AP Lang Unit 2

ad hominem fallacy

Person A makes claim X. Person B attacks Person A’s character, therefore claim X has to be false

anadiplosis

rhetorical device: when last word of one sentence is repeated at the beginning of the next

antimetabole

words repeated in sentences: A-B. B-A. ex. JFKs speech

antiphrasis

word/phrase is used in a way opposite to its meaning. creates irony, humor, sarcasm

antithetical language

put two contrasting ideas in parallel structure. ex. “give me liberty or give me death!”

aphorism

short memorable statement of moral principal

argumentum ad baculum

logical fallacy where threats are used for acceptance of an argument

chiasmus

clauses are balanced by reserving grammatical structure/ideas, similar to antimetabole

conditional sentence

expresses dependency, featuring a condition that starts with “If”

cumulative sentence

starts w/ claim and then lists imagery and detail

double entrende

phrase with two meanings- one=straightforwad, second=suggestive

epistrophe

word/phrase is repeated at end of successive sentences for emphasis

imperative sentence

sentence that gives command, requests, intstructions, advice, directions

periodic sentence/effect

delays main idea until end to create suspense/emphasis

polysyndeton

repeatedly uses “and, or, but” to create emphasis+rythmic effect

qualified language

“may, suggests, often, somewhat” to add nuance

reduction ad absurdum

proves a statement is false by saying it is logically impossible

slippery-slope fallacy

claims one small action triggers chain reaction of negative events

syllogistic reasoning

deductive reasoning, 3 parts to reach conclusion from two reasons

zeugma

one word governs two or more other words. eg “he took his hat and his leave”