2025 AP Lang Rhetorical Vocabulary Terms 1-75 (Vocab Quiz 6)

This is the rhetorical vocabulary for the 10/31/25 vocab quiz in Mr. Sturm's AP Lang class. Exact definitions from the packet have been modified to address grammatical, punctuational, and spelling errors, to remove the term from the definition, and to overall make the definition easier to understand. I may add past vocab quiz questions to this list soon since Mr. Sturm said some questions could be repeated.

abstract

A piece of writing that summarizes the principles, ideas, or arguments advanced in.

acronym

A word formed by combining the initial letters or syllables of a series of words to form a name

• radar

• radio detection

• ranging

adjective

A word that modifies or tells the reader something about a person, place, or thing (noun). “modifies” it. It answers the questions Which one? What kind? How many? Whose? about a noun.

adverb

This word modifies or tells the reader something about a verb, adjective, or another instance of this word. It answers the questions When? Where? How? To what extent? Why?

aesthetic effect

The pleasure, sense of beauty, emotion, or lack of such that readers, speakers, or listeners derive from aural, visual, and print texts.

aesthetic purpose

The pleasure, sense of beauty, and/or emotion a writer sets out to evoke are all aspects of this term. Often writers set out to achieve these particular effects through subject matter, word choice, structure, and/or figurative devices.

aim

The goal of a writer or speaker hopes to achieve with a text, for example, to explain or clarify difficult material, to inform, or to persuade. Also called purpose.

allegory

The device of using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning. For example, an author may intend the characters to personify an abstraction like hope or freedom. The abstraction’s meaning usually deals with moral truth or a generalization about human existence.

alliteration

The repetition of sounds, especially initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words (as in she sells sea shells). Although the term is not used frequently in the multiple-choice section, you can look it in any essay passage. The repetition can reinforce meaning, unify ideas, supply a musical sound, and/or echo the sense of the passage.

allusion

A direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly known, such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art. They can be historical, literary, religious, topical, or mythical. There are many more possibilities, and a work may simultaneously use multiple layers of them.

Shakespeare often references Greek gods.

ambiguity

The multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage.

“I've never tasted a cake quite like this before.”

analogy

A similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them. It can explain something unfamiliar by associating it with or pointing out its similarity to something more familiar. They can also make writing more vivid, imaginative, or intellectually engaging.

They can be used as support in exposition and/or persuasion as well as poetic language. Here, the writer explains or describes something unfamiliar by comparing it to something familiar, or supports or proves an unknown by comparing it to something known or already proven.

New vocabulary is like learning to “ride a bike.”

analysis

A method by which we examine a piece of art or literature in detail in order to understand it better or draw conclusions from it. Also, we may separate the work into its “components” to find out what it contains, to examine individual parts, or to study the structure of the whole.

anaphora

One of the devices of repetition, in which the same expression (word or words) is repeated at the beginning of two or more lines, clauses, or sentences.

“Get busy living or get busy dying.”

anecdote

A short narrative detailing particulars of an interesting episode or event. The term most frequently refers to an incident in the life of a person.

anecdotal scripting

A form of annotation in which the reader makes notes in the margins of a text, notes that highlight important points, pose questions, summarize, or paraphrase, etc. Also known as marginilia.

annotated bibliography

Includes a list of resources, formatted according to a particular style sheet, with a brief summary or overview of the resource, followed by an evaluation and/or recommendation reading the usefulness of the resource.

antecedent

The word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.

I hate my boss. He always micromanages me.

• “He” is a pronoun referring to “boss”, its antecedent

antithesis

The juxtaposition of sharply contrasting ideas in balanced or parallel words, phrases, and grammatical structures or ideas.

“To err is human, to forgive divine.”

aphorism

A terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or a moral principle. (If the authorship is unknown, the statement is generally considered to be a folk proverb.)

It can be a memorable summation of the author's point.

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

appeal

One of the three strategies for persuading audiences—logos (reason), pathos (emotion), or ethos (ethics).

apostrophe

A figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love. It is an address to someone or something that cannot answer. The effect may add familiarity or emotional intensity.

