AP Lang Important Terms

Examples of each

Alliteration

The repetition of the same sound or letter at the beginning of consecutive words or syllables. Peter Piper picked peppers

Allusion

An indirect reference, often to another text or an historic event. She acted like Cinderella at the party.

Analogy

An extended comparison between two seemingly dissimilar things. Studying for a test is like training for a sport.

Anaphora

The repetition of words at the beginning of successive clauses. Every day, I study. Every day, I practice. Every day, I improve.

Anecdote

A short account of an interesting event. My first day of school, I got lost and walked into the wrong classroom.

Antecedent

The noun to which a later pronoun refers. Sarah lost her phone, so she looked for it.

Aphorism

A short, astute statement of a general truth. Actions speak louder than words.

Archaic diction

The use of words common to an earlier time period; antiquated language. Thou art very kind.

Asyndeton

Leaving out conjunctions between words, phrases, clauses. I came, I saw, I conquered.

Attitude

The speaker’s position on a subject as revealed through his or her tone. She spoke with a cheerful attitude even after losing the game.

Audience

One’s listener or readership; those to whom a speech or piece of writing is addressed. The speech was written for high school students.

Authority

A reliable, respected source—someone with knowledge. The doctor’s advice was trusted because of her expertise.

Bias

Prejudice or predisposition toward one side of a subject or issue. The writer praised the school because she worked there.

Colloquial/ism

An informal or conversational use of language. Hey, what’s up?

Common ground

Shared beliefs, values, or positions. Both sides agree that students need enough time to sleep.

Complex sentence

A sentence that includes one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. Although I was tired, I finished my homework.

Concession

A reluctant acknowledgment or yielding. Although homework can be stressful, it helps students learn.

Connotation

That which is implied by a word, as opposed to the word’s literal meaning. Calling someone ‘slim’ has a positive connotation.

Coordination

Grammatical equivalence between parts of a sentence, often through a coordinating conjunction such as and, or but. I wanted to go, but I was too tired.

Context

The factors around the text at its inception, including the time, place, history, etc. The rainy weather made the football game difficult.

Counterargument

A challenge to a position; an opposing argument. Some people argue that homework is helpful, but too much homework causes stress.

Declarative sentence

A sentence that makes a statement. I finished my homework.

Deduction

Reasoning from general to specific. All dogs are animals. Oreo is a dog. Therefore, Oreo is an animal.

Denotation

The literal meaning of a word; its dictionary definition. Snake denotes a long, legless reptile.

Diction

Word choice. She was furious.

Ethos

A Greek term referring to the character of a person; one of Aristotle’s three rhetorical appeals. As a doctor, I recommend getting enough sleep.

Exigence

The moment or event that motivates the speaker to write or speak about an issue, topic, or situation. A school’s new phone policy creates a need for students to discuss it.

Figurative language

The use of tropes or figures of speech; going beyond literal meaning to achieve literary effect. The classroom was a zoo.

Figure of speech

An expression that strives for literary effect rather than conveying a literal meaning. I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.

Hyperbole

Exaggeration for the purpose of emphasis. I’ve told you a million times.

Imagery

Vivid use of language that evokes a reader’s senses (sight, smell, taste, touch, hearing). The warm, golden sun shone over the quiet beach.

Imperative sentence

A sentence that requests or commands. Close the door.

Induction

Reasoning from specific to general. The sun has risen every morning, so it will probably rise tomorrow.

Irony

A contradiction between what is said and what is meant; incongruity between action and result. A fire station catches fire.

Juxtaposition

Placement of two things side by side for emphasis. The rich man had everything, while the poor man had nothing.

Logos

A Greek term that means “word”; an appeal to logic; one of Aristotle’s three rhetorical appeals. Students who sleep 8 hours get better grades, so students should get enough sleep.

Metaphor

A figure of speech or trope through which one thing is spoken of as though it were something else, thus making an implicit comparison. Her smile was sunshine.

Metonymy

Use of an aspect of something to represent the whole. The White House announced a new policy.

