Nonfiction Literature - (15% of Exam) Flashcards
1
Q
Key Figure
A
Details
2
Q
Plato
A
Time Period: Ancient Greek Philosophy
Contribution: Wrote The Republic, exploring justice, the ideal state, and philosophy.
3
Q
Aristotle
A
Time Period: Ancient Greek Philosophy
Contribution: Wrote Nicomachean Ethics, laying the foundation for Western ethics and logic.
4
Q
Marcus Aurelius
A
Time Period: Ancient Roman Philosophy
Contribution: Wrote Meditations, a Stoic guide to self-discipline and virtue.
5
Q
Saint Augustine
A
Time Period: Late Antiquity
Contribution: Wrote Confessions, an autobiographical work blending theology and philosophy.
6
Q
Niccolò Machiavelli
A
Time Period: Renaissance Political Thought
Contribution: Wrote The Prince, a pragmatic guide to power and statecraft.
7
Q
Michel de Montaigne
A
Time Period: Renaissance Essayist
Contribution: Wrote Essays, pioneering the modern personal essay form.
8
Q
Francis Bacon
A
Time Period: 17th Century Philosophy
Contribution: Wrote Novum Organum, advocating for the scientific method.
9
Q
René Descartes
A
Time Period: 17th Century Philosophy
Contribution: Wrote Discourse on Method, introducing Cartesian skepticism and rationalism.
10
Q
John Locke
A
Time Period: Enlightenment Philosophy
Contribution: Wrote Two Treatises of Government, foundational to modern democracy and liberalism.
11
Q
Voltaire
A
Time Period: Enlightenment Philosophy
Contribution: Wrote Candide, satirizing optimism and advocating for reason and tolerance.
12
Q
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
A
Time Period: Enlightenment Philosophy
Contribution: Wrote The Social Contract, theorizing the origins of political legitimacy.
13
Q
Adam Smith
A
Time Period: Enlightenment Economics
Contribution: Wrote The Wealth of Nations, pioneering modern economic thought.
14
Q
Mary Wollstonecraft
A
Time Period: 18th Century Feminism
Contribution: Wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, advocating for women’s education and equality.
15
Q
Immanuel Kant
A
Time Period: 18th Century Philosophy
Contribution: Wrote Critique of Pure Reason, shaping modern epistemology and ethics.
16
Q
G.W.F. Hegel
A
Time Period: 19th Century Philosophy
Contribution: Wrote Phenomenology of Spirit, developing dialectical idealism.
17
Q
Karl Marx
A
Time Period: 19th Century Political Thought
Contribution: Wrote The Communist Manifesto, critiquing capitalism and advocating for socialism.
18
Q
Henry David Thoreau
A
Time Period: 19th Century American Thought
Contribution: Wrote Walden, reflecting on simplicity and self-reliance.
19
Q
Frederick Douglass
A
Time Period: 19th Century Abolitionism
Contribution: Wrote Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, exposing the horrors of slavery.
20
Q
Friedrich Nietzsche
A
Time Period: 19th Century Philosophy
Contribution: Wrote Thus Spoke Zarathustra, developing existential and nihilistic ideas.
21
Q
Sigmund Freud
A
Time Period: 20th Century Psychology
Contribution: Wrote The Interpretation of Dreams, pioneering psychoanalysis.
22
Q
Virginia Woolf
A
Time Period: 20th Century Feminism
Contribution: Wrote A Room of One’s Own, exploring gender and creative independence.
23
Q
Mahatma Gandhi
A
Time Period: 20th Century Political Thought
Contribution: Wrote The Story of My Experiments with Truth, advocating for nonviolent resistance.
24
Q
W.E.B. Du Bois
A
Time Period: 20th Century Civil Rights
Contribution: Wrote The Souls of Black Folk, discussing race and identity in America.
25
Albert Einstein
Time Period: 20th Century Science
Contribution: Wrote *Relativity: The Special and the General Theory*, explaining physics for a broad audience.
26
George Orwell
Time Period: 20th Century Political Thought
Contribution: Wrote *Homage to Catalonia*, detailing his experiences in the Spanish Civil War.
27
Hannah Arendt
Time Period: 20th Century Political Thought
Contribution: Wrote *The Origins of Totalitarianism*, analyzing the rise of authoritarianism.
28
James Baldwin
Time Period: 20th Century Civil Rights
Contribution: Wrote *The Fire Next Time*, addressing race relations in America.
29
Rachel Carson
Time Period: 20th Century Environmentalism
Contribution: Wrote *Silent Spring*, exposing the dangers of pesticides and launching the modern environmental movement.
