Ap lang terms

rhetoric

The art of finding ways of persuading an audience

texts

cultural products that can be read consumed, comprehended, and investigated

purpose

the goal speaker wants to achieve

context

The circumstances, atmosphere, attitudes, and events surrounding a text

occasion/ exigence

The time and place a speech is given or written; the external motivation, issue, or situation that has prompted an author, speaker, etc. to write or speak

subject

The topic of a text. What the text is about

speaker

the person or group who creates a text

persona

The face or character that the speaker shows to his or her audience

audience

the listener, viewer, or reader of a text

ethical/rhetorical appeals

techniques used to persuade an audience by emphasizing what they find most important or compelling

ethos

that which establishes a speakers credibility

pathos

that which stirs up an emotion and plays on an audiences values, hopes, desires, fears, or prejudices

logos

it provides clear, rational ideas that are supported by facts, statistics, and the like

connotation

meaning associated with a word

denotation

dictionary definition of a word

satire

the use of sarcasm, irony, or wit to highlight a societal/individual flaw

diction

a speakers choice of words

syntax

the arrangement of words with a focus on word order and the length and structure of sentences

tone

speakers attitude toward the subject conveyed

mood

the feeling or atmosphere created by a text

alliteration

repetition of the same sound at the begging of a word over several words

colloquialism

a word off phrase that is not formal or literary, typically used in ordinary or familiar conversation

euphemism

a mild or indirect word/expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or unpleasant

antithesis

opposition/contrast of ideas or words in a parallel construction

hyperbole

deliberate exaggeration used for emphasis or for effect. an overstatement of a point

metaphor

figures of speech comparing two thing without like or as

simile

figures of speech comparing two things using like or as

synecdoche

figure of speeech where a part represents the whole

inversion/ Anastrophe

inverted word order in a sentence

irony

figure of speech that occurs when a speaker or character says one thing but means something else, or when what is said is the opposite of what is expected

allusion

a reference to a person, event, place or other known piece of art/writing/etc.

anaphora

repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, or lines

juxtaposition

side by side placement used to highlight similarities of differences

metonymy

figure of speech where something referred to by another name that is related to or associated with

parallelism

similarly of structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases, or clauses

imagery

sensory details and description

personification

attribution of a lifelike quality to an inanimate object or idea

rhetorical question

a question posed for rhetorical effect and not for the purpose of getting an answer

understatement

figure of speech where something is presented as less important, dire, urgent, good, etc., than it actually is

paradox

a seemingly contradictory statement that delivers a truth

open thesis statement

a chief claim that any writer makes any argumentative piece of writing. Does not list all points the writer intends to cover

closed thesis statement

a chief claim that any writer makes any argumentative piece of writing. provides a preview of the major points intended to be made

claim

an arguable assertion or position on an argument

evidence

key facts, examples, events, statistics, etc. used to support a claim

concession

an acknowledgment that an opposing argument may be true or reasonable

counterclaim

an opposing argument to the one the write is putting forward

rebuttal

giving a voice to a possible objection, usually to a counterclaim, so as to so lift the validity of one’s stance and original argument

logical fallacy

potential vulnerabilities or weaknesses in an argument. these often arise from failure to make logical connection between the claim and the evidence used to support it

deductive reasoning/deduction

logical process where a conclusion is reached by starting with a general/ universal truth and applying it to a specific case

inductive reasoning/ induction

logical process wherein a specific case is used to draw a general conclusion

anecdote

a brief story used to illustrate a point or claim

maxim

a proverb or short statement expressing general truth

subjective

view based on personal perspective

objective

viewpoint not based on a personal viewpoint