AP Lingo 1-3 and Precise Verbs Flashcards

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DICTION

Word choice, particularly as an element of style.

COLLOQUIAL

Language that is informal and conversational. Words or expression that is commonplace and well-known within a specific language, geographic region, or historical era.

SLANG

Informal words and phrases created among a small group of people or a specific subculture

JARGON

Technical terms used by people within a specific profession or trade, many which would not make sense to people outside of that particular industry.

DENOTATION

The literal dictionary definition(s) of a word, devoid of any emotion or attitude.

CONNOTATION

The associations and emotions suggested by a word.

EXIGENCE

What causes an author to write or a speaker to speak in the first place: the event, the sense of urgency, the problem that requires attention right now, the argument that must be refuted, the situation that has arisen that prompts someone to create a rhetorical message for an audience.

CONCESSION

Accepting or acknowledging at least part or all of an opposing position.

QUALIFIERS

Words or phrases we add to put a healthy, reasonable limitation on our argument.

ABSOLUTES

Absolutes are words free from limitations or qualifications, such as always, all, never, must, everyone, etc.

CONDITIONAL STATEMENT

An if-then statement that consists of two parts.

GENRE

The major category in which a written work fits. The basic divisions of literature are prose, poetry, and drama. However, genres can be subdivided as well.

SATIRE

A work that employs satirical techniques to criticize some element of life. The satirist targets human vices, behaviors, social institutions, decisions, policies, etc. but, instead of a serious lecture or speech, employs mockery to get at more serious truths.

PARODY

A work that closely imitates the style or content of another for comic effect.

EXPOSÉ

An article, book, or essay that brings a scandal to public notice often disclosing previously unknown details that discredit that subject. For my APUSH friends, think The Jungle by Upton Sinclair

EXPOSITION

Writing or speech primarily intended to convey information or to explain.

DIATRIBE

A speech or piece of writing that features a bitter or violent criticism.

DIDACTIC

Works that have the primary aim of instructing, especially moral principles.

SITUATIONAL IRONY

When what occurs is the opposite of what is logically expected.

VERBAL IRONY

A speaker makes a statement intending for the listener to know he/she means the opposite. Essentially sarcasm.

DRAMATIC IRONY

When the audience knows more than one or more of the characters. Creates suspense and can also be used comedically

ANECDOTE

A brief recounting of a personal experience or very short story.

ANALOGY

A technique in which two unrelated objects are compared for their shared qualities.

APHORISM

A terse statement that expresses a general truth or moral principle. Very similar to proverbs.

PARADOX

A statement with seemingly contradictory ideas that can actually be true.

OXYMORON

A figure of speech in which two contradictory words are juxtaposed. Examples: clamorous silence, jumbo shrimp

IMAGERY

Vivid descriptive language that appeals to one or more of the senses.

TONE

The attitude the writer/speaker takes towards a specific subject.

ANAPHORA

A figure of speech in which words repeat at the beginning of successive clauses.

ETYMOLOGY

The study of the history and definitions of words.

Bandwagon/argumentum ad populum

An argument built around the belief that something is true because many people believe it.

Appeal to Tradition/argumentum ad antiquitatem

Assuming that old practices are best simply because they are established.

Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc

Assuming that because A occurred, B must have been caused by A.

Slippery Slope/Camel's Nose

Arguing that one change will lead to extreme consequences without credible evidence. Again for my APUSH friends think of Truman and Eisenhower's Domino Theory regarding the "containment" of communism.

Ad Hominem

Attacking the person making an argument rather than the argument itself.

Hasty Generalization

making an assumption about a group of people or drawing a conclusion based on information about or experiences with only a limited, inadequate sample.

False Dichotomy

Reducing choices to only two options, ignoring other possibilities.

Fallacy of Omniscience

Making an argument that requires knowing everything.

Both-sides-ism

someone simultaneously condemns and excuses both sides in a dispute by claiming that both sides are (equally) guilty of inappropriate behavior or bad reasoning (or equally deserving of praise) when, in truth, the scale, severity, motivations, etc. are objectively not equivalent.

Fallacy of Moral Equivalence

arguing that a problem, decision, misdeed, etc. is similar to another problem, decision, misdeed, etc. that is far worse or extreme. Basically, drawing a MORAL comparison that is inaccurate and unfair.

Weak/False Analogy

a far-fetched comparison, or the similar characteristics of the two different things being compared are not relevant to the argument being advanced.

Straw Man Fallacy

Ignoring a person's actual argument and, instead, choosing an easier task—namely, substituting a distorted, exaggerated, or misrepresented version of the person's position

Sunk Cost Fallacy

making the argument that we should follow through on an endeavor because we have already invested time, effort, or money into it—ignoring whether or not the current costs outweigh the benefits and/or despite the fact that new information suggests it would be better to change course.

Appeal to False/Weak Authority

Using an alleged authority that is not credible to support an argument.

Confirmation Bias

Lending extra weight to information that confirms our beliefs.

Dunning-Kruger Effect

Human tendency to overestimate our knowledge or ability in an area where we are unskilled.

Illusory Truth Effect

Believing false information is true after repeated exposure.

Groupthink

A phenomenon where the desire for harmony results in dysfunctional decision-making, usually in an attempt to meet deadlines or minimize conflict. Often associated with a lack of critical evaluation of alternative viewpoints, and dissenting viewpoints are actively suppressed

Cognitive Dissonance

Avoiding facts that conflict with our beliefs, leading to rationalization. The dodging or subconscious debunking of evidence that makes us uncomfortable or challenges our existing preconceptions.

Proportionality Bias

Assuming big events have big causes. Example: some conspiracy theories

Precise verbs for advancing a claim

claims, argues. contends/asserts, advocates, proposes, encourages, urges/insists, maintains, insists, demands, recommends, calcifies/ossifies the point

Verbs to emphasize something

emphasizes, calls attention to, points out, stresses, underscores, draws attention to , spotlights, highlights, illuminates

Verbs to present information

presents, explains/explicates, describes/dissects/parses, demonstrates, reveals, reports, elucidates, provides, exposes, outlines, conveys, offers

Verbs to disagree, challenge or deemphasize

discounts, criticizes, warns, refutes, counters, rebuts, blames, minimizes, disparages, rejects, condemns, denigrates

Verbs to praise, agree, or support

praises, supports, corroborates, reaffirms/emulates, reinforces, confirms/countenances, reminds, celebrates

Verbs to make a concession

concedes/mollifies, acknowledges, admits/ameliorates, responds to, addresses, grants

Verbs to consider, question, imply, or argue for something indirectly

considers, questions, suggests, implies, broaches, ponders/imagines, examines, inquires, seeks to, insinuates, explores/wonders, hints