30
Marshall McLuhan
Time Period: 20th Century Media Theory
Contribution: Wrote *Understanding Media*, coining 'the medium is the message'.
31
Michel Foucault
Time Period: 20th Century Philosophy
Contribution: Wrote *Discipline and Punish*, exploring power structures in society.
32
Carl Sagan
Time Period: 20th Century Science
Contribution: Wrote *Cosmos*, popularizing astronomy and scientific wonder.
33
Noam Chomsky
Time Period: 20th Century Linguistics & Politics
Contribution: Wrote *Manufacturing Consent*, critiquing mass media and propaganda.
34
Edward Said
Time Period: 20th Century Postcolonialism
Contribution: Wrote *Orientalism*, critiquing Western perceptions of the East.
35
Stephen Hawking
Time Period: 21st Century Science
Contribution: Wrote *A Brief History of Time*, explaining the universe in layman’s terms.
36
Malcolm X
Time Period: 20th Century Civil Rights
Contribution: Wrote *The Autobiography of Malcolm X*, detailing his transformation and activism.
37
Ta-Nehisi Coates
Time Period: 21st Century Civil Rights
Contribution: Wrote *Between the World and Me*, reflecting on race and identity in America.
38
Yuval Noah Harari
Time Period: 21st Century History
Contribution: Wrote *Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind*, analyzing human civilization.
39
Angela Davis
Time Period: 21st Century Feminism & Race
Contribution: Wrote *Women, Race & Class*, examining the intersections of race and gender.
40
Jared Diamond
Time Period: 21st Century History
Contribution: Wrote *Guns, Germs, and Steel*, exploring factors shaping civilizations.
41
Rebecca Solnit
Time Period: 21st Century Feminism
Contribution: Wrote *Men Explain Things to Me*, addressing gender dynamics and social issues.
42
Brené Brown
Time Period: 21st Century Psychology
Contribution: Wrote *Daring Greatly*, exploring vulnerability and personal growth.
43
Michelle Obama
Time Period: 21st Century Memoir
Contribution: Wrote *Becoming*, reflecting on her life and role as First Lady.
44
Title
Details
45
*The Republic*
Author: Plato
Title: *The Republic*
Time Period: Ancient Greek Philosophy
Synopsis: A philosophical dialogue exploring justice, the ideal state, and the theory of forms.
46
*Nicomachean Ethics*
Author: Aristotle
Title: *Nicomachean Ethics*
Time Period: Ancient Greek Philosophy
Synopsis: A foundational work in ethics, discussing virtue, happiness, and the good life.
47
*Meditations*
Author: Marcus Aurelius
Title: *Meditations*
Time Period: Ancient Roman Philosophy
Synopsis: A personal journal of Stoic reflections on self-discipline, virtue, and resilience.
48
*Confessions*
Author: Saint Augustine
Title: *Confessions*
Time Period: Late Antiquity
Synopsis: An autobiographical work blending theology and philosophy, detailing Augustine's conversion.
49
*The Prince*
Author: Niccolò Machiavelli
Title: *The Prince*
Time Period: Renaissance Political Thought
Synopsis: A pragmatic guide on power, governance, and statecraft.
50
*Essays*
Author: Michel de Montaigne
Title: *Essays*
Time Period: Renaissance Essayist
Synopsis: A collection of personal reflections, pioneering the modern essay form.
51
*Novum Organum*
Author: Francis Bacon
Title: *Novum Organum*
Time Period: 17th Century Philosophy
Synopsis: Advocates for the scientific method as the foundation of knowledge.
52
*Discourse on Method*
Author: René Descartes
Title: *Discourse on Method*
Time Period: 17th Century Philosophy
Synopsis: Introduces Cartesian skepticism and the famous statement 'I think, therefore I am'.
53
*Two Treatises of Government*
Author: John Locke
Title: *Two Treatises of Government*
Time Period: Enlightenment Philosophy
Synopsis: A foundational text of liberal democracy, arguing for natural rights and social contract theory.
54
*Candide*
Author: Voltaire
Title: *Candide*
Time Period: Enlightenment Philosophy
Synopsis: A satirical novel critiquing optimism and religious hypocrisy.
55
*The Social Contract*
Author: Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Title: *The Social Contract*
Time Period: Enlightenment Philosophy
Synopsis: Explores the origins of political legitimacy and the idea of the 'general will'.
56
*The Wealth of Nations*
Author: Adam Smith
Title: *The Wealth of Nations*
Time Period: Enlightenment Economics
Synopsis: A foundational work in economic theory, advocating for free markets.
