AP Language & Composition Rhetorical Vocab Set 2

Euphemism

A more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept.

Exposition

One of the four chief types of composition, the others being argumentation, description, and narration. The purpose is to explain something.

Extended Metaphor

A metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout the work.

Figurative Language

Writing or speech that is not intended to carry literal meaning and is usually meant to be imaginative and vivid.

Figure of Speech

A device used to produce figurative language.

Generic Conventions

This terms describes traditions for each genre.

Genre

The major category into which a literary work fits.

Homily

This term literally means “sermon,” but more informally, it can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice.

Hyperbole

A figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement.

Hypophora

Figure of reasoning in which one or more questions is/are asked and then answered, often at length, by one and the same speaker; raising and responding to one’s own question(s).

Imagery

The sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or represent abstractions.

Inference / Infer

To draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented.

Invective

An emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language.

Irony / Ironic

The contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant.

Juxtaposition

When two words, phrases, images, or ideas are placed close together or side by side for comparison or contrast.

Litotes

A figure of thought in which a point is affirmed by negating its opposite.

Loose Sentence

A type of sentence in which the main idea (independent clause) comes first, followed by dependent grammatical units such as phrases and clauses.

Metaphor

A figure of speech using implied comparison of seemingly unlike things or if the substitution of one for the other, suggesting some similarity.

Metonymy

A figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it.

Mood

This term has two distinct technical meanings in English writing. The first meaning is grammatical and deals with verbal units and a speaker’s attitude. The indicative _ is used only for factual sentences.

Narrative

The telling of a story or an account of an event or series of events.

Onomatopoeia

A figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words.

Oxymoron

A figure of speech wherein the author groups apparently contradictory terms to suggest a paradox.

Paradox

A statement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense but upon closer inspection contains some degree of truth or validity.

Parallelism

The grammatical or rhetorical framing of words, phrases, sentences, or paragraphs to give structural similarity.