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AP english > Henrietta Lacks Vocab > Flashcards

Henrietta Lacks Vocab Flashcards

1
Q

Absolute

A

a word free from limitations or qualifications (“best,” “all”, “unique,” “perfect”).

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2
Q

Ad hominem argument

A

a reference to something literary, mythological, or historical that the author assumes the reader will
recognize.

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3
Q

Analogy

A

a comparison of two different things that are similar in some way.

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4
Q

Anaphora

A

repetition of the same word or group of words at the beginning of successive clauses

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5
Q

Anecdote

A

a brief narrative that focuses on a particular incident or event

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6
Q

Antecedent

A

word, phrase, or clause to which a pronoun refers

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7
Q

Antithesis

A

a statement in which two opposing ideas are balanced

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8
Q

Aphorism

A

a concise, statement that expresses succinctly a general truth or idea, often using rhyme or balance

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9
Q

Allusion

A

a reference to something literary, mythological, or historical that the author assumes the reader will
recognize.

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10
Q

Asyndeton

A

a construction in which elements are presented in a series without conjunctions (“They spent the
day wondering, searching, thinking, understanding.”)

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11
Q

Balanced sentence

A

a sentence in which words, phrases, or clauses are set off against each other to
emphasize a contrast (George Orwell: “If thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought.”)

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12
Q

Chiasmus

A

a statement consisting of two parallel parts in which the second part is structurally reversed
(“Susan walked in, and out rushed Mary.”)

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13
Q

Cliché

A

an expression that has been overused to the extent that its freshness has worn off (“the time of my
life”, “at the droop of a hat”, etc.)

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14
Q

climax

A

Generally, the arrangement of words, phrases, or clauses in an order of increasing importance, often
in parallel structure

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15
Q

Colloquialism

A

informal words or expressions not usually acceptable in formal writing

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16
Q

Complex sentence

A

a sentence with one independent clause and at least one dependent clause

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17
Q

Compound sentence

A

a sentence with two or more coordinate independent clauses, often joined by one or
more conjunctions

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18
Q

Compound-complex sentence

A

a sentence with two or more principal clauses and one or more subordinate
clauses

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19
Q

Concrete details

A

details that relate to or describe actual, specific things or events

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20
Q

Connotation

A

the implied or associative meaning of a word (slender vs. skinny; cheap vs. thrifty)

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21
Q

Declarative sentence

A

a sentence that makes a statement or declaration

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21
Q

Cumulative sentence (loose sentence)

A

a sentence in which the main independent clause is elaborated by the successive addition of modifying clauses or phrases

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22
Q

Deductive reasoning

A

reasoning in which a conclusion is reached by stating a general principle and then applying that principle to a specific case

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23
Q

Denotation

A

the literal meaning of a word

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24
Q

Dialect

A

a variety of speech characterized by its own particular grammar or pronunciation, often associated
with a particular geographical region (“Y’all” = Southern dialect)

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25
Q

Diction

A

the word choices made by a writer (diction can be described as formal, semi-formal, ornate,
informal, technical, etc.)

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26
Q

Didactic

A

having the primary purpose of teaching or instructing

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27
Q

Ellipsis

A

the omission of a word or phrase which is grammatically necessary but can be deduced from the
context (“Some people prefer cats; others, dogs.”)

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28
Q

Epigram

A

a brief, pithy, and often paradoxical saying

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29
Q

Ethos

A

the persuasive appeal of one’s character, or credibility

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30
Q

Euphemism

A

an indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant

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31
Q

Exclamatory sentence

A

a sentence expressing strong feeling, usually punctuated with an exclamation mark

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32
Q

Figurative language

A

language employing one or more figures of speech (simile, metaphor, imagery, etc.)

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33
Q

Hyperbole

A

intentional exaggeration to create an effect

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34
Q

Idiom

A

an expression in a given language that cannot be understood from the literal meaning of the words in
the expression; or, a regional speech or dialect (“fly on the wall”, “cut to the chase”, etc.)

35
Q

Imagery

A

the use of figures of speech to create vivid images that appeal to one
of the senses

36
Q

Implication

A

a suggestion an author or speaker makes (implies) without stating it directly. NOTE: the
author/speaker implies; the reader/audience infers.

36
Q

Imperative sentence

A

a sentence that gives a command

37
Q

Inductive reasoning

A

deriving general principles from particular facts or instances (“Every cat I have ever
seen has four legs; cats are four-legged animals.)

38
Q

Inference

A

a conclusion based on premises or evidence

39
Q

Interrogative sentence

A

a sentence that asks a question

40
Q

Invective

A

an intensely vehement, highly emotional verbal attack

41
Q

Inverted syntax

A

a sentence constructed so that the predicate comes before the subject (ex: In the woods I
am walking.)