57
*A Vindication of the Rights of Woman*
Author: Mary Wollstonecraft
Title: *A Vindication of the Rights of Woman*
Time Period: 18th Century Feminism
Synopsis: One of the first major works advocating for women's education and equality.
58
*Critique of Pure Reason*
Author: Immanuel Kant
Title: *Critique of Pure Reason*
Time Period: 18th Century Philosophy
Synopsis: Examines human perception, knowledge, and the limits of reason.
59
*The Communist Manifesto*
Author: Karl Marx
Title: *The Communist Manifesto*
Time Period: 19th Century Political Thought
Synopsis: A call to revolution against capitalism, advocating for proletarian control of society.
60
*Walden*
Author: Henry David Thoreau
Title: *Walden*
Time Period: 19th Century American Thought
Synopsis: A reflection on simple living and self-sufficiency in nature.
61
*Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass*
Author: Frederick Douglass
Title: *Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass*
Time Period: 19th Century Abolitionism
Synopsis: An autobiography exposing the horrors of slavery and advocating for abolition.
62
*Thus Spoke Zarathustra*
Author: Friedrich Nietzsche
Title: *Thus Spoke Zarathustra*
Time Period: 19th Century Philosophy
Synopsis: A philosophical novel presenting the concept of the 'Übermensch' and rejecting traditional morality.
63
*The Interpretation of Dreams*
Author: Sigmund Freud
Title: *The Interpretation of Dreams*
Time Period: 20th Century Psychology
Synopsis: Introduces the theory of the unconscious and the significance of dreams.
64
*A Room of One’s Own*
Author: Virginia Woolf
Title: *A Room of One’s Own*
Time Period: 20th Century Feminism
Synopsis: Argues for the importance of financial independence and personal space for women writers.
65
*The Story of My Experiments with Truth*
Author: Mahatma Gandhi
Title: *The Story of My Experiments with Truth*
Time Period: 20th Century Political Thought
Synopsis: An autobiography detailing his philosophy of nonviolent resistance.
66
*The Souls of Black Folk*
Author: W.E.B. Du Bois
Title: *The Souls of Black Folk*
Time Period: 20th Century Civil Rights
Synopsis: Examines race, identity, and double consciousness in America.
67
*Relativity: The Special and the General Theory*
Author: Albert Einstein
Title: *Relativity: The Special and the General Theory*
Time Period: 20th Century Science
Synopsis: A non-technical explanation of Einstein’s revolutionary physics theories.
68
*The Origins of Totalitarianism*
Author: Hannah Arendt
Title: *The Origins of Totalitarianism*
Time Period: 20th Century Political Thought
Synopsis: Analyzes the rise of fascism and authoritarian regimes in the 20th century.
69
*The Fire Next Time*
Author: James Baldwin
Title: *The Fire Next Time*
Time Period: 20th Century Civil Rights
Synopsis: A powerful critique of race relations in America.
70
*Silent Spring*
Author: Rachel Carson
Title: *Silent Spring*
Time Period: 20th Century Environmentalism
Synopsis: Exposes the dangers of pesticide use, sparking the modern environmental movement.
71
*Discipline and Punish*
Author: Michel Foucault
Title: *Discipline and Punish*
Time Period: 20th Century Philosophy
Synopsis: Analyzes the history of prison systems and power structures in society.
72
*Cosmos*
Author: Carl Sagan
Title: *Cosmos*
Time Period: 20th Century Science
Synopsis: Explores the universe and humanity’s place in it, making science accessible to the public.
73
*Manufacturing Consent*
Author: Noam Chomsky
Title: *Manufacturing Consent*
Time Period: 20th Century Media Theory
Synopsis: Critiques mass media's role in shaping public perception and reinforcing power.
74
*Orientalism*
Author: Edward Said
Title: *Orientalism*
Time Period: 20th Century Postcolonialism
Synopsis: Examines how the West has historically misrepresented the East.
75
*A Brief History of Time*
Author: Stephen Hawking
Title: *A Brief History of Time*
Time Period: 21st Century Science
Synopsis: Explains the mysteries of space, time, and black holes in an accessible way.
76
*The Autobiography of Malcolm X*
Author: Malcolm X
Title: *The Autobiography of Malcolm X*
Time Period: 20th Century Civil Rights
Synopsis: Chronicles his transformation from street hustler to influential activist.
