61-90 APLAC Vocab

draft

An unfinished essay that has not been completely revised, edited, and proofread. Writers can rethink not only the structure of the essay but the ideas as well.

engage

to pique and maintain the interest of the reader throughout the reading of a text

ethos

The author’s ability to reveal his or her credibility, expertise, or goodwill in the text.

euphemism

Greek for “good speech”. More agreeable or less offensive substitutes for a generally unpleasant word or concept. May be socially or politically correct or add humor or ironic understatement. “earthly remains” rather than “corpse”

exposition

One of the four chief types of composition in essays. The purpose of it is to explain something. In drama, it is the introductory material that creates the tone, gives the setting, and introduces characters and conflict.

expository discourse

The elements of this include audience, purpose, structure or form, and speaker or voice.

extended metaphor

A metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout a work.

evidence

The idea that supports an argument. It takes different forms depending on the kind of writing in which it appears, but it is generally concrete agreed-upon information that can be pointed to as example of proof.

figurative language

Writing or speech that is not intended to carry literal meaning and is usually meant to be imaginative and vivid.

figure of speech

A device used to produce figurative language. Many compare dissimilar things. Figures of speech include apostrophe, hyperbole, irony, metaphor, metonymy, oxymoron, paradox, personification, simile, synecdoche, and understatement. 

flow

Ideas that are presented in a fluent seamless, logical, and/or meaningful way without any distractions or interruptions that impede the reader.

focus

To sustain attention on the purpose and/or controlling idea of the piece by consistently connecting the various parts of the piece to that purpose/controlling idea.

generic conventions

Describes traditions for each genre. These conventions help to define each genre.

genre

The major category into which a literary work fits. The basic divisions of literature are prose, poetry, and drama

homily

Literally means “sermon” but informally it can include any serious talk, speach, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice.

hyperbole

A figure of speech using deliberate exaggerations or overstatement.

imagery

The sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arous emotion, or represent abstractions. On a physical level, imagery uses terms related to the five senses. On a broader and deeper level, it can represent more that one thing such as a rose may present visual imagery while also representing the color in a woman’s cheeks and or symbolizing some degree of perfection.

inductive reasoing

Reasoning that begins by citing a number of specific instances or examples and then shows how collectively the consitutue a general principle. 

inference/infer

To draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented.

integrate

in any researched / documented essay: quoted paraphrased and or summarized words of others that will be incorporated into the wriers own text. To do this smoothly, writers should seamlessly blend or weave their own words with those of others. This is the integration of quotations and citations. If quotations are integrated, no quotation will stand alone as a sentece.

introduction

The beginning of an essay; should generally state a writers main point.

invective

An emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive langauge.

irony/ironic

The contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant. Three major types, verbal, situational, and dramatic.

jargon

The specialized vocabulary of a particular group.

juxaposition

The location of one thing adjacent to another to cause an effect, reveal an attitude, or make a point.

logical argument, classical

Derive from Greek and Roman philosophers and include three types of appeals.

logical argument, contemporary

May employ strategies and appeals beyond the three that characterize the classical type. Include but are not limited to, definition, induction, inference, and analogy.

logical fallacy

Refers to the flaw in the structure of an argument that render ths argument invalid. Also used to mean any argument that is faulty or problematic.L

logos

The author’s ability to reveal logic and reason in the text.

loose sentence

A type in which the main idea comes first, followed by dependent grammatical units such as phrases and clauses. Creates an informal, relaxed, and conversational feel.