Ap Lang Test

Antithesis

Antithesis is the use of contrasting concepts, words, or sentences within parallel grammatical structure. It is a combination of a balanced structure with opposite ideas that serves to highlight and contrast between them.

Ex- The dark days or war behind us. The future is bright

As a society, the priveledged have the advantages, the oppressed have none

Repetition

The repetition of the same word or phrase over multiple lines or clauses to emphasize a point or theme. It can create rhythm and reinforce ideas in rhetoric or poetry.

Restatement

Stating the same idea in new or different ways

Ex- “But- in a larger sense we cannot dedicate- we cannot concentrate- we cannot hollow- this ground”

“We have partitioned, we have remonstrated, we have supplicated, we have prostrated ourselves through the throne“

Anaphora

Repetition of a word or expression at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, sentences, or verses especially for rhetorical or poetic effect

ex- "I have a dream" repeated in Martin Luther King's speech.

Analogies

This is as to that is statements

ex- “A good leader is to their team as a compass is to a ship”

If, then statements

that express a conditional relationship, commonly used in logic and programming to show that one event depends on another.

ex- if we do not act, then nothing will change

if I don’t do my homework, then I will fail my class

Typically pathos

Language that “paints a picture in a readers mine and evokes emotion to persuade. This is often achieved through vivid imagery, descriptive details, and emotional appeals that connect with the audience on a personal level.

Imagery

Language that paints a picture in your mind by using the five senses to create vivid descriptions and enhance emotional impact.

Anecdotes

Brief tangential personal stories to illustrate a rhetorical point. These stories are different from specific examples, they relate to the main topic thematically

Figurative language

Language that uses figures of speech, such as metaphors and similes, to create meaning beyond the literal sense. It enhances writing by providing depth and imaginative connections.

Loaded words

Words that carry significant emotional weight, words or phases that evoke strong emotion. They are often used to persuade or manipulate an audience by appealing to their feelings rather than logic.

Participles

Words formed from verbs that function as adjectives, usually ending in -ing or -ed. Participles can modify nouns and create more descriptive phrases.

Ex

• "the barking dog"

• "the broken vase".  

Appositives

Word or phrase that renames or clarifies a noun, providing additional information.

Ex

• My friend Alex, a brilliant engineer,

Absolute

A construction in grammar that includes a noun and a participle, often providing context or additional information about the action in a sentence.

ex-

• "The weather being nice, we decided to go for a hike.

• His homework finished, Jack went out to play

Colons

Punctuation marks used to introduce a list, a quote, or an explanation, often enhancing clarity in writing.

ex- "There are three types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic."

"Remember the old saying: practice makes perfect."

Semicolons

Punctuation marks used to connect closely related ideas or separate items in a complex list, enhancing clarity in writing.

ex- "I have a big test tomorrow; I can't go out tonight."

"We visited Paris, France; Rome, Italy; and Berlin, Germany."

Diction

Choice of words and style of expression in writing or speech, often reflecting tone and mood.

ex- Using formal diction, the author evokes a sense of seriousness in the narrative.

Rhetorical Situation

The context in which a speaker or writer communicates, including the purpose, audience, and occasion. Understanding the rhetorical situation is essential for effective communication.