77
*Women, Race & Class*
Author: Angela Davis
Title: *Women, Race & Class*
Time Period: 21st Century Feminism & Race
Synopsis: Examines the intersections of feminism, race, and economic oppression.
78
*Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind*
Author: Yuval Noah Harari
Title: *Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind*
Time Period: 21st Century History
Synopsis: Traces the evolution of human civilization and its impact on the world.
79
Movement
Details (Definition, Key Works, Figures)
80
Ancient Greek Philosophy
Definition: Explored ethics, metaphysics, and political theory through dialogue and logical reasoning.
Key Works: *The Republic* (Plato), *Nicomachean Ethics* (Aristotle)
Key Figures: Plato, Aristotle
81
Ancient Roman Stoicism
Definition: A philosophy emphasizing virtue, rationality, and self-discipline in facing adversity.
Key Works: *Meditations* (Marcus Aurelius)
Key Figures: Marcus Aurelius, Seneca
82
Christian Theology
Definition: A body of religious writings exploring faith, morality, and the divine.
Key Works: *Confessions* (Saint Augustine)
Key Figures: Saint Augustine, Thomas Aquinas
83
Renaissance Humanism
Definition: A revival of classical learning and individual potential, influencing political and literary thought.
Key Works: *The Prince* (Machiavelli), *Essays* (Montaigne)
Key Figures: Niccolò Machiavelli, Michel de Montaigne
84
The Scientific Revolution
Definition: Advocated empirical observation and experimentation as the basis of knowledge.
Key Works: *Novum Organum* (Bacon), *Discourse on Method* (Descartes)
Key Figures: Francis Bacon, René Descartes
85
The Enlightenment
Definition: A movement advocating reason, individual rights, and skepticism toward authority.
Key Works: *Two Treatises of Government* (Locke), *The Social Contract* (Rousseau)
Key Figures: John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Voltaire
86
Economic Liberalism
Definition: Advocated free markets and limited government intervention in economic affairs.
Key Works: *The Wealth of Nations* (Adam Smith)
Key Figures: Adam Smith
87
Feminist Thought
Definition: Literature advocating for women's rights, education, and social equality.
Key Works: *A Vindication of the Rights of Woman* (Wollstonecraft), *A Room of One’s Own* (Woolf)
Key Figures: Mary Wollstonecraft, Virginia Woolf, Angela Davis
88
Marxism
Definition: A critique of capitalism and class struggle, advocating for proletarian revolution.
Key Works: *The Communist Manifesto* (Marx & Engels)
Key Figures: Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels
89
American Transcendentalism
Definition: Emphasized nature, self-reliance, and spiritual individualism.
Key Works: *Walden* (Thoreau)
Key Figures: Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson
90
Abolitionist Literature
Definition: Writings exposing the cruelty of slavery and advocating for its end.
Key Works: *Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass* (Douglass)
Key Figures: Frederick Douglass, Harriet Beecher Stowe
91
Existentialism
Definition: A philosophical movement emphasizing individual freedom, choice, and meaning in an indifferent world.
Key Works: *Thus Spoke Zarathustra* (Nietzsche)
Key Figures: Friedrich Nietzsche, Jean-Paul Sartre
92
Psychoanalysis
Definition: The study of the unconscious mind and its influence on human behavior.
Key Works: *The Interpretation of Dreams* (Freud)
Key Figures: Sigmund Freud
93
Civil Rights Literature
Definition: Non-fiction works advocating for racial justice and social equality.
Key Works: *The Souls of Black Folk* (Du Bois), *The Fire Next Time* (Baldwin)
Key Figures: W.E.B. Du Bois, James Baldwin, Martin Luther King Jr.
94
Environmentalism
Definition: Writings advocating for ecological awareness and sustainability.
Key Works: *Silent Spring* (Carson)
Key Figures: Rachel Carson, Aldo Leopold
95
Postcolonial Theory
Definition: Literature examining the impact of colonialism and the struggle for national identity.
Key Works: *Orientalism* (Said)
Key Figures: Edward Said, Frantz Fanon
96
Media Theory
Definition: Analyzes the role of mass media in shaping public perception and politics.
Key Works: *Understanding Media* (McLuhan), *Manufacturing Consent* (Chomsky)
Key Figures: Marshall McLuhan, Noam Chomsky
97
Modern Science Writing
Definition: Books making complex scientific concepts accessible to the general public.
Key Works: *A Brief History of Time* (Hawking), *Cosmos* (Sagan)
Key Figures: Stephen Hawking, Carl Sagan
98
Contemporary Memoir & Social Critique
Definition: First-person narratives reflecting on personal experience, identity, and societal issues.