William Wordsworth addresses John Milton as he writes, “Milton, thou shouldst be living at this hour: England hath need of thee.

argument

In persuasive or expository writing, this is the course of reasoning used to deliver the point of view or main idea that the writer is trying to get across to the reader. It may also refer to a particular statement, fact, or example, etc., that a writer uses to make his/her point.

argument by analogy

In exposition or persuasion, an argument in which the speaker or writer supports or proves an unknown by comparing it to something known or already proven, or explains or describes something unfamiliar by comparing it to something familiar.

argument by authority

Supporting an assertion or claim by invoking the words of an expert or authority. The quality of this type of argument is dependent on the credibility of the expert in the area or field related to the topic at hand.

argument by causation

An argument based on the assumption that event A leads directly to result B. The argument may be unconvincing or difficult to sustain unless the causal relationship between A and B is generally accepted.

argument by emotion

An argument in which the speaker or writer appeals to the heart rather than the mind in order to convince the audience. See also pathos.

article

Part of speech—a short word that comes before and points to the noun.

There are 3 instances of this part of speech in the English language: a, an, and the.

argument by logic

An argument that attempts to demonstrate the truth or validity of an assertion or conclusion through the relating of a set of premises or body of evidence. See also logos.

assertion

An unproven statement. If supported by evidence and reasoning, it becomes an argument.

asyndeton

A syntactical structure in which conjunctions are omitted in a series, usually producing more rapid prose.

"Veni, vidi, vici" (“I came, I saw, I conquered”)

atmosphere

The emotional mood created by the entirety of a literary work, established partly by the setting and partly by the author's choice of objects that are described, and even by elements such as a description of the weather. Frequently, this emotional mood may foreshadow events. Perhaps it can create a mood.

“Thunder cracked in the background as he approached the house.”

audience

The person or persons who listen to a spoken text or read a written one and are capable of responding to it.

bias

Any belief, ideology, value, or prejudice that inhibits impartial judgment.

chiasmus

A figure of speech and a syntactical structure wherein the order of the terms in the first half of a parallel clause is reversed in the second.

"He thinks I am but a fool… fool, perhaps I am."

claim

An assertion stated as fact. In other words, although it may be presented as a truth, that truth is not necessarily supported by evidence.

classification

The sorting out of elements into classes or groups, or the separation of something into its parts. It is used when a writer wants to break something down into its elements or group a number of things in order to analyze them.

clause

A grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb. An independent, or main, grammatical unit expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence. A subordinate, or independent grammatical unit, cannot stand alone as a sentence and must be accompanied by an independent grammatical unit.

The point that you want to consider is the question of why the author subordinates one element to the other. You should also become aware of making effective use of subordination in your own writing.

cliché

An old, tired expression that writers should avoid "like the plague," which is itself an example of this word.

coherence

A principle demanding that the parts of any composition be arranged so that the meaning of the whole may be immediately clear and intelligible. Words, phrases, clauses within the sentence, as well as sentences, paragraphs, and chapters in larger pieces of writing, are the units that, by their progressive and logical arrangement, make for this clarity.

colloquial/colloquialism

The use of slang or informalities in speech or writing. Not generally acceptable for formal writing, but it gives a work a conversational, familiar tone. Such informal expressions in writing also include local or regional dialects.

complex sentence

A sentence with one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.

“I was short with him because I was running late.”

compound sentence

A sentence with two or more independent clauses.

“I really need to go to work, but I am too sick to drive.”

compound-complex sentence

A sentence with two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.

“The dog ran off when I chased him, but I didn’t care.”

conceit

A fanciful or imaginative expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects. It displays intellectual cleverness as a result of the quite unusual comparison being made.

“Marriage is like getting a root canal.”

conclusion

The close of an essay, which should bring the writer’s point home in a few sentences or a paragraph. Good closings do more than repeat a thesis, but they may refer to facts, ideas, and even the opening anecdote.

conjunction

A word or phrase that joins words, phrases, clauses, or ideas.

In the English language, there are three types:

• coordinating- connects multiple equal words, phrases, or clauses (for, and, nor, but)

• correlative- are in separate locations within the sentence but work together (either… or, neither… nor)

• subordinating- connects a subordinate clause to an independent clause, making a complex sentence (after, although, if, since)

connotation

The non-literal, associative meaning of a word; the implied, suggested meaning. May involve ideas, emotions, or attitudes.

context

The circumstance in which an event occurs. To put something into ____ is to examine it in relation to the circumstances present at the time of its composition or to examine it in light of the events relevant to its subject or topic. It may also be used to indicate the placement of a part within a larger setting. For example, a word in ____ refers to the meaning of the word in a particular sentence, paragraph, or text.

