AP Terms

ad hominem

A faulty argument based on the failings of an adversary rather than on the merits of the case; a logical fallacy that involves a personal attack

ab ovo

The truest beginning of events of a chronological nature when compared to in medias res

allegory

The device of using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning.

alliteration

The repetition of consonant sounds, especially initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words

allusion

A direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly known, such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art.

ambiguity

The multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage

amplification

Involves repeating a word or expression while adding more detail to it, in order to emphasize what might otherwise be passed over

analogy

A similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them.

anadiplosis

The rhetorical repetition of one or several words; specifically, repetition of a word that ends one clause at the beginning of the next.

anaphora

The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses or lines

antecedent

The word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun

antistrophe

Repetition of the same word or phrase at the end of successive clauses

antithesis

Opposition, or contrast of ideas or words in a balanced or parallel construction

aphorism

A terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or a moral principle

aporia

Expression of doubt (often feigned) by which a speaker appears uncertain as to what he should think, say, or do.

aposiopesis

A form of ellipse by which a speaker comes to an abrupt halt, seemingly overcome by passions or modesty

apostrophe

A figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love.

archaism

Use of an older or obsolete form

assonance

Repetition of the same vowel sound in words close to each other

asyndeton

Lack of conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses, or words

atmosphere

The emotional nod created by the entirety of a literary work, established partly by the setting and partly by the author's choice of objects that are described

bandwagon

A logical fallacy based on the assumption that the opinion of the majority is always valid: everyone believes it, so you should too

caricature

A verbal description, the purpose of which is to exaggerate or distort, for comic effect, a person's distinctive physical features or other characteristics

catachresis

The misuse or strained use of words, as in a mixed metaphor, occurring either in error or for rhetorical effect.

chiasmus

Also called "reverse parallelism," since the second part of a grammatical construction is balanced or paralleled by the first part, only in reverse order

circular argument

An argument that commits the logical fallacy of assuming what it is attempting to prove

clause

A grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb

colloquial

The use of slang or informalities in speech or writing

commoratio

The repetition of a point made several times using different words

Complementizer

A word (such as that or if) used to introduce a dependent clause

Compounding

In linguistics, the combining of two or more words to create a new word

Conceit

A fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects

concession

An admission in an argument that opposing side has points; to grant, allow or yield to a point.

conjunction

The part of speech that serves to connect words, phrases, or clauses

connotation

The non-literal, associative meaning of word; the implied, suggested meaning.

declarative sentence

A sentence in the form of a statement

deduction

The method of reasoning from the general to the specific

denotation

The strict, literal, dictionary definition of a word, devoid of any emotion, attitude, or color

diacope

Figure of repetition in the same word or phrase occurs on either side of an intervening word or phrase; word/phrase x, ..., word/phrase x.

didactic

From the Greek, literally means "teaching."

Dirimens Copulation

Mentioning a balancing or opposing fact to prevent the argument from being one-sided or unqualified

distinctio

An explicit reference to a particular meaning or to the various meanings of a word, in order to remove or prevent ambiguity.

doxa

In classical rhetoric, the domain of opinion, belief, or probable knowledge-in contrast to episteme, the domain of certainty or true knowledge

ellipses

An Ellipsis is a set of three periods ( ... ) indicating an omission of a word, phrase, or clause from a quoted passage. Ellipses help by removing irrelevant information and create succinct writing. Each period should have a single space on either side (but not when next to a quotation mark-no space is required then.

enallage

Intentionally misusing grammar to characterize a speaker or create a memorable phrase

encomium

A tribute or eulogy in prose or verse glorifying people, events, objects or ideas.

enumeratio

Figure of amplification in which a subject is divided into constituent parts or details, and may include a listing of causes, effects, problems, solutions, conditions, and consequences; the listing or detailing of the parts of something.

either/or fallacy

An error in logic when one gives only two choices and one choice is not palatable

epigraph

The use of a quote at the beginning of a piece of rhetoric that hints at its theme.

epimone

Frequent repetition of a phrase or question, dwelling on a point.

episteme

the domain of true knowledge

epizeuxis

rhetorical repetition of a word or phrase for emphasis, usually with no words in between \n "I'm shocked, shocked to find out that.."

ethos

rhetorical appeal to an audience based on the writer's credibility

expletive

Figure of emphasis in which a single word or short phrase, usually interrupting normal speech, is used to lend emphasis to the words on either side of the expletive.

