AP Language and Composition: Semester Exam Review

Covers the following: Rhetorical Situation, Types of Evidence, Appeals, Tone, MLA Citation, Debate.

Speaker

The person or group creating the discourse.

Purpose

The specific outcome the rhetor wants to achieve.

Audience

The intended recipients whose attitudes or actions the rhetor (or speaker) aims to influence.

Context

The broader social, cultural, or historical circumstances surrounding the situation.

Exigence

The urgent problem, need, or reason that prompts the creation of the message.

Quantifiable Evidence

Evidence that can be measured, counted, and expressed in numbers.

Qualifiable Evidence

Evidence that is measured that describes qualities, characteristics, or meanings (e.g., Interviews).

Descriptive Evidence

Evidence that provides an accurate, detailed picture of a situation, phenomenon, or population as it naturally exists.

Comparative Evidence

Evidence that compares two or more groups, data sets, or time periods to identify differences, relationships, or effects.

Ethos

Appeal to credibility.

Pathos

Appeal to emotion.

Logos

Appeal to logic.

Tone

The author’s, speaker’s, or narrator’s attitude toward the subject matter or audience.

Diction

The specific, conscious selection of words and phrases by the author.

Imagery

Descriptive language that appeals to the five senses (i.e., sight, sound, smell, taste, touch) to create a mental picture.

Details

Specific, concrete, or anecdotal information included by the author to support a point or argument.

Either-Or Fallacy

A logical fallacy that presents only two options when more exist.

Hasty Generalization Fallacy

A fallacy that involves making a broad conclusion based on insufficient evidence.

Appeal To Ignorance Fallacy

A fallacy that argues a claim is true simply because it has not been proven false.

Bandwagon Appeal Fallacy

A fallacy that suggests something is true or acceptable because it is popular.

Authority Fallacy

A fallacy that relies on the opinion of an authority figure instead of evidence.

Ad Hominem Fallacy

A fallacy that attacks the person making an argument rather than the argument itself.

Slippery Slope Fallacy

A fallacy that suggests a minor action will lead to significant and undesirable consequences.

False Causality Fallacy

A fallacy that assumes a cause-and-effect relationship where none exists.

Weak Analogy Fallacy

A fallacy that compares two things that are not sufficiently alike to warrant the comparison.

Appeal To Pity Fallacy

A fallacy that attempts to persuade by eliciting sympathy rather than presenting logical arguments.

Strawman Fallacy

A fallacy that misrepresents an opponent's argument to make it easier to attack.

Non-Sequitur Fallacy

A fallacy where the conclusion does not logically follow from the premises.

Cause-Effect Development

To explain why an event happened (cause) and what resulted from it (effect)

Narration Development

To tell a story or relate a series of events, usually in chronological (time) order, often used to make a point or share an experience.

Compare-Contrast Development

To analyze the similarities (compare) and differences (contrast) between two or more subjects to understand them better.

Definition-Description Development

To define a concept or create a vivid picture of a topic by focusing on its characteristics, features, and examples.

Parts of a Works Cited Page

Works Cited, In-text Citations, Annotated Bibliography.

How to Cite Websites

AuthorLast, AuthorFirst. “Article or Web Page Title.” Website Title.

Publisher. Date of Publication, URL.

Counterclaim

An opposing viewpoint or argument that challenges the writer’s/arguer's main claim (thesis),

Concession

A respectful acknowledgement that an opposing argument (counterclaim) has some validity, truth, or reasonableness

Rebuttal

A response that directly addresses, challenges, and aims to disprove an opponent’s argument or counterclaim

Refutation

The act of proving an opposing argument is false, invalid, or flawed through evidence and reasoning.

Qualification

Modifying, limiting, or restricting your claim to make it more defensible and nuanced.

Absolute Language

Words that express a 100% certainty or totality, often creating weak, un-nuanced arguments.