AP Vocabulary 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
Allegory
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 static
Annotation
Explanatory notes added to a text to explain, cite sources, or give bibliographic data
Antithesis
The presentation of two contrasting images. The ideas are balanced by word, phrase, clause, or paragraphs; ex: “to be or not to be”
Rhetoric
The art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, especially the use of figures of speech and other compositional techniques
Colloquialism
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)
Connotation
Words suggesting implied meaning because of its association in a reader’s mind
Consonance
Repetition of consonant sounds within two or more words in close proximity; ex: boot, beat, best, brag, or full-fill, 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 of organizing principle
Aphorism
A short, often witty, statement of a principle or truth about life; ex: “the early bird gets the worm” or “all for one and one for all”
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
Hard, awkward, or dissonant sounds used deliberately in poetry or prose; the opposite of euphony
Denotation
Self-explanatory
Enumeration
A rhetorical device used for listing the details or a process of mentioning words or phrases step-by-step. It is a type of amplification or division in which a subject is further distributed into components or parts
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 the idea or thing by comparing it to something familiar
Parallelism
The use of components in a sentence that is grammatically the same or similar in their construction, sound, meaning, or meter
Allusion
A brief and 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 writer expects the reader to possess enough knowledge to spot the allusion and grasp its importance in a text
Metonymy
A figure of speech that replaces the name of a thing with the name of something else with which it is closely associated. Not to be confused with metaphor, as this is not creating a comparison
Anaphora
In writing or speech, the deliberate repetition of the first part of the sentence in order to achieve an artistic effect
Epistrophe
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 clauses or sentences. Often found in literary pieces, in persuasive writing, or in speeches
Asyndeton
A stylistic device used in literature and poetry to intentionally eliminate conjunctions between the phrases in a sentence, yet maintain the grammatical accuracy. This literary tool helps in reducing the indirect meaning of a phrase and presents it in a concise form. It also helps in speeding up the rhythm of words
Polysyndeton
It makes use of coordinating conjunctions like “and,” “or,” “but,” or “nor,” 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
A literary device in which a part of something represents the whole or it may use a whole to represent a part
Tone
Tone, in a written composition, is an attitude of a writer toward a subject or an audience. It is important for the reader to “sense” to determine an argument. The tone 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 phases of a process used to convey the details of each phase of thinking. It is often used to improve understanding and to break down an argument to make it more comprehensive
Syntax
The set of rules in a language, it dictates how words from different parts of speech are put together in order to convey a complete thought, how we choose to arrange our 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 a structure to your argument
Understatement
For example, if you win $10 million 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 50-0 in a soccer match and the captain of the team 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
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 acknowledges the other side to his or her argument. It is part of the reputation of someone else’s claim to support your own side of the argument you are making
Claim
If someone gives an argument to support his or her position, it is called making a claim. Different reasons are usually presented to prove why a certain point should be accepted as logical
Evidence
A 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
Warrant
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 a similar form that is more of a statement of support of why your evidence supports your assertion/claim
Fallacy
A fallacy is an erroneous argument dependent upon an unsound or illogical contention. There are many fallacy 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
Many believe that a prediction and a prophecy are the same, but they are mistaken. It is true that both “forecast” the future, but there is a significant difference. A prophecy has all the elements of a prediction except the element of time. Without the element of time, a prophecy is hard to determine. Prophecy has more of a religious connotation since there is an element of uncertainty about time.
Prediction
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. A prediction is limited to a time element, unlike a prophecy
Adage
A short, pointed, and memorable saying based on facts and is considered a veritable truth by the majority of people. Famous adages became popular due to their usage over a long period of time. In fact, an adage expresses a general fact or truth about life. As it becomes popular, it is then accepted as a universal truth; ex: “a penny saved is a penny earned,” or “well done is better than well said”
Pedantic
A pedantic 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; synonym: smart-aleck; antonym: sincere
Evocative
The use of language that suggests meanings other than the denotative. The language that connects with emotions or feelings not associated with the 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
Apposition
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
Didactic
Frequently used for literary texts which are overloaded with informative or realistic matter and are marked by the omission of graceful and pleasing details
Conceit
A figure of speech in which two vastly different objects are likened together with the help of similes or metaphors. Conceit can have a surprising or shocking effect on readers because they are novel comparisons unlike the conventional ones made in metaphors and similes
Periodic Sentence
A periodic sentence has the main clause or predicate at the end. This is used for emphasis and can be persuasive by putting reasons for something at the beginning before the final point is made. It can also create suspense or interest for the reader
Paradox
A statement that appears to be self-contradictory or silly but may include a latent truth. It is also used to illustrate an opinion or statement contrary to accepted or traditional ideas. A paradox is often used to make a reader think over an idea in an innovative way
Irony
Irony is a 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. In simple words, it is a difference between appearance and reality.
Parenthesis
A stylistic device that comes from the Greek word meaning “to place” or “alongside.” Parenthesis is 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 manner
Satire
Satire is a technique employed by writers to expose and criticize foolishness and corruption of an individual or a society by using humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule. It intends to improve humanity by criticizing its follies and foibles
Polemical
Relating to or involving strongly critical, conversational, or disputatious writing or speech. A polemical essay could be critical, hostile, or bitter
Ambiguity
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
Archetype
An archetype, also known as a universal symbol, may be a character, a theme, a symbol, or even a setting. Many literary critics are of the opinion that archetypes, which have a common and recurring representation, in a particular human culture or entire human race, shape the structure and function of a literary work
Function of Archetype
The use of archetypical characters and situations gives a literary work a universal acceptance, as readers identify the characters and situations in their social and cultural context
Tragic Flaw
A literary device that can be defined as a trait in a character leading to his downfall and the character is often the hero of the literary piece. This trait could be the lack of self-knowledge, lack of judgment, and often is hubris (pride)
Assertion
When someone makes a statement investing his strong belief in it, as if it is true though may not be, he is making an assertion. Assertion is a stylistic approach or technique involving a strong declaration, a forceful or confident and positive statement regarding a belief or a fact
Autobiography
Autobiography is one type of biography, which tells a life story of its author, meaning it is a written record of the author’s life. Rather than being written by somebody else, an autobiography comes through the person’s own pen, in his own words
Memoir
A memoir is a record of memories and particular events that have taken place in the author’s life. In fact, it is the telling of a story or an event from his life; an account that does not tell the full record of a life
Cumulative Sentence
A cumulative sentence is known as a loose sentence that starts with an independent clause or main clause, which is simple and straight, provides the main idea and then adds subordinate elements or modifiers. It adds subordinate or modifying elements after the subject and the predicate
