AP LANG

theme

The central idea or message of a work, offering insight into life.

Ex: the loss of innocence and the impact of racial injustice

thesis

A (sentence or group) statement directly expresses the author’s opinion, purpose, meaning, or position - judged by analyzing how accurate effectilvy and through writing is proved by…..

Ex: Social media, while beneficial for communication, has led to a decline in face-to-face interactions, creating a sense of isolation among individuals.

directly expresses the writer's opinion or position, which will be supported and developed in the essay.

tone

The author's attitude toward the subject, material, or audience; determine by spoken lang then written.

Ex: Playful, serious, businesslike, sarcastic, humorous, formal, ornate, sardonic, somber.

transition

A word or phrase that links different ideas, not exclusively in expository writing signaling a shift between them from one idea to another

Ex: Furthermore, Consequently, nevertheless, for example

asyndeton

removing conjunctions

Ex: (…) → we looked for bread, milk, eggs.

polysyndeton

use of extra conjunctions in a series

Ex: We looked for bread and milk and flour

understatement

Ironic minimizing of fact, presenting something as less significant than it is - can be humorous and emphatic (opposite of hyperbole)

Ex: "It’s just a scratch," when referring to a deep, bleeding wound.

undertone

An underlying attitude that may contrast with the ostensible tone, threatening

Ex: Imagine a person at a wedding toast saying, "Well, I’m just glad we’re all here today to witness such a... lovely occasion."

unreliable narrator

A narrator whos untrustworthy or naive commentator on events and character in a story

Ex: Imagine someone saying, "I never lose at poker. I always win, and I can tell you exactly how I do it.”

wit

Intellectually amusing language that surprises and delights and humorous while creating the speakers verbal power in ingenious and perceptive remarks

Ex: During a conversation about procrastination, someone says,

"I’m not lazy; I’m just on energy-saving mode."

chiasmus

Inverted 2 more parallel clauses - convincing

EX: “ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”

hypophora

A rhetorical question that is immediately answered by the speaker - used when character are reasoning something aloud.

Ex: Do you always watch for the longest day of the year and then miss it? I always watch for the longest day in the year and then miss it”

juxtaposition

Placing dissimilar elements side by side to highlight their differences - themes, characters, concepts,

EX: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief….”

• similar to oxymoron or paradox

anthropomorphism

Applying human traits to non-human entities to objects, animals or the weather and LITERAL

Ex: a sun with a smiling face or talking dogs in a cartoon

anaphora

Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of a series of clauses or sentences - poetry, speeches, provoke emotional response in audience

Ex: “ I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up.. and I have a dream”

• similar to repetition

litotes

signature literary device of the double negative - express sentiments through the opposite

Ex: “You wont be sorry” (meaning you’ll be happy)

“You’re not wrong” (meaning your right)

anachronism

Attributing an event or object to a different era than it actually belongs.

• comment on a theme like time or society

Ex: In Julius Caesar, when Cassius refers to "the clock" striking three, even though clocks didn’t exist in ancient Rome.

rhetorical appeals

Persuasive techniques including ethos (ethics), pathos (emotion), and logos (logic).

…. Example: A doctor giving health advice on TV is using their professional credibility to persuade the audience.

….. Example: "If you don't adopt this dog, it might be put down. Think of how sad that would be." ___ appeal to sympathy.

….. Example: "Studies show that 90% of people who exercise regularly report better mental health." ___ appeal based on statistics.

Syntax

the way an author chooses to join words into phrases, clauses and sentences - groups of words

Ex: "She was beautiful, kind, and smart." vs. "Beautiful, kind, smart she was."

• The second sentence changes the word order… which can change the rhythm and emphasis of the sentence.