composition program
Allegory
An extended narrative of an incident in prose or verse in which characters, events, and settings represents 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.
Annotation
Explanatory notes added to a text to explain, cite sources, or give bibliographic data. In AP Language you will need to demonstrate detailed annotation on most of your readings.
Antithesis
The presentation of two contrasting images. The ideas are balanced by word, phrase, clause, or paragraphs.
Rhetoric
The art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, especially the use of figures of speech and other compositional techniques. This is the core of the AP Language Program.
Colloquialism
A word or phrase (including slang) used I everyday conversation and informal writing but that is often inappropriate in formal writing.
Connotation
Words suggesting implied meaning because of its association in a reader’s mind. This is the opposite of “denotation.”
Consonance
Repetition of identical consonant sounds within two or more words in close proximity: boot/beat/best/brag, or even compound words, fulfill, ping-pong.
Caricature
Descriptive writing that greatly exaggerates a specific feature of a person’s appearance or a facet of personality.
Coherence
The “ quality” of a piece of writing in which all the parts contribute to the development of the central idea/theme or organizing principle.
Aphorism
A short, often witty, statement of a principle or truth about life. Benjamin Franklin was somewhat famous for these in Poor Richard’s Almanac, e.g. “ The early bird gets the worm.”
Apostrophe
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.
Cacophony
Also referred to as Dissonance… hard, awkward, or dissonant sounds used deliberately in poetry or prose; the opposite of Euphony.
Denotation
Dictionary meaning of a word