AP Lang & Comp Terms

Analogy

Explaining something complex by comparing it to something more simple.

Argument

The combination of reasons, evidence, etc that an author uses to convince an audience of their position.

Aristotelian Appeals

Three different methods of appealing to an audience to convince them — ethos, logos, and pathos.

Attitude

The writers personal views or feelings about the subject at hand.

Audience

Who the author is directing his or her message towards.

Compare & Contrast

Discussing the similarities and differences between two things to some persuasive or illustrative purpose.

Connotation

The implied meaning of a word; words can broadly have positive, negative, or neutral connections.

Context

The extra-textual environment in which the text is being delivered.

Counterargument

The argument(s) against the author’s position.

Deductive Reasoning

A form of logical reasoning wherein a general principle is applied to a specific case

Denotation

The literal, dictionary definition meaning of a word.

Diction

The style of language used; generally tailored to be approproate to the audience and situation.

Ethos

Setting up a source as credible and trustworthy.

Evidence

The information presented meant to persuade the audience of the author’s position.

Figurative Language

The use of language in a non-literal way; i.e. metaphor, simile, etc.

Genre

The specific type of work being presented.

Imagery

Any descriptive language used to evoke a vivid sense or image of something; includes figurative language.

Implication

When something is suggested without being concretely stated.

Inductive Reasoning

Making a generalization based on specific evidence at hand.

Irony

At the most basic sense, saying the opposity of what you mean; also used to describe situations in which the results on an action are dramatically different than intended.

Juxtaposition

Placing two very different things together for effect.

Logos

Appealing to someone’s sense of concrete facts and logic.

Occasion

The reason or moment for writing or speaking.

Organization

How the different parts of an argument are arranged in a piece of writing or speech.

Pathos

An Aristotelian appeal, involves appealing to someone’s emotions.

Purpose

The author’s persuasive intention.

Repetition

Re-using a word or phrase repeatedly for effect or emphasis.

Rhetoric

The use of spoken or written word (or a visual medium) to convey your ideas and convince an audience.

Rhetorical Triangle

The relationship between the author, the audience, the text/message, and the context.

Speaker

The persona adopted by the author to deliver his or her message; may or may not actually be the same person as the author.

Style

The author’s own personal approach to rhetoric in the piece; similar to voice.

Symbolism

Using a symbol to refer to an idea or concept.

Syntax

The way sentences are gramatically constructed.

Synthesis

Combining sources or ideas in a coherent way in the purpose of a larger point.

Themes

Overaching ideas or driving premises of a work.

Tone

The use of stylistic devices to reveal an author’s attitude toward a subject.

Voice

An author’s unique sound. Similar to style.

Alliteration

Using words with the same first letter repeatedly close together in a phrase or sentence.

Allusion

Making a brief reference to the cultural canon—e.g. the Bible, Shakespeare, classical mythology, etc.

Anecdote

Offering a brief narrative episode. This device can serve many functions in a text—for example, introducing an issue, serving as evidence, to illustrate a point, and so on.

Concession

Agreeing with the opposing viewpoint on a certain smaller point (but not in the larger argument).

Didactic

A text with an instructive purpose, often moral.

Euphemism

Referring to something with a veiled phrase instead of saying it directly.

Exemplification

Providing examples in service of a point.

Hyperbole

Overstating a situation for humorous or dramatic effect.

Idiom

A commonly used phrase that signifies something very different than its literal meaning.

Onomatopoeia

Using “sound-effect” words (e.g. “clap”, “buzz”).

Paradox

A phrase or assertion that appears to contradict itself (but the contradiction itself may have its own meaning).

Parallelism

Repeated structural elements in a sentence.

Parody

Using the form of something to mimic and make fun of it.

Personification

Giving human characteristics to a nonhuman object or idea.

Sarcasm

Mockingly stating the opposite of what you mean. Easier to convey in the spoken word than via writing.

Satire

A genre of humorous and mocking criticism to expose the ignorance and/or ills of society.

Synecdoche

Referring to one part of something as a way to refer to the whole.

Understatement

Deliberately minimizing something, usually for humorous effect.

Hypothesis/Speculation

Guesses or predictions about future outcomes.

Citations

Quotations

Cliche

An overused statement, totally unoriginal. (Ex. “Every cloud has a sliver lining.”)

Qualification

Adds more info to soften a strong or harsh statement. (Ex. Math is awesome: It’s not everyone’s favorite, though.)

Generalization

Speaking about large groups or or people, trends, or broad categories.

1st/2nd/3rd POV

Use of specific pronouns

Perspective: Micro vs. Macro

Organizational strategy moving either from the personal and small scale to the broad large scale, or from the world view to the individual.

History

Explains the other events outside the topic being discussed that may have had an impact or been a result of the topic.

Word Play/Puns

Using similar sounding words or varied interesting vocabulary.

Numbers

Data, statistics, or specific facts.

Conceit

Extended comparison between two very different things (type of metaphor).

Logical Fallacy

An error in reasoning, typically done on purpose to take advantage of/target someone’s ignorance.

Dramatic Irony

Audience knows something that the characters do not (usually vital to the conflict).

Situational Irony

Outcome of an event is different from what one expects.

Verbal Irony

Saying the opposite of what you mean/ sarcasm can be considered verbal irony.

Logical Fallacy

Often subtle flaws in an argument.

Hasty Generalization

A generalization based on insufficient or unrepresented evidence.

Non Sequitur

A conclusion that does not follow logically from preceding statements or that is based on irrelevant data.

False Analogy

The assumption that because two things are alike in some aspects, they are alike in others.

“Either or…” Fallacy

The suggestion that only two alternatives exist when in fact there are more.

False Cause

The assumption that because one event follows another, the first is the cause of the second.

Circular Reasoning/Begging the Question

An argument in which the writer, instead of applying evidence, simply restates the point in other language.

Bandwagon Appeal

A claim that an idea should be accepted because a large number of people favor it or believe it to be true.

Argument to the Person

An attack on the person proposing an argument rather than on the argument itself.

Red Herring

An argument that focuses on an irrelevant issue to detract attention from the real issue.

Force and Fear

A fallacy committed whenever the proponent of an argument attempts to persuade the audience to accept the conclusion by predicting or causing unpleasant consequences if it is not accepted.

Appeal to Celebrity/Authority

A fallacy that consists of an appeal to irrelevant authority, that is, an ‘authority’ who is not an authority in the field of question (or at least one we have no reason to believe to be such an authority).

Pity

An appeal to accept the truth of a conclusion out of pity for the arguer or some third party. Either the arguer (or someone else) is already an object of pity, or they will become one if the conclusion is not accepted.

Non-Disproof

One sometimes encounters arguments that some claim should be accepted because they have never been disproved. The move from ‘not disproved’ to ‘proved’ is invalid.

Undistributed Middle

An error in deductive reasoning in which the parts of a premise may, or may not overlap. The middle term is undistributed in that all instances of a conclusion are also instances of the premise.