AP Lang Rhetorical Terms List 2 study guide

Ad Hominem Argument

A personal attack on an opponent that ignores the actual topic

Analogy

A comparison of two different things to explain a complex idea by showing how they are similar

Anecdote

A short story told to make a point or gab peoples attention

Appeal to Ethos

A persuasive method that targets the speaker’s credibility, character, and authority.

Appeal to Logos

A way of persuading an audience using logic

Appeal to Pathos

A way of convincing an audience by using emotion and feelings

Begging The Question

A logical error where you try to prove a point by using that same point as your proof

Casual Relationship

Where one event triggers the next to drive the narrative forward

Colloquialism

An informal word or phrase used in everyday casual speech

Conclusion

The final part of something or an ending to an event

Connotation

The feeling or idea that a word gives you way beyond its basic dictionary meaning

Emphasis

Giving special importance, value, or stress to something so it stands out

Essay

A piece of writing that shares a person’s thoughts, ideas, or facts about a topic

Euphemism

A polite or indirect word or expression used to replace a harsh, blunt, or unpleasant word

Example

A specific thing that helps explain a rule or acts as a model to copy

Generalization

A broad statement, idea, or principle formed by taking specific facts and applying them to a larger group or situation

Logical Fallacy

An error of reasoning that makes an argument invalid

Objective and Subjective Writing

Objective writing: verifiable facts without personal feeling
Subjective writing: personal feelings, experiences, or viewpoints

Red herring

Introducing an off-topic that distracts attention from the real issue

Sarcasm

Saying the exact opposite of what you mean to mock someone, show annoyance, or be funny

Satire

The use of humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize foolishness or bad behavior in people, government, or society

Subordination

Connecting a dependent clause to an independent clause using words like “although,” “because,” and “since”

Tone

The attitude or feeling an author or speaker has toward a subject or audience

Understatement

A figure of speech that makes a big situation or problem seem much less important, serious, or bad than it truly is

Voice

The unique personality, style, and sound of a piece of writing, shaped by word choice, sentence structure, and point of view