AP Lang Fall Final

Ethos

A rhetorical appeal to credibility and character, convincing the audience of the speaker's trustworthiness or authority.

Exigence

The issue, problem, or situation that prompts a writer or speaker to create a text.

Logos

A rhetorical appeal to logic and reason, often using facts, statistics, and logical arguments.

Passive Voice

A sentence structure where the subject is acted upon rather than performing the action.

Pathos

A rhetorical appeal to the audience's emotions, aiming to evoke feelings to persuade.

Rhetorically Accurate Verbs

Specific verbs used to describe the action or tone of a writer or speaker.

SPACECAT

A framework for analyzing rhetorical texts: Speaker, Purpose, Audience, Context, Exigence, Choices, Appeals, and Tone.

CHORES

Acronym for types of evidence in arguments: Current events, History, Outside knowledge, Reading, Experience, Science.

Classical Argument

A structured argument following five parts: introduction, narration, confirmation, refutation, and conclusion.

Concession

Acknowledging a point made by the opposition to show fairness and understanding.

Counterargument

Addressing and rebutting opposing viewpoints to strengthen one's own position.

Deductive Reasoning

Giving a claim and then giving evidence to support it

Inductive Reasoning

Obeservations then a claim based off of them

Line of Reasoning

The logical progression of ideas in an argument.

Qualifying Thesis

A nuanced claim that acknowledges complexity by limiting its scope.

Rebuttal

A response that disproves or weakens an opposing argument.

REHUGO

Acronym for developing arguments using: Reading, Entertainment, History, Universal truths, Government, and Observation/observations.

S-Cubed

Acronym for analyzing arguments: Self, subject, society

Ad Hominem

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

False Cause

Assuming that because one event follows another, the first caused the second.

False Dichotomy

Presenting only two options when more exist.

Hasty Generalization

Drawing a conclusion based on insufficient or biased evidence.

Moral Equivalence

Comparing minor misdeeds to major atrocities.

Red Herring

Introducing irrelevant information to distract from the main issue.

Slippery Slope

Claiming a small action will lead to extreme and inevitable consequences.

Straw Man

Misrepresenting an argument to make it easier to attack.

Allusion

An indirect reference to a well-known text, event, or figure.

Analogy

A comparison between two things for the purpose of explanation or clarification.

Anecdote

A brief personal story used to illustrate a point.

Antithesis

Juxtaposition of contrasting ideas in balanced phrases or clauses.

Aphorism

A concise statement expressing a general truth or principle.

Asyndeton

The omission of conjunctions between parts of a sentence for effect.

Chiasmus

Two successive phrases or clauses paralleled in syntax but revered in analogous words. (noun verb, verb noun)

Colloquial

Informal language or expressions.

Conceit

An extended metaphor with a complex logic that governs an entire passage.

Connotation

The implied or associated meaning of a word beyond its dictionary definition.

Denotation

The literal, dictionary definition of a word.

Diction

Word choice used by a writer to convey tone or purpose.

Didactic

Writing intended to instruct or educate.

Euphemism

A mild or indirect word or phrase used in place of one that may be harsh or blunt.

Exposition

Writing or speech that explains or informs.

Homily

A sermon or moralizing lecture.

Hyperbole

Deliberate exaggeration for emphasis or effect.

Hypophora

Raising a question and immediately answering it.

Irony

A contrast between expectation and reality, often highlighting contradiction.

Juxtaposition

Placing two contrasting ideas close together for effect.

Litotes

An understatement that uses double negatives.

Metaphor

A direct comparison between two unlike things.

Metonymy

Substituting a related term for the object or concept.

Mood

The atmosphere or emotional feeling of a piece of writing.

Onomatopoeia

Words that imitate sounds.

Oxymoron

A figure of speech combining contradictory terms.

Paradox

A statement that seems self-contradictory but reveals a deeper truth.

Parallelism

The use of similar grammatical structures for effect.

Parody

A humorous imitation of a serious work.

Pedantic

Writing or speech that is overly concerned with rules or details.

Polysyndeton

The deliberate use of multiple conjunctions for effect.

Prose

Ordinary written or spoken language without metrical structure.

Rhetoric

The art of persuasion through speaking or writing.

Rhetorical Question

A question asked for effect, not requiring an answer.

Sarcasm

A mocking or ironic remark.

Satire

A work that uses humor, irony, or ridicule to criticize or expose.

Semantics

The study of meaning in language.

Syllogism

A logical argument that applies deductive reasoning.

Symbol

Using an object or action to represent something beyond its literal meaning.

Synecdoche

A figure of speech where a part represents the whole.

Syntax

The arrangement of words and phrases to create sentences.

Tone

The author's attitude toward the subject or audience.

Understatement

Minimizing the importance of something for effect.