AP English Language and Composition Vocabulary
Classification and Division
(1) a method of sorting, grouping, collecting, and analyzing things by categories based on features shared by all members of a group; (2) a method of breaking down an entire whole into separate parts or sorting a group of items into non-overlapping categories.
Hyberbole
A deliberate exaggeration for emphasis or humorous effect; the opposite of hyperbole is understatement (I am so hungry I could eat a horse)
Verbal Irony
A figure of speech in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant, sarcasm
Conclusion
A group of sentences or paragraphs that brings an essay to a close ; to conclude means not only "to end", but also "to resolve"
Logical Fallacy
A mistake in reasoning; e.g. "This is the way we have always done it. Therefore, it is the right way"
Euphemism
A more acceptable and usually more pleasant way of saying something that might be inappropriate or uncomfortable; "He went to his final reward" (died), "collateral damage" (military uses to indicate civilian deaths)
Genre
A piece of writing classified by type- for example, letter, narrative, editorial, poem; there are also sub genres, such as science fiction or sonnet within the larger genres
Conundrum
A riddle whose answer is or involves a pun; it may also be a paradox or difficult problem
Ellipsis
A scheme in which material is omitted from a sentence so that its rhythm is heightened and accelerated; any omission of words, the meaning of which is provided by the overall context of the passage; "In a hockey power play, if you pass the puck to the wing, and he to you, then you can close in on the goal."
Epistrophe
A scheme with the repetition of a word or expression at the end of successive phrases, clauses or sentences, especially for the rhetorical or poetic effect; "When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child" -Corinthians "...of the people, by the people, for the people..." Lincoln
Climax
A scheme with the repetition of words, phrases, or clauses in order of increasing number or importance
Causal Chain
A sequence of events in which one event causes another event, which in turn causes yet another event
Anecdote
A short, simple narrative of an incident; often used for humorous effect or to make a point.
Extended analogy
A sustained comparison, often referred to as a conceit. The extended metaphor is developed throughout a piece of writing
Dramatic monologue
A type of poem, popular primarily in the nineteenth century, in which the speaker is delivering a monologue to an assumed group of listeners
Dynamic Character
Character who changes during the course of the narrative
Asydenton
Commas used (with no conjunctions) to separate a series of words. The parts are emphasized equally when the conjunction is omitted; in addition, the use of commas with no intervening conjunction speeds up the flow of the sentence.
Grounds
In Toulmin logic, the material that a writer uses a support a claim; grounds may be evidence (facts or expert opinions) or appeals to the emotions or values of an audience
Claim
In Toulmin logic, the thesis or main point of an essay; usually the claim is stated directly, but sometimes it is implied
Ad Hominem
In an argument, this is an attack on the person rather than on the opponent's ideas. It comes from the Latin meaning "against the man."
Abstract Language
Language describing ideas and qualities rather than observable or specific things, people, or places.
Figurative language
Language that contains figures of speech, such as similes, metaphors, personification, in order to create associations that re imaginative rather than literal; imaginative language used to suggest a special meaning or create a special effect
Concrete Language
Language that describes specific, observable things, people, or places, rather than ideas or qualities.
Inductive Reasoning
Method of reasoning that moves from specific evidence to a general conclusion based on this evidence; the opposite is deductive reasoning
Consonance
Repetition of identical consonant sounds within two or more words in close proximity, as in boost/best; it can also be seen within several compound words, such as fulfill and ping-pong
Lyrical
Songlike; characterized by emotions, subjectivity, and imagination
Logos
The appeal of a text based on the logical structure of its argument or central ideas
Explication
The art of interpreting or discovering the meaning of a text. It usually involves close reading and special attention to figurative language.
Dialect
The describable patterns of language- grammar and vocabulary- used by a particular cultural or ethnic population
Effect
The emotional or psychological impact a text has on a reader or listener
Hubris
The excessive pride of ambition that leads a tragic hero to disregard warnings of impending doom, eventually causing his or her downfall.
Documentation
The formal way of giving credit to the sources from which a writer borrows words or ideas; documentation allows the reader to evaluate a writer's sources and to consult them if they wish; papers written for literature and writing classes use the documentation style recommended by Modern Language Association (MLA)
Deductive Reasoning
The method of reasoning that moves from a general premise to a specific conclusion; deductive reasoning is the opposite of inductive reasoning
Cause and Effect Relationship or Causal Relationship
The pattern of development that discusses either reasons for an occurrence or the observed or predicted consequence of an occurence
Comparison and Contrast
The pattern of development that focuses on similarities and/or differences between two or more subjects
Audience
The people "listening" to the author's words and are capable of responding to it; Writers sensitive to their audience will carefully choose a tone, examples, allusions that readers will understand and respond it
Jargon
The special language of a profession or group. The term usually has pejorative associations, with the implication that jargon is evasive, tedious, and unintelligible to outsiders. The writings of the lawyer and the literary critic are both susceptible to jargon.
