ap lang test

Audience

The people the speaker is trying to reach

Rhetoric: The intended readers who the speaker is trying to persuade or affect.
Recognize it: “Who is this message for?”
Example: A speech about school lunches directed at students = students are the audience.

Concession

Admitting that the opposing side has a valid point
Rhetoric: The speaker acknowledges part of an opposing argument
Recognize it: Phrases like although, some may argue, while,
Ex: “Although social media can help people connect, it can also negatively affect mental health.”

Connotation

The feelings or ideas a word suggests beyond its literal meaning.
Rhetoric: The emotion or cultural associations attached to a word
Recognize: “What feelings does this word make the audience associate it with?
Ex: Confident and Arrogant

Context

The background circumstances surrounding a text
Rhetoric: historical, social, political situations
Recgonize: “What was happening when this was wrriten?”
Note: exigence is the PROBLEM/EVENT that caused the speaker to respond
Ex: America is in a global pandemic, Exigence= the world is going into isolation rules

Counter Argument

An argument that disagrees with your argument
Rhetoric: An opposing viewpoint that challenges the speakers position
Recognize: Look for what the other side might argue
Ex: Speaker says school uniforms are good. Counter is uniforms limit students individuality

Denotation

The literal dictionary definition of a word
Rhetoric: The direct meaning of a word
Recognize: “What does this word literally mean?”
ex: Denotation = literal meaning,Connotation = associated feelings/ideas

Ethos

Using credibility/character to persuade
Rhetoric: The speaker tries to convince the audience that they are trustworthy or knowledgable.
Recognize: Expertise, Experience, Credentials, Authority, shared values
Ex: A doctor discussing medicene uses their medical experience to establish ethos

Exigence

The problem or situation that makes someone feel they need to speak.
Rhetoric: the specific issue, event, or problem that prompts the speaker to create the text.
Recognize: Why did this person feel the need to speak/write this NOW?”
Ex: What specifically caused the text?

Logos

Using Logic and evidence to persuade
Rhetoric: Persuasion through reasoning, facts, stats
Recognize: Stats, facts, data, research, examples
Ex: Students who get more sleep have higher average test scores.

Message

The main idea
Rhetoric: the Central Idea or takeaway the speaker communicates.
Recognize: What does the speaker want the audience to take away from this?
Ex: Subject = What is it about?
Message = What is the speaker saying about it?
Purpose = Why is the speaker saying it?

Occasion

The specific situation or event surrounding when a text is created.

WHEN/WHERE → the specific event or situation surrounding the text

Example: A graduation speech → the occasion is graduation.

Pathos

Using emotions to persuade.

rhetoric: Persuading an audience by creating an emotional response.

Recognize: Look for:

• Emotional stories

• Fear

• Hope

• Anger

Ex: A speaker tells a story about a struggling child to make the audience feel sympathy.

Persona

The personality or identity the speaker presents to the audience
rhetoric: The particular character/image the speaker creates through their language and behavior
Ask: “How does the speaker want the audience to see them?”

Propaganda

Information designed to strongly influence people's opinions, often using selective or biased information.
Recognize: Strongly one-sided messaging, Emotional manipulation, Selective information

Purpose

Why the speaker created the text
Recognize: “What does the speaker want the audience to think, feel, believe, or do?”

Rebuttal

To respond or offer a different perspective.
(Needs a well-reasoned counter-claim. and leaves room for more discussion, not providing stats or good evidence)

Refutation

To completely disprove, and defeat the opponent's point.
(Need PROOF so debate will end)

Rhetoric

The use of language to communicate and persuade effectively.

Rhetorical Triangle

communication that balances three core elements: subject, audience, speaker

Rhetorical Appeals

The three main ways a speaker persuades an audience. Ethos , pathos, logos

Rhetorical Situation

Everything surrounding a rhetorical text that affects how it was created and understood.
SPACE

Speaker

The person communicating the message
Ask: Who created the text- what do we know abt them?

Subject

What the text is about

Text

The actual piece of communication being analyzed.
Could be a video, speech, advertisement