Extended metaphor

Metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently or throughout a work

False authority

A fallacy in which the rhetor attempts to persuade his or her audience by using well-respected famous names of people rather than evidence

figurative language

Writing or speech that is not intended to carry literal meaning and is usually meant to be imaginative and vivid.

figure of speech

Device that produces figurative language \n apostrophe / hyperbole / irony / metaphor / oxymoron / paradox / personification / simile / synecdoche / understatement

fragment

An incomplete sentence; A complete sentence must have an independent clause as its base

Generic conventions

Traditions for each genre. Differentiates works, such as an essay and journalistic writing

genre

Major category into which a literary work / artistic endeavor belongs.

gerund

A noun formed from a verb \n Playing - He plays / He is playing

Guilt by association

A fallacy where one attempts to discredit an idea or concept based upon association with disfavored people or groups.

Hasty generalization

\n A fallacy in which a conclusion is drawn from insufficient evidence (small sample)

homily

sermon \n Anything involving moral advice

hyperbole

A figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration / overstatement

hypophora

Figure of reasoning in which one or more questions are asked and then answered by the same speaker. \n Similar to socratic irony

Illocutionary force

Speaker's intention of an utterance

imagery

The sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or represent abstractions. On a physical level, imagery uses terms related to the five senses: visual, auditory, tactile, gustatory, and olfactory. On a broader and deeper level, however, one image can represent more than one thing.

Imperative sentence

type of sentence that gives advice or instructions or that expresses a request or command.

induction

A method of reasoning that moves from specific instances to a general conclusion

inference/infer

To draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented. When a multiple choice question asks for an inference to be drawn from a passage, the most direct, most reasonable inference is the safest answer choice.

infinitive phrase

An infinitive phrase starts with an infinitive [to + simple form of the verb]. It will include objects and/or modifiers.

interrogative sentence

A type of sentence that asks a question

Invective

an emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language

Irony/ironic

The contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant, or the difference between what appears to be and what is actually true. Irony is often used to create poignancy or humor.

Cosmic irony

irony that goes beyond being unfair and is morally tragic; this severe irony may cause one to question life or see the world pessimistically.

Dramatic irony

when facts or events are unknown to a character in a play or piece of fiction but known to the reader, audience, or other characters in the work.

Situational irony

when events turn out the opposite of what was expected; when what the characters and readers think ought to happen is not what does happen

Socratic irony

when one feigns ignorance-asking questions to which he/she may already know the answers

Verbal irony

when the words literally state the opposite of the writer’s (or speaker’s) meaning

Juxtaposition

the “side by side” comparison of two or more objects or ideals for the purpose of highlighting similarities or differences.

Kenning

a metaphoric compound word or phrase used as a synonym for a common noun

Litote

a form of understatement that involves making an affirmative point by denying its opposite.

logos

Rhetorical appeals based on logic or reasoning

loose sentence

A type of sentence in which the main idea (independent clause) comes first, followed by dependent grammatical units such as phrases and clauses. If a period were placed at the end of the independent clause, the clause would be a complete sentence.

metabasis

consists of a brief statement of what has been said and what will follow. It might be called a linking, running, or transitional summary, whose function is to keep the discussion ordered and clear in its progress:

metaphor

A figure of speech using implied comparison of seemingly unlike things or the substitution of one for the other, suggesting some similarity. ____ language makes writing more vivid, imaginative, thought provoking, and meaningful.

metonymy

A term from the Greek meaning “changed label” or “substitute name,” _____ is a figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it

mood

The prevailing atmosphere or emotional aura of a work. Setting, tone, and events can affect the mood. Mood is similar to tone and atmosphere.

narrative

The telling of a story or an account of an event or series of events.

nonce word

A word coined or used for a special occasion

Onomatopoeia

A figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words.

Oxymoron

From the Greek for “pointedly foolish,” an ______ is a figure of speech wherein the author groups apparently contradictory terms to suggest a paradox.

Paradox

A statement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense but upon closer inspection contains some degree of truth or validity.

Parallelism

structure) This term comes from Greek roots meaning “beside one another.” It refers to the grammatical or rhetorical framing of words, phrases, sentences, or paragraphs to give structural similarity. This can involve, but is not limited to, repetition of a grammatical element such as a preposition or verbal phrase.

Parody

A work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule. It exploits peculiarities of an author’s expression

Pathos

An emotional appeal used in rhetoric

Pedantic

An adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish

Periodic sentence

The opposite of loose sentence, a sentence that presents its central meaning in a main clause at the end. This independent clause is preceded by a phrase or clause that cannot stand alone.