AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Vocab

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Analogy

Explaining a complex concept by comparing it something more simple

Argument

The combination of reasons, evidence, etc. that an author uses to convince an audience of their position

Aristotelian appeals

Three methods of appealing to an audience to convince them (ethos, logos, pathos)

Attitude

The writer’s personal views or feelings about the subject at hand

Audience

Who the author is directing their message towards

Compare and contrast

Discussing the similarities and differences between two things for some persuasive or illustrative purpose

Connotation

The implied meaning of a word; words can have broadly positive, negative, or neutral connotations

Context

The extra-textual environment in which the text is being delivered

Counterargument

Argument against the author’s position

Deductive reasoning

Form of logical reasoning in which a general principle is applied to a specific case

Denotation

Literal, dictionary definition meaning of a word

Diction

The style of language used, generally tailored to be appropriate to the audience and situation

Ethos

One of the Aristotelian appeals, setting up a source as credible and trustworthy

Evidence

Information presented meant to persuade the audience of the author’s position

Figurative language

Use of language in a non-literal way, so as to evoke emotion or emphasize a point (metaphor, personification, hyperbole…)

Genre

The specific type of work being presented (novel, play, essay, haiku…)

Imagery

Any descriptive language used to evoke a vivid sense or image of something, typically using the five sense; includes figurative language

Implication

Something that is suggested without being directly stated

Inductive reasoning

Making a generalization based on specific evidence at hand

Irony

The difference between expectation and reality; saying the opposite of what you mean; comes in three forms:

situational (something unexpected happens for the circumstances)

verbal (saying the opposite of what you mean)

dramatic (the audience knows more than the characters)

Juxtaposition

Placing two very different things together for effect

Logos

One of the Aristotelian appeals, appealing to the audience’s sense of concrete facts and logic.

Occasion

The reason or moment for writing or speaking

Organization

How the different parts of an argument are arranged in a piece of writing or speech

Pathos

One of the Aristotelian appeals, appeal to emotion

Purpose

Author’s persuasive intention

Repetition

Re-using a word or phrase for effect or emphasis

Rhetoric

Use of spoken, written, or visual media to convey your ideas and convince an audience

Rhetorical triangle

The relationship between the author, audience, the text/message, and the context

(The author communicates to the reader via the text; and the reader and text are surrounded by context.)

Speaker

Persona adopted by the author to deliver their message; is not necessarily the author

Style

Author’s own personal approach to rhetoric in the piece, similar to voice

Symbolism

Using a tangible object/place/person to refer to an abstract idea or concept

Syntax

The way sentences are grammatically structured

Synthesis

Combining sources or ideas in a coherent way in the purpose of a larger point

Themes

Overarching ideas or driving premises of a work

Tone

Use of stylistic devices to reveal an author’s attitude toward a subject

Voice

An author’s unique sound, similar to style

Alliteration

Repetition of beginning sounds/letters in nearby words

Allusion

Reference to another piece of media (literature, art, speeches…)

Anecdote

Brief narrative episode/story. Can introduce an issue, be evidence, illustrate a point…

Concession

Agreeing with the opposing viewpoint on a certain smaller point, but not in the larger argument

Didactic

A text with an instructive purpose, often moral

Euphemism

Referring to something with a veiled phrase instead of saying it directly

(he’s no longer with us = he died)

Exemplification

Providing examples in service of a point

Hyperbole

Overstating a situation for humorous or dramatic effect

Idiom

A commonly used phrase that signifies something very different from its literal meaning

(It’s raining cats and dogs = it’s raining a lot)

Onomatopoeia

Using words that sound like the sounds they refer to, sound effects (buzz, hiss, pow)

Paradox

A phrase or assertion that appears to contradict itself (but the contradiction itself may have its own meaning)

Parallelism

Repeated structural elements in a sentence

Parody

Using the form of something to mimic and make fun of it

Personification

Giving human characteristics to a nonhuman object or idea

Sarcasm

Mockingly stating the opposite of what you mean (easier to convey in the spoken word through writing because of vocal tone)

Satire

A genre of humorous and mocking criticism to expose the ignorance and/or ills of society

Synecdoche

Referring to one part of something as a way to refer to the whole

Understatement

Deliberately minimzing something usually or humorous effect