Oxymoron

A figure of speech that combines two contradictory terms. Deafening silence.

Paradox

A statement that seems contradictory but is actually true. Less is more.

Parallelism

The repetition of similar grammatical or syntactical patterns. She likes reading, writing, and drawing.

Parody

A piece that imitates and exaggerates the prominent features of another; used for comic effect or ridicule. A comedy show imitates a serious news program to make fun of it.

Pathos

A Greek term that refers to suffering but has come to be associated with broader appeals to emotion; one of Aristotle’s three rhetorical appeals. The sad story made the audience cry.

Persona

The speaker, voice, or character assumed by the author of a piece of writing. The author writes as a wise old teacher.

Personification

Assigning lifelike characteristics to inanimate objects. The wind whispered through the trees.

Polysyndeton

The deliberate use of a series of conjunctions. She ran and jumped and laughed and danced.

Propaganda

A negative term for writing designed to sway opinion rather than present information. A poster says, ‘Our school is the best!' Everyone should join!’

Purpose

One’s intention or objective in a speech or piece of writing. The author writes to persuade people to recycle.

Refute

To discredit an argument, particularly a counterargument. She refuted his argument by showing that his facts were wrong.

Rhetoric

The study of effective, persuasive language use; according to Aristotle, use of the “available means of persuasion”. Shouldn’t everyone have the right to be heard?

Rhetorical modes

Patterns of organization developed to achieve a specific purpose; modes include but are not limited to narration, description, comparison and contrast, cause and effect, definition, exemplification, classification and division, process analysis, and argumentation. The author explains the problem, gives examples. and suggests a solution.

Rhetorical question

A question asked more to produce an effect than to summon an answer. Who doesn’t want to be happy?

Satire

An ironic, sarcastic, or witty composition that claims to argue for something, but actually argues against it. A TV show makes fun of politicians to criticize their behavior.

Scheme

A pattern of words or sentence construction used for rhetorical effect. She uses repetition to emphasize her point.

Sentence patterns

The arrangement of independent and dependent clauses into known sentence constructions—such as simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex. Short sentences create a sense of urgency.

Simile

A figure of speech that uses “like” or “as” to compare two things. Her smile was like sunshine.

Simple sentence

A statement containing a subject and predicate; an independent clause. I finished my homework.

Speaker

A term used for the author, speaker, or the person whose perspective (real or imagined) is being advanced in a speech or piece of writing. The speaker argues that students should have less homework.

Straw man

A logical fallacy that involves the creation of an easily refutable position; misrepresenting, then attacking an opponent’s position. Sam says we should have less homework, but Alex says Sam wants students to stop learning.

Style

The distinctive quality of speech or writing created by the selection and arrangement of words and figures of speech. The author uses simple, clear language.

Subordinate clause

Created by a subordinating conjunction, a clause that modifies an independent clause. Because I was tired.

Subordination

The dependence of one syntactic element on another in a sentence. Because I was tired, I went to bed.

Syntax

Sentence structure. She quickly finished her homework.

Synthesize

Combining or bringing together two or more elements to produce something more complex. She combined ideas from Three sources to create one argument.

Thesis

The central idea in a work to which all parts of the work refer. School uniforms should be required because they reduce distractions.

Thesis statement

A statement of the central idea in a work, may be explicit or implicit. Students should get less homework because too much homework causes stress.

Tone

The speaker’s attitude toward the subject or audience. The author’s tone is serious and concerned.

Topic sentence

A sentence, most often appearing at the beginning of a paragraph, that announces the paragraph’s idea and often unites it with the work’s thesis. Exercise is important for students’ health.

Understatement

Lack of emphasis in a statement or point; restraint in language often used for ironic effect. After getting a terrible grade, she said, ‘That could have gone better’.

Voice

In grammar, a term for the relationship between a verb and a noun (active or passive voice). In rhetoric, a distinctive quality in the style and tone of writing. The writer’s voice is funny and conversational.