AP Language and Composition: Rhetorical Handbook - Vocabulary Flashcards

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering rhetorical terms and concepts from the lecture notes.

Style

The manner of expression of a writer, produced by word choice, grammar, and use of devices.

Diction

An author’s choice of words; affects meaning and mood because words have specific meanings.

Connotation

Ideas or meanings suggested by a word beyond its literal definition.

Denotation

The literal, dictionary definition of a word.

Pedantic

Language that sounds academic and formal, often overly concerned with rules.

Simple Language

Plain, clear, easy-to-understand language.

Didactic

Literary writing that is overloaded with informative matter and aims to teach, often preachy.

Literal

What you see; language interpreted in its most direct sense.

Figurative

What you get from language beyond the literal, often through metaphor or symbolism.

Active Voice

The subject performs the action of the verb.

Passive Voice

The subject is acted upon or receives the action.

Repetition

Repeating words, phrases, or punctuation to emphasize a point.

Allegory

Extended metaphor where characters/events symbolize a deeper moral or political meaning.

Autobiography

A biography written by the subject themselves.

Biography

An account of a person’s life written by someone else.

Memoir

A narrative focusing on a specific period or aspect of a person’s life.

Chronicle

An extended, factual account of historical events without interpretation.

Diary

A daily written record of personal experiences and observations.

Essay

A short literary composition on a single subject, often presenting the author’s view.

Fiction

Literature based on imagination rather than fact.

Nonfiction

Writing that draws on facts and real events.

Parody

A humorous imitation of a work or author’s style for comic effect.

Prose

Written or spoken language in ordinary form, not poetry.

Satire

A literary work that ridicules human folly to critique society.

Sermon

A formal speech, often religious, intended to teach or exhort.

Stream of Consciousness

A narrative technique that records a character’s thoughts as they occur.

Editorial

An article expressing the opinion of the editor or publisher.

Allusion

A brief indirect reference to a person, place, or thing well known to readers.

Ambiguity

Doubtful or unclear meaning; more than one possible interpretation.

Anecdote

A short, personal or observed story used to illustrate a point.

Analogy

A comparison of two things to explain or clarify a concept.

Anaphora

Repetition of words or phrases at the beginnings of sentences for emphasis.

Antithesis

A contrast of ideas placed in parallel grammatical structure.

Aphorism

A concise, witty statement that conveys a general truth.

Asyndeton

Omission of conjunctions in a series to create emphasis.

Enthymeme

A syllogism with a missing premise or conclusion—the reader supplies it.

Euphemism

A mild or indirect term used in place of a harsher one.

Fallacies

Flawed or misleading arguments that are often persuasive.

Hyperbole

A gross or intentional exaggeration for emphasis.

Hypotheticals

Hypothetical scenarios used to explore ideas or consequences.

Invective

Abusive, critical, or harsh language aimed at a person or thing.

Juxtaposition

Placing two things side by side to highlight contrast.

Malapropism

Mistaken use of a word for comic effect.

Paradox

A seemingly self-contradictory statement that may reveal a truth.

Oxymoron

Putting together two contradictory terms (e.g., deafening silence).

Parallelism

Using the same grammatical structure in related phrases or clauses.

Polysyndeton

Using multiple coordinating conjunctions in succession for emphasis.

Rhetorical Question

A question asked for effect, not to elicit an answer.

Sensory Detail

Descriptive detail appealing to the senses (sight, sound, touch, etc.).

Shift

A change in tone, perspective, or style within a work.

Syllogism

A basic form of deductive reasoning: major premise, minor premise, conclusion.

Tone

The author’s attitude toward the subject or reader.

Tone Shift

A change in tone over the course of a work.

Perspective

The point of view from which a piece is narrated or argued.

Purpose

The author’s intended effect or goal in writing.

Theme/Thesis

The central message or argument of a literary work.

Voice

The author’s or narrator’s distinctive style or persona.

Audience

The people for whom the text is written or delivered.

Ethos

Ethical appeal; credibility and character of the speaker/writer.

Pathos

Emotional appeal to the audience.

Logos

Logical appeal based on evidence and reasoning.

Exposition

Mode that explains and informs; includes classification, cause/effect, comparison/contrast, definition, and analysis.

Description

Depicts images verbally, focusing on appearance or sensory details.

Narration

Organizes events in time or space; tells what happened.

Persuasion/Argument

Trying to convince an audience through reasoning and evidence.

Rhetorical Occasion

The context that prompts the argument, including exigence and audience.

Claim

A statement asserted as true that a writer argues to support.

Deductive Reasoning

Reasoning from general principles to a specific conclusion.

Inductive Reasoning

Reasoning from specific examples to a general principle.

Line of Reasoning

The formal arrangement of claims and reasons leading to a conclusion.

Evidence/Data

Facts, examples, or information supporting a claim.

Warrant

Implicit assumption linking evidence to the claim.

Counterargument

An opposing view to the main argument.

Concession

Recognition that opposing arguments have some validity.

Rebuttal

Disproof of opposing arguments or counterclaims.