ap lang vocab

Allusion

A brief direct or indirect reference to a well known individual, topic, historical event, text, quote, and such, intended to amplify understanding of the subject matter with the audience

Analogy

Explaining something complex by comparing it to something more simple

Anecdote

This is when an author shares a personal story or situation to enable the audience to better understand a situation by making it more relatable or providing more context

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 and 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 connotations

Context

The environment (time periods circumstances, world events happening concurrently) in which the text is being delivered

Counter argument

The argument(s) against the authors position

Denotation

The literal dictionary-definition meaning of a word

Diction

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

Evidence

The information presented meant to persuade the audience

Figurative language

The use of language in a non-literal way; a metaphor or simile, to enhance your writing

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

Irony

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

Juxtaposition

Placing two very different things together for effect

Occasion/exigence

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

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

Speaker/writer

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 authors own personal approach to rhetoric in the piece; similar to voice

Symbolism

Using a symbols to refer to an idea or concept

Syntax

The way sentences are grammatically constructed- simple vs complicated (both work in different contexts or for different purposes

Synthesis

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

Themes

Overarching ideas or driving premises of a work

Tone

The use if stylistic devices, primarily in word choice, to reveal an author’s attitude toward a subject

Voice

An authors unique sound or vibe exuded; similar to style

Message

What the author wants to convey; what exactly the author wants the reader to know