Coherence
The tight relationship between all the parts of an effective piece of writing; such a relationship ensures that the writing will make sense to the reader
Chronological Order
The time sequence in which events occur
Litotes
Understatement, a trope which uses deliberate playing down of a situation in order to make a point; e.g. "She's not the brightest one in the pack" (She's dumb)
Dramatic Irony
When a reader is aware of something that a character isn't.
Emotional Appeal
When a writer appeals to readers' emotions (often through pathos) to excite and involve them in the argument.
Generalization
When a writer bases a claim upon an isolated example or asserts that a claim is certain rather than probable. Sweeping generalizations occur when a writer asserts that a claim applies to all instances instead of some.
Ethical Appeal-Ethos
When a writer tries to persuade the audience to respect and believe him or her based on a presentation of image of self through the text. Reputation is sometimes a factor in this type of appeal, but in all case the aim is to gain the audience's confidence
False Analogy
When two cases are not sufficiently parallel to lead readers to accept a claim of connection between them
Analogy
a comparison of two different things that are similar in some way
Allusion
a reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art
Aphorism
a short, often witty statement of a principle or a truth about life. Examples: "Early bird gets the worm." "What goes around, comes around.." "People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones."
Irony
a situation or statement in which the actual outcome or meaning is opposite to what was expected.
Fallacy
a statement that resembles a logical argument but it is actually flawed; logical fallacies are often persuasive, but they unfairly manipulate readers to win agreement; fallacies include begging the question; argument from analogy; personal attacks; hasty or sweeping generalization; red herrings; appeals to doubtful authority; distorting statistics
Euphony
a succession of harmonious sounds used in poetry or prose; the opposite of cacophony
Situational Irony
a type of irony in which events turn out the opposite of what was expected.
Colloquialism
a word or phrase (including slang) used in everyday conversation and informal writing but that is often inappropriate in formal writing (y'all, ain't)
Example
an individual instance taken to be representative of a general pattern. A concrete, specific illustration of a general point
Assumption
an opinion, a perspective, or a belief that a writer or speaker thinks the audience holds
Cliche'
an overused expression
Caricature
descriptive writing that greatly exaggerates a specific feature of a person's appearance or a facet of personality.
Evidence
facts and opinions used to support a statement, position, or idea
Dissonance
harsh or grating sounds that do not go together
Cacophony
harsh, awkward, or dissonant sounds used deliberately in poetry or prose; the opposite of euphony.
Connotation
implied or suggested meaning of a word because of its association in the reader's mind.
Appeal
one of the three strategies for persuading audiences- logos, appeal to reason; pathos, appeals to emotion; and ethos, appeal to ethics
Anaphora
repetition of a word, phrase, or clause at the beginning of two or more sentences in a row. This is a deliberate form of repetition and helps make the writer's point more coherent.
Assonance
repetition of vowel sounds between different consonants, such as in neigh/fade,
Discourse
spoken or written language, including literary works; the four traditionally classified modes of ____________ are description, exposition, narration, and persuasion.
Inversion
switching the customary(subject first, then verb, then complement) order of elements in a sentence or phrase; it is used effectively in many cases, such as posing a question: "Are you going to the store?" Usually, the element that appears first is emphasized more than the subject.
Context
the convergence of time, place, audience, and motivating factors in which a piece of writing or a speech is situated
Exposition
the immediate revelation to the audience of the setting and other background information necessary for understanding the plot; also, explanation; one of the four modes of discourse
Denotation
the literal meaning of a word; the dictionary definition
Description
the picturing in words of something or someone through detailed observation of color, motion, sound, taste, smell, and touch; one of the four modes of discourse
Antithesis
the presentation of two contrasting ideas. The ideas are balanced by phrase, clause, or paragraphs. "To be or not to be . . ." "It was the best of times; it was the worst of times . . ." "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country . . ."
Logic
the process of reasoning
Alliteration
the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words
Epigraph
the use of a quotation at the beginning of a work that hints at its theme. Hemingway begins The Sun Also Rises with two quotations. One is by Gertrude Stein, "You are all a lost generation"
Apostrophe
usually in poetry but sometimes in prose; the device of calling out to an imaginary, dead, or absent person or to a place, thing, or personified abstraction
Diction
word choice, an element of style; it creates tone, attitude, and style, as well as meaning. Different types and arrangements of words have significant effects on meaning. Can be viewed on scales of formality/informality, concreteness/abstraction, Latinate derivation/ Anglo-Saxan derivation, and denotative value/connotation value
Imagery
words or phrases that use a collection of images to appeal to one or more of the five senses in order to create a mental picture
Argumentation
writing that attempts to prove the validity of a point of view or an idea by presenting reasoned arguments; persuasive writing is a form of argumentation
Didactic
writing whose purpose is to instruct or to teach. The work is usually formal and focuses on moral or ethical concerns. This type of writing may be fiction or nonfiction that teaches a specific lesson or moral or provides a model of correct behavior or thinking.
