AP LANG Rolling Vocabulary Lists 1-10

bandwagon effect

the tendency to make decisions on the basis of the majority opinion

clustering illusion

the tendency to perceive patterns where no pattern exists

confirmation bias

the tendency to view information in a way that validates our existing opinions and beliefs

framing bias

when an individual presents two options that are described in different terms

gambler's fallacy

the tendency to believe that the results of a random event will affect the probability of future outcomes

halo effect

the tendency to attribute multiple desirable traits to an individual after being exposed to a person who has one positive quality

illusory superiority

the tendency to view oneself as superior to others

self-serving bias

the tendency to claim an undue amount of credit for a positive situation or an inadequate amount of blame for a negative condition

syllogism

a deductive argument composed of two premises (major and minor) and a conclusion in which the conclusion is a logical consequence of the premises

wishful thinking

the tendency to form conclusions based on idealized imagined outcomes rather than objectively examining the evidence at hand

contemplative

studying, thinking, reflecting on an issue

forthright

directly frank without hesitation

morose

gloomy, sullen, surly, despondent

reverent

treating a subject with honor and respect

pragmatic

relating to matters of fact or practical affairs; practical as opposed to idealistic

apathetic

indifferent due to lack of energy or concern

choleric

easily angered, hot-tempered

indignant

marked by anger aroused by injustice

patronizing

air of condescension

sardonic

scornful, mocking, and bitterly sarcastic

anaphora

a figure of repetition that occurs when the first word or set of words in one sentence, clause, or phrase is/are repeated at or very near the beginning of successive sentences, clauses, or phrases; repetition of the initial word(s) over successive phrases or clauses. EX: MLK used anaphora in his famous "I Have a Dream" speech (1963).

asyndeton

a figure of omission in which normally occurring conjunctions (FANBOYS [for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so]) are intentionally omitted in successive phrases, or clauses; a string of words not separated by normally occurring conjunctions. EX: C.S. Lewis: He comes, he sleeps, he goes. So the plot thickens....

epistrophe

a figure of repetition that occurs when the last word or set of words in one sentence, clause, or phrase is repeated one or more times at the end of successive sentences, clauses, or phrases. EX: "The time for the healing of the wounds has come. The moment to bridge the chasms that divides [sic] us has come." -- Nelson Mandela

syntax

the way an author chooses to join words into phrases, clauses, and sentences. Syntax is similar to diction, but you can differentiate them by thinking of syntax as groups of words, while diction refers to the individual words. In the multiple-choice section of the AP exam, expect to be asked some questions about how an author manipulates syntax.

zeugma

a figure of speech in which two or more parts of a sentence are joined with a single common verb or noun. EX#1: Lust conquered shame, audacity fear, madness reason. EX#2: I bought her story and her drink.

persona

Greek for "the mask." The face or character that a speaker or writer shows to the audience.

antimetabole

a figure of emphasis in which the words in one phrase or clause are replicated, exactly or closely, in reverse grammatical order in the next phrase or clause; an inverted order of repeated words in adjacent phrases or clauses (A-B, B-A).

Example #1 of antimetabole

In the U.S., all crimes are illegalities but not all illegalities are crimes.

Example #2 of antimetabole

The absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence.

colloquial/colloquialism

the use of slang or informalities in speech or writing. Not generally acceptable for formal writing, colloquialisms give a work a conversational, familiar tone.

Example of colloquialism

as old as the hills, raining cats and dogs, and dead as a doornail.

exigence

The aspects of the rhetorical situation, including its occasion, that prompted the writer or speaker to create the text.

parody

a work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule. It exploits peculiarities of an author's expression.

ambiguity

the multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage.

antithesis

a figure of balance in which two contrasting ideas are intentionally juxtaposed, usually through parallel structure; a contrasting of opposing ideas in adjacent phrases, clauses, or sentences.

Example of antithesis

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today! - MLK

concession

An acknowledgment that an opposing argument may be true or reasonable.

polemic

Greek for "hostile." An aggressive argument that tries to establish the superiority of one opinion over all others.

pedantic

an adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish.

anadiplosis

figure of repetition that occurs when the last word or terms in one sentence, clause, or phrase is/are repeated at or very near the beginning of the next sentence, clause, or phrase.

Example of anadiplosis

Kinetic energy is also known as the energy of motion. A vehicle's energy of motion doubles when its weight doubles. When a vehicle's weight doubles, it needs about twice the distance to stop.

aphorism

a terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or a moral principle.

invective

An emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language.

litotes

A form of understatement that involves making an affirmative point by denying its opposite.

polysyndeton

A figure of addition and emphasis which intentionally employs a series of conjunctions not normally found in successive words, phrases, or clauses.

anesis

A figure of addition that occurs when a concluding sentence, clause, or phrase is added to a statement which purposely diminishes the effect of what has been previously stated.

didactic

Words that have the primary aim of teaching or instructing, especially the teaching of moral or ethical principles.

metonymy

A figure of speech in which a thing or concept is not called by its own name, but by the name of something intimately associated with that thing or concept.

qualified claim

A claim that is not absolute, involving details, exceptions or restrictions to make a claim more precise, limited, or conditional.

synecdoche

A figure of comparison in which a word standing for part of something is used for the whole of that thing or vice versa.

allegory

The device of using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning.

antecedent

The word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.

caricature

A verbal description, the purpose of which is to exaggerate or distort, for comic effect, a person's distinctive physical features or other characteristics.

euphemism

A more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept.

paradox

A statement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense but upon closer inspection contains some degree of truth or validity.

non sequitur

A logical fallacy in which the author states a conclusion that doesn't follow from one or both premises.

hasty generalization

A logical fallacy in which the author leaps to a generalization from inadequate or faulty evidence.

either/or reasoning

A logical fallacy that assumes that a reality may be divided into only two parts or extremes.

ad hominem

A logical fallacy in which the author attacks a person's views by attacking his or her character.

slippery slope

A logical fallacy in which a person asserts that some event must inevitably follow from another without any argument for the inevitability of the event.

straw man

A logical fallacy in which a person simply ignores a person's actual position and substitutes a distorted, exaggerated or misrepresented version of that position.