Also called “milieu” in literary analysis or historical documents, meaning the surroundings or environment that somebody lives in and is influenced by.

controlling idea

An idea that provides the common thread that ties a text together. It may be expressed as a thesis, as a topic sentence, or as an extended metaphor or image.

critique

An assessment or analysis of something, such as a passage of writing, for the purpose of determining what the piece of writing is, what its limitations are, and how it conforms to the standard of the genre.

deductive reasoning

Reasoning that begins with a general principle and concludes with a specific instance that demonstrates that general principle.

1. Monkeys like bananas.

2. Lucy is a monkey.

3. Lucy likes bananas.

definition

Explanation of the nature of a word, thing, or idea. It attempts to make us understand something we already knew in a novel or new way.

When Nancy Mairs discusses “being a cripple,” she is using a label others try not to use, but redefines what it means using a new explanation.

denotation

The strict, literal, dictionary definition of a word, devoid of any emotion, attitude, or color.

description

Depiction through sensory evidence, including details of touch, smell, taste, and hearing. These concrete details can support a specific argument, give the reader a sense of immediacy, or establish a mood.

This term, while tied to the concrete (restricted to its literal meaning), can also use metaphors, as when Richard Rodriguez writes, “At one point his words slid together into one word-sounds as confused as the threads of blue and green oil in the puddle next to my shoes.”

dialect

The language and speech idiosyncrasies of a specific area, region, or group.

• Minnesotans say “you betcha” when they agree with you

• Georgians say “y’all” when speaking to a group

They are evident in speech from a different era, culture, or region.

diction

The writer’s word choices, especially with regard to their correctness, clearness, or effectiveness. You should be able to describe an author’s word choices (for example, formal or informal, ornate or plain) and understand how they complement the author’s purpose.

Combined with syntax, figurative language, literary devices, etc., creates an author’s style.

didactic

From the Greek, this word literally means “teaching.” Works of this nature have the primary aim of teaching or instructing, especially the teaching of moral or ethical principles.

discourse

A serious and lengthy speech or piece of writing about a topic OR a serious discussion about something between people or groups.

Also could refer to language, especially the type of language used in a particular context or subject, or a unit of language, especially spoken language, that is longer than a sentence.

division

The separation of something into parts. It is used when a writer wants to break something down into its elements or group a number of things in order to analyze them.

Newspapers are separated into news, advertisements, classifieds, etc.

draft

An unfinished essay that has not been completely revised, edited, and proofread. When still in this stage, writers can rethink not only the structure of the essay but also the ideas.

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

From the Greek for "good speech," a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept. It may be used to adhere to standards of social or political correctness or to add humor or ironic understatement.

Saying “earthly remains” rather than “corpse”.

exposition

In essays, one of the four chief types of composition (rhetorical modes). Its purpose is to explain something. In drama, it would be the introductory material, which creates the tone, gives the setting, and introduces the characters and conflict.

expository discourse

Language with the purpose of explaining something. The audience, purpose, structure or form, and speaker or voice are all important elements of such language.

extended metaphor

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

evidence

The ideas (facts, statistics) that support an argument. It may take different forms depending on the kind of writing it appears in, but it is generally concrete, agreed-upon information that can be pointed to as an example or proof.

When writer Vicki Hearn, in “What's Wrong with Animal Rights?” argues against animal rights, advocating by pointing to things she has done as an animal trainer, she is offering her experiences as this supporting information.

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, often comparing dissimilar things.

Includes apostrophe, hyperbole, irony, metaphor, metonymy, oxymoron, paradox, personification, simile, synecdoche, and understatement.

flow

In an essay, speech, or narrative, when ideas are presented in a fluent, seamless, logical, and/or meaningful way without any distractions or interruptions that impede the reader.

focus

In writing or speaking, 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

This term describes the traditions and conventions within genres, which help to define each genre. For example, they can differentiate between an essay and journalistic writing or between an autobiography and political writing.

Try to distinguish the unique features of a writer’s work from those dictated by convention.

genre

The major category into which a literary work fits. The basic divisions of literature are prose, poetry, and drama. Within these broad boundaries exist many subdivisions, which are also referred to as this term.

• Prose can be divided into fiction (novels and short stories) or nonfiction (essays, biographies, autobiographies, etc.).

• Poetry can be divided into lyric, dramatic, narrative, epic, etc.

• Drama can be divided into tragedy, comedy, melodrama, farce, etc.

homily

This term literally means “sermon,” but more informally, it can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice.