AP LANG Set 1 Vocab : “Language of Composition” - Chapter 1

audience

the listener, viewer, or reader of a text

concession

an acknowledgment that an opposing argument may be true or reasonable

connotation

meanings or associations that readers have with a word beyond it’s dictionary definition, or denotation

context

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

counterargument

an opposing argument to the one a writer is putting forward

ethos

greek for character; speakers appeal to ethos to demonstrate that they are credible and trustworthy

logos

greek for embodied thought; speakers appeal to logos by offering clear, rational ideas and using specific details, examples, facts, statistics, or expert testimony to back them up

occasion

the time and place a speech is given or a piece is written

pathos

greek for suffering or experience; speakers appeal to pathos to emotionally motivate their audience. (more specific appeals play on the audience’s value, desires, and hopes, and on the other hand, fear and prejudices)

persona

greek for mask. the face or character that a speaker shows to his or her audience