AP Vocabulary Flashcards
Anecdote
A short simple narrative of an incident, often used for humorous effect 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 a phrase 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 satire.
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 balanced by word, phrase, clause, or paragraph.
Rhetoric
the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, especially the use of figures of speech and other com positional techniques. This is the core of the AP Language
Colloquialism
A word or phrase( Including slang) used in everyday conversation and informal writing but that is often inappropriate in formal writing
Connotation
words suggesting implied meaning because of its association in a readers mind. The opposite of denotation.
Consonance
Repetition of identical consonant sounds within two or more words in close proximity :boot/beat/best/brag.
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. Poor Richard’s Almanac. “ The early bird gets the worm”
Apostrophe
Usually I poetry, but sometimes in prose. The device of calling out to an imaginary, dead, or absent person, 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.
Connotation+Denotation
C- How you feel D-The definition of it
Enumeration
A rhetorical device used for listing the details or a process of mentioning, words or phrases step by step. In fact it is a type of amplification or division in which a subject is further distributed into components or parts. Used to clarify and give detail
Analogy
A comparison in which an idea or a 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.
Parallelism
The use of components in a sentence that are grammatically the same; or similar in their construction, sound, meaning, or meter. Ex- “Like father, like son”
Allusion
A brief an indirect reference to a person, place, thing, or idea of historical, cultural, literacy, or political significance. It is just a passing comment.
Metonymy
A figure of speech that replaces the name of a thing with the name of something else with which it is closely related associated. We can come across examples of it both from literature and every day conversations. This is NOT a Metaphor.
Anaphora
The deliberate repetition of the first part of a sentence in order to achieve an artistic effect is known as Anaphora. Possibly the oldest literary device, has roots in Biblical Psalms used to emphasize certain words.
Epistrophe
The repetition of phrases or words at the end of the sentence.
Asyndeton
Used to intentionally eliminate conjunctions between the phrases and in the sentence, yet maintain the grammatical accuracy. This helps to reduce the indirect meaning of the phrase and presents it in a concise form.
Polysyndeton
Makes use of coordinating conjunctions like “and”, “or”, and “but” or “nor”.
Synecdoche
A literary device where a part of something represents a whole or it may use a whole to represent a part.
Tone
An attitude of a writer toward a subject or an audience. It is something important for the reader to “sense” the argument. It is conveyed through the choice of words.
Process Analysis
A step by step break down of the phases of a process, conveys the details of each phase of thinking, and operation. It is often used to improve understanding and also to break down an argument to make it more compressible.
Syntax
How we arrange our words
Provocative Diction
he 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. Provides structure to your argument.
Understatement
The decrease of intensity.
Colorful Diction
Used to accentuate meaning and tone.
Counterargument
A set of reasons put forward to oppose the claim.
Claim
An argument put together to support the main idea of the person.
Evidence
Powerful arguments that can be backed up
Warrant
The glue that holds the argument together. It links the evidence to the claim.
Fallacy
The erroneous argument dependent upon an unsound or illogical contention.
Logical Fallacy
An argument that is formally fallacious is always considered wrong.
Prophecy
An idea of what will happen in the future with an religious standpoint.
Prediction
An idea of what will happen in a set time frame in the future.
Adage
A short,pointed and memorable saying based on facts, and is considered a veritable truth by the majority of people. “God helps those who help themselves”
Pedantic
Someone who is concerned with precision.
Flippant
Lacking proper respect or seriousness.
Evocative
The use of language that suggests meanings other than the denotative.
Syntactical Inversion
The syntactic reversal of the normal order of the words and phrases in a sentence.
Apposition
A grammatical construction in which two elements, normally noun phrases, are placed side by side, with one serving to identify the other in a different way.
Didactic
The forms of literature that are ostentatiously dull and erudite.
Conceit
When two vastly different objects are linked together with the help of similes or metaphors.
Periodic Sentence
Has the main clause or subject ah the end.
Paradox
A statement that seems to be self-contradictory or silly but may include a latent truth.
Irony
Words used in such a way that their intended meaning is different from their actual meaning
Parenthesis
A qualifying or explanatory sentence,clause or word that writers insert into a paragraph or passage.
Sardonic
grimly mocking, sarcastic, satirical, mocking in a humorous way.
Satire
Used to expose and criticize foolishness and corruption of an individual or a society by using humor, irony, exaggeration or ridicule.
Polemical
Relating to or involving strongly critical, controversial, or disputatious writing or speech.
Ambiguity
A word, phrase, or statement which contains more than one meaning.
Archetype
A universal symbol that relates to the real world.
Function of Archetype
Gives the writing a universal acceptance.
Tragic Flaw
A trait in a character that leads to their downfall.
Assertion
When someone makes a statement using a strong belief in something.
Autobiography
Tells a life story of the author, written by the main person
Memoir
A record of memories and important events that have taken place in the authors life.
Cumulative Sentence
Known as a loose sentence that starts with an independent clause ,which is simple and strait forward. Provides main idea and then adds subordinate elements or modifying elements after the subject and predicate.
Blank Verse
An un-rhyming verse written in iambic pentameter. Has a constant meter with 10 syllables in each line
Bildungsroman
A story of the growing up of a sensitive person who looks for answers to his questions through different experiences. The novel usually starts with a tragedy that disturbs the main character emotionally. the mc goes on an adventure to fill the vacuum.
Bildungsroman 2
During the journey the protagonist gains maturity gradually and with difficulty. Usually the plot depicts a conflict between the protagonist and the values of society. Finally, they accept those values and they are accepted by the society, ending with dissatisfaction.