42
Q

Irony

A

the use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning; or, incongruity between what is
expected and what actually occurs (situational, verbal, dramatic)

43
Q

Jargon

A

the specialized language or vocabulary of a particular group or profession

44
Q

Juxtaposition

A

placing two elements side by side to present a comparison or contrast

45
Q

Litotes

A

a type of understatement in which an idea is expressed by negating its opposite (describing a
particularly horrific scene by saying, “It was not a pretty picture.”)

46
Q

Logos

A

appeal to reason or logic

47
Q

Malapropism

A

the mistaken substitution of one word for another word that sounds similar (“The doctor
wrote a subscription.”)

48
Q

Maxim

A

a concise statement, often offering advice; an adage

48
Q

Metaphor

A

a direct comparison of two different things

49
Q

Metonymy

A

substituting the name of one object for another object closely associated with it (“The pen
[writing] is mightier than the sword [war/fighting].)

50
Q

Mood

A

the emotional atmosphere of a work

51
Q

Motif

A

a standard theme, element, or dramatic situation that recurs in various works

52
Q

Non sequitur

A

an inference that does not follow logically from the premises (literally, “does not follow”)

53
Q

Paradox

A

an apparently contradictory statement that actually contains some truth (“Whoever loses his life,
shall find it.”)

54
Q

Parallelism

A

the use of corresponding grammatical or syntactical forms

55
Q

Parody

A

a humorous imitation of a serious work (Weird Al Yankovich’s songs, and the Scary Movie series
are examples)

56
Q

Pathos

A

the quality in a work that prompts the reader to feel pity

57
Q

Parenthetical

A

a comment that interrupts the immediate subject, often to quality or explain

58
Q

Pedantic

A

characterized by an excessive display of learning or scholarship

59
Q

Personification

A

endowing non-human objects or creatures with human qualities or characteristics

60
Q

Philippic

A

a strong verbal denunciation. The term comes from the orations of Demosthenes against Philip of
Macedonia in the fourth century.

61
Q

Polysyndeton

A

the use, for rhetorical effect, of more conjunctions than is necessary or natural (John Henry
Newman: “And to set forth the right standard, and to train according to it, and to help forward all students towards
it according to their various capacities, this I conceive to be the business of a University.”)

62
Q

Rhetoric

A

the art of presenting ideas in a clear, effective, and persuasive manner

63
Q

Rhetorical question

A

a question asked merely for rhetorical effect and not requiring an answer

64
Q

Sarcasm

A

harsh, cutting language or tone intended to ridicule

65
Q

Rhetorical devices

A

literary techniques used to heighten the effectiveness of expression

66
Q

Satire

A

the use of humor to emphasize human weaknesses or imperfections in social institutions (Jonathan
Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels, The Simpsons, etc.)

66
Q

Scheme

A

an artful deviation from the ordinary arrangement of words (anaphora, anastrophe, antithesis are
some examples of schemes)

67
Q

Simile

A

a comparison of two things using “like,” “as,” or other specifically comparative words

68
Q

Solecism

A

non standard grammatical usage; a violation of grammatical rules (ex: unflammable; they was)

68
Q

Simple sentence

A

a sentence consisting of one independent clause and no dependent clause

69
Q

Structure

A

the arrangement or framework of a sentence, paragraph, or entire work

70
Q

Style

A

the choices a writer makes; the combination of distinctive features of a literary work (when analyzing
style, one may consider diction, figurative language, sentence structure, etc.)

71
Q

Syllepsis

A

a construction in which one word is used in two different senses (“After he threw the ball, he
threw a fit.”)

72
Q

Synecdoche

A

using one part of an object to represent the entire object (for example, referring to a car simply as “wheels”)

73
Q

Syllogism

A

a three-part deductive argument in which a conclusion is based on a major premise and a minor
premise (“All men are mortal; Socrates is a man; therefore, Socrates is mortal.”)

74
Q

Synesthesia

A

describing one kind of sensation in terms of another (“a loud color,” “a sweet sound”)

75
Q

Syntax

A

the manner in which words are arranged into sentences

76
Q

Thesis

A

the primary position taken by a writer or speaker

77
Q

Theme

A

a central idea of a work

78
Q

Tone

A

the attitude of a writer, usually implied, toward the subject or audience

79
Q

Trope

A

an artful deviation from the ordinary or principal signification of a word (hyperbole, metaphor, and
personification are some examples of tropes)

80
Q

Understatement

A

the deliberate representation of something as lesser in magnitude than it

81
Q

Vernacular

A

the everyday speech of a particular country or region, often involving nonstandard usage

AP english (1 decks)

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