AP English Language and Composition Unit 1

AP English Language and Composition Unit 1

rhetoric

The use of language to persuade an audience.

audience appeals

Methods of persuading an audience through emotion, logic, or ethics.

logos

The presentation of facts and statistics.

pathos

The quality of speech or written work that appeals to the emotions of the audience.

ethos

The character and credibility of the writer in the eyes of the reader.

rhetorical device

A persuasive technique used to help convince an audience.

rhetorical question

A question with an obvious answer, which is used to emphasize a writer's main point.

diction

The word choice and purposeful arrangement of words that affect meaning in speech or writing.

parallelism

A pattern in writing in which words and phrases are similar in structure, one echoing another.

figurative language

A nonliteral use of language to suggest a specific feeling or meaning.

simile

A type of figurative language in which two unlike things are compared using like, as, than, or resembles.

metaphor

A type of figurative language in which one thing is said to be another thing.

personification

A type of figurative language in which nonhuman objects are given human qualities.

author's purpose

The reason the author wrote or is writing about a topic.

Rationalism

The belief that reason, logic, and experience should have greater influence than emotions or religious beliefs.

tone

The author's attitude toward a subject.

claim

An argument or point that has not yet been proved.

introduction paragraph

The first paragraph in an essay; it almost always includes the main idea, claim, or thesis statement.

body paragraph

A section of an essay in which the topics are presented and supported.

conclusion paragraph

The final paragraph in an essay in which the writer sums up his or her argument.

evidence

Information that helps to support a claim, thesis, or main idea.

counterclaim

A claim that is in opposition to another claim.

rebuttal

A response to a counterclaim or counter-argument.

transition

In writing, a word or group of words that helps a reader move from one idea to the next.

aphorism

A brief statement of principle or truth; also called adage or maxim.

trope

A figure of speech that involves a nonliteral use of language, such as a simile, a metaphor, or an understatement.

metonymy

A literary device in which an idea or concept is substituted for a closely related word or concept.

deductive reasoning

A method of thought or argument that starts with a general idea and then uses specific examples or known facts to support that idea.

inductive reasoning

A method of thought or argument that starts from a specific idea or fact to reach a more general conclusion.

text structure

The manner in which a text is organized.

premise

An idea used as the basis of a logical argument.

formal tone

Language written or spoken in a manner that respects accepted rules and uses proper vocabulary and grammar.

thesis statement

A one-sentence statement of the purpose or main point of an essay, usually included in the first paragraph.

commentary

A discussion of the purpose or significance of a text; also called analysis.

Bill of Rights

The first 10 amendments to the United States Constitution, which protect the rights of citizens and states.

majority opinion

An explanation of the reasoning behind a court decision.

dissent

An explanation of why certain judges disagree with the majority opinion.

Jargon

Specialized and often highly technical language.

summary

A brief restatement of the facts or statements already made.

hook

In an essay, the sentence that gets the reader's attention.

alliteration

The use of the same consonant sound at the beginning of words that are close together.

scheme

An arrangement of words for effect that relies on the literal meaning of the words.

slippery slope fallacy

A logical fallacy that assumes one small event will inevitably lead another more severe event.

allusion

An implied or indirect reference to something historical, literary, religious, mythical, or popular, such as a well-known story or a famous person.

anecdote

A very brief story that relates to a specific topic.

antithesis

An obvious contrast of ideas, generally balanced or parallel with regard to grammar.