AP Language

Rhetoric

the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, especially with the use of figures of speech and other compositional techniques. (The very act of defending has itself been a central part of rhetoric).

Bombastic

High sounding but with little meaning; inflated;grandiloquent.

Ethos

Appeal based on the character of speaker. Meaning convincing someone of the character or credibility of the persuader (speaker).

Logos

An appeal to logic or reason. For example scholarly documents.

Pathos

Appeal on emotion. The quality that evokes pity or sadness.

Capricious

Impulsive; unpredictable. Sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior.

Tone

Writer's attitude, mood or moral outlook toward the subject and/or the readers.

Appeal

the power of arousing a sympathetic response, to arouse a sympathetic response.

Argument

Discourse intended to persuade; process of reasoning; exchange of diverging/ opposite views.

Colloquialism (Colloquial)

a word or phrase that is not formal or literary. It is still used in literature to provide a sense of actual conversation and the use of pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary of everyday speech.

Connotation

and idea or feeling that a word evokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning. Words imply or suggest qualities, attributes, and characteristics.

Apathy

lack of interest, enthusiasm or concern. No emotion

Dialect

A variety of language confined to a region or group, manner or means of expressing oneself.

Understatement

Statement which says less than is really meant. Opposite of hyperbole. Made smaller, worse, or less important than really is. Minimizing.

Hyperbole

Deliberate and obvious exaggeration for effect.

Anecdote

a short and amusing or interesting story about a real person or incident.

Condescending

Having or feeling superior. patronizing or assuming superiority.

Voice

An authors distinctive literary style, basic vision and general attitude toward the world. Revealed through the use of Syntax, Diction, Punctuation, Characterization, and Dialogue.

Syntax

Sentence construction

Diction

Author's choice of words. Distinctive vocabulary.

Assertion

A confident and forceful statement of fact or belief. A declaration that's made em pathetically in an argument as it to be understood as a statement of fact.

Cogent

(of an argument or case) clear, logical, and convincing.

Coherent

(of an argument, theory, or policy) logical and consistent

Cohesive

characterized by or causing cohesion (act or state of being uniting, cohering, or sticking together).

Didactic

intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive.

Discourse

written or spoken communication or debate. (verb) speak or write authoritatively about a topic.

Eloquence

fluent or persuasive speaking or writing.

Fluid

able to flow easily.

implication

the conclusion that can be drawn from something, although it is not explicitly stated.

lucid

expressed clearly; easy to understand

rhetor

a teacher of rhetoric

Arbiter

a person who settles a dispute or has ultimate authority in a matter

Biased

unfairly prejudiced for or against something or someone.

Exculpate

show or declare that (someone) is not guilty of wrongdoing

Impartial

treating all rivals or disputants equally; fair and just.

Incontrovertible

not able to be denied or disputed.

Integrity

the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness.

Objectivity

the quality of being objective; justice; neutrality

Plausible

(of an argument or statement) seeming reasonable or probable.

Substantiated

provide evidence to support or prove that truth of.

vindicated

clear (something) of blame or suspicion.

Condescending

Having or feeling superior. patronizing or assuming superiority.

Contemptuous

showing contempt; scornful

Despotic

of, relating to, or characteristics of a despot (ruler with total power; usually unfair)

Dictatorial

of or typical of a ruler with total control

Disdain

the feeling that someone or something is unworthy of one's consideration or respect; contempt.

Haughty

arrogantly superior and disdainful.

Imperious

assuming power or authority without justification; arrogant and domineering.

Patronizing

treat with an apparent kindness that betrays a feeling of superiority.

Listless

lacking energy or enthusiasm.

Melancholy

a feeling of pensive sadness, typically with no obvious cause.

Torpor

a state of physical or mental inactivity

alliance

a relationship based on an affinity in interests, nature, or qualities.

disparity

a great difference, imbalance.

impinge

have an affect or impact, especially a negative one. Influence.

Paradox

a state or proposition that, despite reasoning, leads to a conclusion that seems senseless, logically unacceptable, self-contradictory.

allusion

an expression to call something to mind without mentioning it exactly; an indirect or passing reference.

parallelism

the act of being parallel or corresponding in some way.

indolent

wanting to avoid activity or exertion; lazy.

insipid.

lacking flavor, vigor or interest.

lament

a passionate expression or grief or sorrow.

Sanction

a threatening penalty for disobeying a law or rule

servile

having or showing an excessive willingness to serve or please others.

suppressed

forcibly to an end to.

Embellish

make (something) more attractive by the addition of decorative details or features.

florid

having a red or flushed complexion

opulent

ostentatiously rich and luxurious or lavish

ornate

made in an intricate shape or decorated with complex patterns.

ostentatious

characterized by vulgar or pretentious display; designed to impress or attract notice.

poignant

evoking a keen sense or sadness or regret.

Ebullience

the quality of being cheerful and full of energy; exuberance.

effusive

expressing feelings of gratitude, pleasure, or approval in an unrestrained or heartfelt manner.

egregious

outstandingly bad; shocking.

frenetic

fast and energetic in a rather wild and uncontrolled way.

gratuitous

uncalled for; lacking good reason; unwarranted

flagrant

(of something considered wrong or immoral) conspicuously or obviously offensive

superfluous

unnecessary, especially through being more than enough.

convoluted

extremely complex and difficult to follow (especially or a story, sentence, or argument).

cryptic

having a meaning that is mysterious or obscure

Obscure

uncertain; not discovered or know about.

futile

incapable of producing any useful result; pointless.

impede

delay or prevent by obstructing them; hinder.

quandary

a state of perplexity or uncertainty over what what to do in a difficult situation.

alleviate

make (suffering or a problem) less severe.

asylum

the protection granted by a nation to someone who has left their native country as a political refugee. ( or it can be a mental hospital).

auspicious

conductive to success; favorable.

benevolent

well meaning and kindly

benign

gentle, kindly.

Mollify

appease the anger or anxiety of (someone)

reclamation

reclaiming; reformation, recovery.

(or it can be land obtained from water)

Sanction

Approval or permission for an action

Dubious

Not to be relied upon; suspect (hesitating or doubting)

Fabricated

invent or concoct (something), typically with deceitful intent

Hypocrisy

the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform; pretense

Slander

make false and damaging statements about (someone).

spurious

not being what it purports to be; false or fake

Astute

having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one's advantage

clandestine

operation is an intelligence or millitary operation carried out in such a way that the operation goes unnoticed by the general population

disingenuous

not candid or sincere, typically by pretending that one knows less about something than one really does.