AP lit terms 5

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Asserts that an opponent's argument has no value because the opponent does not follow his or her own advice. Jimmy Swaggart argues sexual immorality was wrong, yet he has had several affairs with prostitutes, therefore, sexual immorality is acceptable​.

Begging The Question

Assumes in the premise what the arguer would be trying to prove in the conclusion. Asks readers to agree that certain points are self-evident when they are not. 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."

Post Hoc, Ergo Proctor Hoc

Assumes that because two events occur close together in time, the first must be the cause of the second. " 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."

Appeal to Doubtful Authority

Attempting to bolster an argument with references to experts or famous people who have no expertise on the issue. Oprah says that the best kitchen appliances come from Kitchen Aid

Simile

A direct, explicit comparison of one thing to another, using the words like or as "My love is as a fever, longing still" (Shakespeare, Sonnet CXLVI|)

Synecdoche

A figure of speech in which a part signifies a whole Lend me your ears" and "There were some new faces at the meeting."

False Analogy

A form of comparison that explains something unfamiliar by comparing it to something more familiar. Frequently ignores important dissimilarities between the two things being compared. 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 employees.

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 If you trip and drop your lunch and someone says, "That was smooth."

Zeugma

A grammatically correct construction in which a word, usually a verb or adjective, is applied to two or more nouns without being repeated "He closed the door and his heart on his lost love."

Satire

A literary work that holds up human failings to ridicule and censure A political cartoon that makes fun of Congress

Rhetorical Question

A question that is asked simply for the sake of stylistic effect and is not expected to be answered. 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 all this accumulation of navies and armies?"

Misleading Statistics

Misrepresents or distorts statistics as an attempt to influence an audience. 9 out of 10 dentists recommend Colgate​. ​

Hasty Generalization

Occurs when a conclusion is reached on the basis of too little evidence. "I interviewed 3 vegetarians, and 100% of them gave up meat for health reasons, so that must be the reason vegetarians give up meat." Also, "Even though it's only the first day, I can tell this is going to be a boring class."

Non Sequitur

Occurs when a statement does not logically follow from a previous statement. Terrorists attacked America. There are terrorists in Palestine. Therefore we should attack Palestine.

Red Herring

Occurs when the focus of an argument is changed to divert the audience from the actual issue. The level of mercury in seafood may be unsafe, but what will fishermen do to support their families?

Equivocation

Occurs when the meaning of a key term changes at some point in at argument. Makes it seem as if a conclusion follows from premises when it actually does not. "When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns." Also, "Scientists have faith in the scientific method, so scientists are people of faith."

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 positions. "We could either stop using cars or destroy the earth."

Voice

The acknowledged or unacknowledged source of the words of the story; the speaker's or narrator's 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. Twain's inclusion of country dialect similar to his own speech.

Tone

The attitude the narrator/author has toward the subject and theme. Based on particular stylistic devices employed by the author. Queen Elizabeth's tone in her speech to her troops is very inspirational and motivational in order to achieve her purpose.

Theme

The central or dominant idea or focus of a work. The statement a passage makes about its subject. The white dresses Daisy and Jordan wear in ​The Great Gatsby​ are an example of symbolism that represent the theme of the influence of money on a person's life.

Style

The manner in which a writer combines and arranges words, shapes ideas, and utilizes syntax and structure Rhetorical devices are the same thing as style techniques. The terms are interchangeable.

Syntax

The way words are put together to form phrases, clauses, and sentences. Basically, sentence structure. Polysyndeton, asyndeton, anaphora, and epistrophe are techniques of an author's _

Ad Hominem

Tries to divert attention from the facts of an argument by attacking the motives or character of the person making the argument. 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 seriously.

Symbolism

Use of a person, place, thing, event, or pattern that figuratively represents or "stands for" something else The white dresses Daisy and Jordan wear in ​The Great Gatsby​ are an example of symbolism that represent the theme of the influence of money on a person's life.

Rebuttal

an argument technique wherein opposing arguments are anticipated and countered "The argument is weak. Those statistics have been determined as flawed.

Rhetoric

the art of using words to persuade in writing or speaking Anthony's speeches in Julius Caesar are a great example of -rhetoric.