AP English Language & Composition Ultimate Guide

Style

is the general manner of expression used in a text.

Pathos

is an appeal to the emotions, values, or desires of the audience.

Personification

is the figurative device in which inanimate objects or concepts are given the thoughts, feelings, or actions of a human.

Ethos

is an appeal to the speakers credibility- whether he or she is to be believed on the basis of his or her character and expertise.

Denotation

refers to a words primary or literal significance

connotation

refers to the vast range of other meanings that a word suggests.

Rhetorical strategies

describe how an author uses language to construct a text.

Hyperbole

is overstatement or exaggeration; it is the use of figurative language that significantly exaggerates the facts for effect.

Logos

is an appeal to reason and logic.

Understatement

is figurative language that presents the facts in a way that makes them appear much less significant than they really are.

Mood

describes how the text makes the audience feel.

Tone

describes the speakers attitude toward the subject.

catchy title

is a rhetorical strategy designed to capture the audiences attention.

Sarcasm

is simply verbal irony used with the intent to injure.

Circumlocation

is a form of communication in which the speaker's meaning is not directly expressed but implied, often through metaphors or other forms of figurative language.

euphemism

is a word or words that are used to avoid employing an unpleasant or offensive term.

Verbal irony

refers to the process of stating something but meaning the opposite of what is stated.

Irony

is a figure of speech in which words are used to convey the opposite of their literal meaning.

Situational Irony

refers to a circumstance that runs contrary to what was expected.

Figurative language

is strictly defined as speech or writing that departs from literal meaning to achieve a special effect or meaning.

Satire

something is portrayed in a way thats deliberately distorted to achieve comic effect.

Symbolism

is a concrete object that represents an abstract idea.

Imagery

in figurative language is when an author uses vivid or metaphorical language to create a mental image that helps readers visualize what's being described.

Rhetorical strategies

a broad term, including basic diction and syntax, as well as more complicated uses of figurative language.

Understatement

is almost always used for comic effect.

Syntax

________ in rhetorical strategies refers to the arrangement of words and phrases to achieve a desired effect.

X

This variable represents the specific rhetorical strategies an author uses

Y

This variable refers to how the rhetorical strategies in the text impact the audience

Audience

refers to the individuals the speaker is trying to persuade

Z

This variable represents a texts theme or argument

Simile

A simile is a comparison between two unlike objects, in which the two parts are connected with a term such as like or as

Metaphor

is a simile without a connecting term such as like or as

Extended Metaphor

is precisely what it sounds like-it is a metaphor that lasts for longer than just one phrase or sentence

Symbolism

is a concrete object that represents an abstract idea

Satire

something is portrayed in a way thats deliberately distorted to achieve comic effect

Rhetoric

are talking about language as a means of persuasion

Diction

will ask you to evaluate why an author’s choice of words is particularly effective, apt, or clear.

Context

(and at times, author’s intent) determines which connotations may be appropriate for a word.

author

will carefully pick a particular word for its connotations, knowing or hoping a reader will make an additional inference as a result.

paradox

contains two elements which cannot both be true at the same time (although usually each one could be true on its own).

Mood

describes how the text makes the audience feel.

Rhetorical modes

are ways of using language that are intended to have an effect on the audience.

Analogies

are sometimes used to explain things that are difficult to understand by comparing them with things that are easier to understand.

allegory of the cave

The most famous philosophical analogy serves as the basis for Plato’s

expository writing

Use analogy for

argumentative writing

Do not use analogy for

classification

When you’re asked to analyze and explain something

write

do not justify your classification unless this is somehow necessary to address a very bizarre free-response question.

Quality

is more important than quantity; poorly chosen examples detract significantly from your presentation.

Narration

________ can be an effective expository technique.

Process analysis

________ is a rhetorical mode thats used by writers when they want to explain either how to do something or how something was done.

Deduction

________ is the process of applying a generalization to a specific case.

Sequence

________ is chronological and usually fixed- think of recipes.

Induction

________ is a process in which specific examples are used to reach a general conclusion.

pieces of information

A narrative is a story in which ________ are arranged in chronological order.

Description

________ can help make expository or argumentative writing lively and interesting and hold the readers interest, which is vital, of course.

Process analysis

________ can be an effective way of relating an experience.

Deduction

________ involves the use of a generalization to draw a conclusion about a specific case.

Do not confuse the relating of mere circumstances with a cause-and

effect relationship

When possible, call on all five senses

visual, auditory, olfactory (smell), gustatory (taste), and tactile

Make your story complete

make sure you have a beginning, middle, and end

Process analysis

is a rhetorical mode that’s used by writers when they want to explain either how to do something or how something was done.

Sequence

is chronological and usually fixed—think of recipes.

Cause and effect

explains the processes responsible for the process.

Description

can help make expository or argumentative writing lively and interesting and hold the reader’s interest, which is vital, of course.

narrative

is a story in which pieces of information are arranged in chronological order.

Narration

can be an effective expository technique.

Induction

is a process in which specific examples are used to reach a general conclusion.

Deduction

involves the use of a generalization to draw a conclusion about a specific case.

rhetorical fallacy

is basically faulty reasoning leading to a conclusion the advertiser, author, or speaker wants you to make.

Emphasizing the Person

the evidence focuses on the person who supports a conclusion, not on the merits of the conclusion itself.

Ad Populum or “bandwagon”

A certain political candidate is ahead in the polls.

Argument from Authority

This rhetorical fallacy focuses solely on the credentials or fame of the person recommending the product, without saying anything about the product itself.

Ad Hominem

This rhetorical fallacy turns to the other side of the coin and points out negative characteristics of the person who promotes an idea or action.

Dogmatism

The conclusion must be correct because the author or speaker says it is and she can’t possibly be wrong.

Equivocation

This type of fallacy leaves out facts that a reader or listener would need in order to make a thorough assessment of the conclusion.

Sentimental Appeals

Charities often use this tactic when they ask for donations.

Slippery Slope

According to this rhetorical fallacy, if you eat at a fast-food takeout once, pretty soon you’ll never want to eat healthy, nourishing home-cooked meals again.

Scare Tactics

Here the speaker or author is trying to frighten you into agreeing with him.

Red Herring

Instead of addressing the key issues of an opposing argument, a red herring fallacy focuses attention on an insignificant or irrelevant factor.

Straw Man

The writer creates a straw man—something that’s easy to knock down and tear apart—as the opposing viewpoint.

Faulty analogy

One thing is compared with a second thing, but the comparison is exaggerated or misleading or unreasonable.

Faulty causality

(also called Post hoc ergo propter hoc): This type of fallacy assumes that because one event happened shortly before another, the first event must have caused the second.

Begging the Question

In this rhetorical fallacy, an assumption which is not proven is used as evidence that the conclusion is correct.

Circular Argument

This fallacy says essentially the same thing in both the conclusion and in the evidence that allegedly supports it.

Missing the point

The author offers evidence that supports a conclusion—it’s just not the same conclusion that the author reaches.

Non Sequitur

This Latin term means, “it doesn’t follow.”

False Dichotomy

This rhetorical fallacy assumes a black-and-white world in which there is no middle ground, no other alternative.

Hasty Generalization

Here the author or speaker assumes that a limited experience foreshadows the entire experience.

Non-testable hypothesis

In this rhetorical fallacy, anything that has not been proven false is assumed to be true; the author doesn’t need to prove it’s true.