AP Lang Jargon

connotation

a feeling or idea that a word has, in addition to its literal or main meaning

hyperbole

a figure of speech in which an author or speaker purposely and obviously exaggerates to an extreme

oxymoron

a figure of speech that puts together opposite elements; a combination of contradicting things

clause

a group of related words containing a subject that tells readers what the sentence is about a verb that tells readers what the subject is doing; independent, dependent, relative, noun clause

polysyntedon

a literary device that uses multiple repetitions of the same conjunctions (and, if, but, etc); most commonly "and"

rhetorical question

a question that's asked merely for effect with no answer expected; the answer may be obvious or immediately provided by the questioner

allusion

a reference to something else; when a writer mentions some other work, or refers to an earlier part of the current work

paradox

a statement that contradicts itself, or that must be both true and untrue at the same time

allegory

a story within a story; has a "surface story" and another story hidden underneath

denotation

a word or thing's literal or main definition; completely absent of emotion

parody

a work that's created by imitating an existing original work in order to make fun of or comment on an aspect of the original

logos

an appeal to logic

pathos

an appeal to the emotions of an audience

ethos

an argument that appeals to the audience by emphasizing the speaker's credibility and authority; an appeal to ethics

rhetoric

ancient art of persuasion; a way of presenting and making your views convincing and attractive to your readers or audience

figurative language

any figure of speech which depends on a non-literal meaning of some or all of the words used

personification

giving human qualities to an inanimate object, abstract thing, or non-human animal

acerbic

harsh or corrosive in tone

colloquial language

informal, spoken language; the way you speak to friends of family members w/ out giving any thought to what you are saying

didactic

instructive (especially excessively); acting too much like a teacher

analogy

literary technique in which 2 unrelated objects are compared for their qualities; rhetorical devices used to make rational arguments

pedantic

makes a big display of knowing obscure facts and details; a narrow focus on or display of learning especially its trivial aspects

metaphor

makes a comparison by directly relating one thing to another related thing

prose

non-verse writing; anything other than poetry

admonishing

not encouraging or approving pleasing

antithesis

opposite of a statement, concept, or idea; pair of sentences or images in which the one reverses the other

bombastic

ostentatiously lofty in style; to be full of "hot air"; like a politician who makes grand promises and doesn't deliver

euphemism

polite, mild phrases which substitute unpleasant ways of saying something sad or uncomfortable

recalcitrant

resisting authority or control; not obedient or compliant; obstinately defiant of authority or restraint

asyntedon

skipping one or more conjunctions (and, or, but, for, nor, so, yet) which are usually used in a series of phrases; meaning "unconnected"

verbal irony

someone says or writes something that is in opposition to the person's true meaning

tone

the "feel" of a piece of writing

syntax

the arrangement of words into a sentence that makes sense in a given language; refers to the rules and principles that govern sentence structure in a language- how words and phrases may be joined

theme

the central idea, topic or point of a story, essay, or narrative

mood

the emotional feeling or atmosphere that a work of literature produces in a reader

thesis

the sentence that introduces the main argument or point of view of a composition (formal essay, nonfiction piece, narrative)

jargon

the specific type of language used by a particular group or profession; can be used to describe correctly used technical language in a positive way or describe language that us overly technical in a negative way

satire

the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices

style

the way in which an author writes and/or tells a story; creates the "voice" that the audience hears when they read

conciliatory

things that make other people less angry; intended to placate (please)

erudite

to show great learning; having or showing profound knowledge

ambivalent

uncertain or unable to decide about what course to follow

anaphora

when a certain word or phrase is repeated at the beginning of clauses or sentences that follow eachother; emphasizes the phrase and add rhythm to the passage

understatement

when a writer presents a situation or thing as if it is less important or serious than it is reality

parallelism

when phrases in a sentence have similar or the same grammatical structure

situational irony

when something happens that is very different than what was expected

dramatic irony

when the audience knows something the characters don't

diction

word choice and phrasing in any written or spoken text