AP Lang Week 4
simile
A direct, explicit comparison of one thing to another, using words like or as
synecdoche
A figure of speech in which a part signifies a whole
false analogy
A form of comparison that explains something unfamiliar by comparing it to something more familiar. Frequently ignores the important dissimilarities between the two things being compared
Sarcasm
A form of verbal irony in which apparent praise is actually critical. Can be light, and gently poke fun at something, or it can be harsh and mean
zeugma
A grammatically correct construction in which a word, usually a verb or adjective, is applied to two or more nouns without being repeated
Satire
A literary work that holds up human feelings to ridicule and censure
rhetorical question
A question that is asked simply for the sake of stylistic effect and is not expected to be answered
"The level of mercury in seafood may be unsafe, but what will fisherman do to support their families?"
Red herring
voice
The acknowledged or unacknowledged source of the words of the story; the speakers or narrators particular take on an idea based on a particular passage and how all the elements of the style of the piece come together to express his/her feelings
Rhetoric
The art of using words to persuade in writing or speaking
Tone
The attitude the narrator/author has toward the subject and theme. Based on particular stylistic devices employed by the author
Theme
The central or dominant idea or focus of a work. This statement a passage makes about its subject
Style
The manner in which a writer combines or arranges words, shapes ideas, and utilizes syntax and structure
Syntax
The way words are put together to form phrases, clauses, and sentences. Basically, sentence structure
Twain's inclusion of country dialect similar to his own speech
Voice
A politician urges her community to not vote for her opponent because her opponent has been divorced four times and is too old to be taken serious
ad hominem
Rebuttal
an argument technique where in opposing arguments are anticipated encountered
"Oprah says that the best kitchen appliances come from KitchenAid."
appeal to doubtful authority
you also
asserts that in opponents argument has no value because the opponent does not follow his or her own advice
begging the question
assumes in the premise of what the arguer would be trying to prove in the conclusion. Ask readers to agree that certain points are self evident when they are not
post hoc, ergo proctor hoc
assumes that because two events occur close together in time, the first must be the cause of the second
Appeal to Doubtful Authority
attempting to bolster an argument with references to experts or famous people who have no expertise on the issue
"That film should be given the academy award because it was the best picture of the year." Also "you should not major in a liberal arts field because it will do you little good."
begging the question
"We could either stop using cars or destroy the earth."
either/or
"When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns." Also, "scientist have faith in the scientific method, so scientists are people of faith."
equivocation
employees and nails are the same. As it is necessary to hit nails on the head in order to make them work, The same must be done with employee
false analogy
"I interviewed three vegetarians, and 100% of them and gave up meat for health reasons, so that must be the reasons vegetarians give up meat." Also "even though it's only the first day I can tell this is going to be a boring class."
hasty generalization
misleading statistics
misrepresents or distorts statistics as an attempt to influence an audience
nine out of 10 dentists recommend colgate
miss leading statistics
terrorist attacked America. There are terrorists in Palestine. Therefore we should attack Palestine
non-Sequitur
hasty generalization
occurs when a conclusion is reached on the basis of too little evidence
non-Sequitur
occurs when a statement does not logically follow from a previous statement
Red herring
occurs when the focus of an argument is changed to divert the audience from the actual issue
Equivocation
occurs when the meaning of a key term changes at some point in an argument. Makes it seems as if a conclusion follows from premises when it actually does not
either/or
occurs when you suggest that only two alternatives exist even though there may be others. Oversimplifies the issue and forces people to choose between extremes instead of exploring more moderate position
"I would never go to that restaurant; I went there one time and was sick for the next three days." Also, "the federal government should never cut taxes again. They cut them in 1981, and unemployment rose immediately."
post hoc, ergo proctor hoc
"That argument is weak. Those statistics have been determined as flawed."
rebuttal
Antony speech in Julius Caesar are a great example of
rhetoric
in Patrick Henry's "speech to the Virginia convention," he tries to persuade his audience to agree to go to war with Britain: "I ask, gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? can gentlemen assign any other possible motive for it? Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call for this accumulation of navies in armies?"
rhetorical question
if you trip and drop your lunch and someone says, "that was smooth."
sarcasm
A political cartoon that makes fun of Congress
satire
"My love is as a fever, longing still" (Shakespeare, sonnet CXLVII)
simile
rhetorical devices are the same thing as BLANK techniques. The terms are interchangeable
style
The white dresses daisy and Jordan wear in the great Gatsby are an example of BLANK that represent the BLANK of the influence of money on a persons life
symbolism, theme
"Lend me your ears" and "there were some new faces at the meeting"
synecdoche
polysyndeton,asyndeton, anaphora, and Epistrophy or techniques of an authors
syntax
Queen Elizabeth's BLANK in her speech to her troops is very inspirational and motivational in order to achieve her purpose
tone
ad hominem
tries to divert attention from the facts of an argument by attacking the motives or character of the person making the argument
symbolism
use of a person, place, thing, event, or pattern that figuratively represents or stands for something else
Jimmy Swaggart argues sexual immorality was wrong, yet he has had several affairs with prostitutes, therefore, sexual immorality is acceptable
you also
"He close the door and his heart on his lost love"
zeugma