AP Lang Summer Assignment

Developing Argument

A statement or series of statements advancing a position

Defend

To support or agree with a given assertion or argument

Challenge

To oppose or disagree with a given assertion or argument

Qualify

To modify or limit an argument by agreeing with parts while disputing others

Analysis

The examination of how individual rhetorical elements work together to create meaning

Argument or Claim

An assertion of truth supported by evidence and reasoning

Premise

A supporting statement or principle upon which an argument is based

Syllogism

A form of deductive reasoning consisting of a major premise a minor premise and a conclusion

Refutation

The act of proving a statement or theory to be wrong or false

Rebuttal

An argument or evidence presented to contradict or disprove a opposing claim

Counterargument

An opposing viewpoint or objection to a main claim

Rhetorical Question

A question asked for effect or emphasis without expecting an answer

Anecdote

A short entertaining or revealing story about a real incident or person

Diction

The choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing

Logical Fallacy

An error in reasoning that renders an argument invalid

Ad Hominem

An attack on an opponent character rather than their argument

Circumlocution

The use of unnecessarily many words to express an idea

Glittering Generalities

An emotionally appealing phrase closely associated with highly valued concepts or beliefs

Bandwagon

An argument appealing to the popular desire to follow the crowd

False Dilemma

An oversimplification that presents only two options when more exist

Slippery Slope

An argument asserting that a small first step leads inevitably to a chain of negative events

Hasty Generalization

A conclusion drawn from insufficient or biased evidence

Red Herring

An irrelevant topic introduced to divert attention from the original issue

Persuasive Strategies

Techniques used to convince an audience of a specific viewpoint

Inductive Reasoning

Deriving general principles from specific observations or facts

Deductive Reasoning

Applying a general principle to draw a conclusion about a specific case

Tropes and Figures of Speech

Words or expressions used in a non literal sense for rhetorical effect

Metaphor

An implicit comparison between two unrelated things without using like or as

Allusion

An indirect reference to a famous person place event or literary work

Synecdoche

A figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa

Simile

A direct comparison between two different things using like or as

Personification

Attributing human qualities or characteristics to non human entities

Metonymy

Substituting the name of one object for another closely associated with it

Apostrophe

Addressing an absent person or a personified object directly

Hyperbole

Deliberate and extreme exaggeration used for emphasis

Litotes

An understatement expressed by negating the opposite of the idea

Symbolism

The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities

Cacophony

A harsh discordant mixture of sounds

Euphony

A pleasing smooth or harmonious sound quality in words

Onomatopoeia

Words that imitate the natural sounds associated with the objects or actions they refer to

Contradiction and Contrast

Positioning opposing ideas together to highlight differences

Oxymoron

A figure of speech combining two contradictory terms

Antithesis

The direct opposite or a contrast of ideas expressed in a balanced grammatical structure

Paradox

A statement that appears self contradictory but reveals a deeper truth

Juxtaposition

Placing two things side by side to highlight comparison or contrast

Change in Word Order

Alterations to normal syntax for emphasis or poetic effect

Hyperbaton

An inversion of the normal order of words

Antanaclasis

Repeating a word or phrase but with a different meaning each time

Anastrophe

Inversion of the usual order of words in a sentence

Chiasmus

A rhetorical inversion of second phrase relative to the first

Anacoluthon

A sudden break or shift in grammatical structure within a sentence

Zeugma

Using one word to modify two or more words in different senses

Apposition

Placing side by side two coordinate elements where the second explains the first

Parenthesis

An explanatory word phrase or sentence inserted into a passage that interrupts normal syntax

Repetition

The deliberate reuse of words phrases or structures for emphasis

Alliteration

Repetition of initial consonant sounds in adjacent or nearby words

Assonance

Repetition of internal vowel sounds in nearby words

Consonance

Repetition of consonant sounds within or at the end of words

Polyptoton

Repetition of words derived from the same root word

Anaphora

Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses

Epistrophe

Repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses

Anadiplosis

Repetition of the last word of a clause at the beginning of the next clause

Antimetabole

Repetition of words in successive clauses in reverse grammatical order

Humor and Word Play

Rhetorical techniques that utilize wit or playfulness to engage or critique

Satire

The use of humor irony or ridicule to criticize human stupidity or vice

Irony

A contrast between expectation and reality

Verbal Irony

When a speaker says one thing but means the opposite

Situational Irony

When the outcome of a situation is totally different from what was expected

Pun

A joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word or homophones

Antiphrasis

The use of a word or phrase in a sense opposite to its proper meaning for ironic effect

Parody

An imitation of the style of a particular writer or genre with deliberate exaggeration for comic effect

Caricature

A representation of a person where certain traits are exaggerated for comic or grotesque effect

Meaning and Tone

Elements that shape the speaker attitude and underlying sense of a passage

Semantics

The branch of linguistics concerned with the meaning of words and sentences

Tone

The speaker or writer attitude toward the subject or audience

Objective Tone

An unbiased neutral and factual tone

Subjective Tone

A tone influenced by personal opinion feeling or bias

Didactic Tone

A tone intended to teach or instruct particularly moral lessons

Pedantic Tone

An overly scholarly academic or detail obsessed tone

Denotation

The literal dictionary definition of a word

Connotation

The emotional association or implied meaning attached to a word

Ambiguity

Uncertainty or vagueness in meaning

Ambivalence

Having simultaneous conflicting feelings or attitudes toward a subject

Innuendo

An indirect or subtle hint often derogatory or suggestive

Euphemism

A mild or indirect word substituted for one considered harsh or blunt

Dysphemism

A derogatory or unpleasant term used instead of a neutral or pleasant one

Aphorism

A concise statement of a general truth or principle

Epithet

A descriptive word or phrase expressing a characteristic quality of a person or thing

Epigram

A pithy saying or remark expressing an idea in a clever and amusing way

Rhetorical Appeals

Methods of persuading an audience

Logos

An appeal to logic and reason using evidence and facts

Pathos

An appeal to emotion and shared values

Ethos

An appeal to credibility authority or ethical character

Kairos

An appeal to timeliness or the opportunistic moment

Language Style

The characteristic way an author uses language to convey their message

Colloquial

Informal or conversational language used in ordinary speech

Jargon

Specialized terminology used by a specific group or profession

Invective

Insulting abusive or highly critical language

Expletive

A word or phrase used for emphasis that adds no grammatical meaning

Homily

A sermon or serious moralizing lecture