Key Works: *The Autobiography of Malcolm X* (Malcolm X), *Sapiens* (Harari)
Key Figures: Malcolm X, Yuval Noah Harari, Michelle Obama
99
Term
Definition
100
Autobiography
Definition: A self-written account of a person’s life.
101
Memoir
Definition: A type of autobiography that focuses on specific experiences or periods in an author's life.
102
Biography
Definition: A detailed account of a person's life written by someone else.
103
Essay
Definition: A short piece of writing that presents an argument, analysis, or reflection on a topic.
104
Narrative Nonfiction
Definition: A genre that uses storytelling techniques to present factual content.
105
Expository Writing
Definition: A form of writing that explains, describes, or informs.
106
Persuasive Writing
Definition: A type of nonfiction that aims to convince the audience of a particular point of view.
107
Argumentative Writing
Definition: Writing that presents a claim supported by evidence and reasoning.
108
Rhetoric
Definition: The art of persuasive speaking or writing, often employing ethos, pathos, and logos.
109
Ethos
Definition: A rhetorical appeal based on the credibility or ethical character of the speaker or writer.
110
Pathos
Definition: A rhetorical appeal that evokes emotions in the audience.
111
Logos
Definition: A rhetorical appeal based on logic, reason, and factual evidence.
112
Thesis Statement
Definition: The main argument or central claim of a piece of nonfiction writing.
113
Diction
Definition: The choice and use of words in writing or speech.
114
Syntax
Definition: The arrangement of words and phrases in a sentence to create meaning and effect.
115
Tone
Definition: The author’s attitude toward the subject, conveyed through style and word choice.
116
Bias
Definition: A preference or inclination that prevents objective judgment.
117
Objective Writing
Definition: A writing style based on facts, without personal opinions or emotions.
118
Subjective Writing
Definition: A writing style that includes personal opinions, emotions, and interpretations.
119
Primary Source
Definition: A direct, firsthand account of an event, such as diaries, interviews, and historical documents.
120
Secondary Source
Definition: A work that analyzes, interprets, or summarizes primary sources.
121
Plagiarism
Definition: The act of using someone else’s work or ideas without proper attribution.
122
Citation
Definition: A reference to the source of information used in a nonfiction work.
123
Footnote
Definition: A note placed at the bottom of a page that provides additional information or citations.
124
Endnote
Definition: A note at the end of a document providing citations or explanations.
125
Bibliography
Definition: A list of sources cited or referenced in a nonfiction work.
126
Abstract
Definition: A summary of a longer work, often found at the beginning of research papers.
127
Preface
Definition: An introductory section in a book, often written by the author, explaining the work’s purpose or background.
128
Foreword
Definition: An introductory section written by someone other than the author, providing context or endorsement.
129
Appendix
Definition: Supplementary material at the end of a book, such as charts, documents, or notes.
130
Anecdote
Definition: A short, personal story used to illustrate a point in nonfiction writing.
131
Jargon
Definition: Specialized language used within a particular field or profession.
132
Colloquialism
Definition: Informal, conversational language used in everyday speech.
133
Euphemism
Definition: A mild or indirect word used in place of a harsher or more direct term.
134
Paradox
Definition: A seemingly contradictory statement that may reveal a deeper truth.
135
Allegory
Definition: A symbolic story that conveys a deeper meaning, often moral or political.
136
Metaphor
Definition: A figure of speech that compares two unrelated things without using 'like' or 'as'.
137
Simile
Definition: A figure of speech comparing two things using 'like' or 'as'.
138
Hyperbole
Definition: Deliberate exaggeration used for emphasis or effect.
139
Understatement
Definition: A rhetorical device that minimizes the significance of something for effect.
140
Red Herring
Definition: A distraction or misleading detail meant to divert attention from the main issue.
141
Straw Man Argument
Definition: A logical fallacy that misrepresents an opponent’s position to make it easier to attack.
142
Slippery Slope
Definition: A logical fallacy suggesting that one action will inevitably lead to extreme consequences.
143
Circular Reasoning
Definition: A logical fallacy where the conclusion is assumed in the premise.
144
Hasty Generalization
Definition: A logical fallacy that draws broad conclusions based on insufficient evidence.
145
Analogy
Definition: A comparison used to explain or clarify a concept by showing similarities to something more familiar.
146
Deductive Reasoning
Definition: A logical process in which a general statement leads to a specific conclusion.
147
Inductive Reasoning
Definition: A logical process in which specific observations lead to a general conclusion.
